PJ Library, United Synagogue Launch ReadNY!
Thanks to generous support from the Susser Family Trust, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is pleased to announce the launch of ReadNY!, an innovative new partnership with PJ Library® Through ReadNY! participating synagogues will receive matching grants to support the launch and growth of PJ Library in their communities. PJ Library is the award-winning education and outreach program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, which partners with local Jewish organizations to send a monthly gift of high-quality Jewish books and music to families raising Jewish children from 6 months to 8 years old.
“PJ Library is a unique way to reach out and engage families with young children by providing one of the basics of a Jewish home -- books,” said Rabbi Steven Wernick, United Synagogue’s executive vice president and CEO. “United Synagogue can leverage the work of PJ Library by helping families deepen their connections to their kehillot [sacred communities] and experience the practice, prayer, and learning that define us as Conservative Jews.”
As of September 2011, more than 84,000 children in more than 150 diverse communities throughout
Kehillot located within a geographic area designated by funders in
ReadNY! marks the first time that PJ Library has partnered with a denominational movement to grow the program’s reach. Working in partnership with United Synagogue affords the opportunity to bring together a cohort of kehillot committed to working together around shared goals. “We are excited to work with United Synagogue to reach thousands of families and empower synagogues to connect with those families through the invaluable gift of Jewish books,” PJ Library founder Harold Grinspoon said.
This new project also fits United Synagogue’s goal of building strategic organizational partnerships that increase the impact of United Synagogue’s services. PJ Library will provide participating kehillot with ongoing training and resources for building successful PJ Library programs and reaching out to young families. United Synagogue will provide the kehillot with resources about prayer, community-building and leadership development and an opportunity for a unique family trip to
Selected kehillot will be ready to sign up families after January 1, 2012. For more information about this project, email United Synagogue’s chief kehilla officer, Kathy Elias, at elias@uscj.org.
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