PJ Library celebrates Hanukkah

(AJNews) – This year, Hanukkah, the holiday of lights, runs from November 28 through December 6. PJ Library, supported by both the Calgary Jewish Federation and the Jewish Federation of Edmonton, has long been a leader in providing engaging ways for families to connect with Jewish life. It offers a wealth of free resources including kid-friendly Hanukkah stories, printable recipes and activity ideas, book lists, as well as two new story-based podcasts that help kids learn more about the traditions behind the festival of lights.

PJ Library is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, in association with Jewish communities, which delivers more than 680,000 free Jewish storybooks to kids around the world each month. Jewish families of all backgrounds, including interfaith households, and at all levels of Jewish knowledge and observance may sign up every child in their home for a free subscription to receive a new, age-specific book each month. What could be a better Hanukkah gift than to receive a delightful, beautifully illustrated book arriving in the mailbox each month? PJ Library’s team of experts and educators curate the book list to provide the very best children’s stories that celebrate Jewish values, traditions, and culture to engage all Jewish families.

Beyond the books, PJ Library’s experts have updated their Hanukkah Hub, which offers child-friendly versions of the Hanukkah story along with myriad craft ideas, delicious holiday recipes, and printables. For example, check out these 10 Easy (and Kid-Approved) Hanukkah RecipesThe Ultimate List of Books about Hanukkah or The Easy Hanukkah Guide: Recipes, Gifts and Activities For Each Night

New for 2021 are the two new PJ Library Presents podcasts for kids: “Afternoons with Mimi” and “Beyond the Bookcase.” The November episodes will be perfect Hanukkah listening (on your favorite podcast platform): Grandma Mimi prepares a delicious plate of sufganiyot and tells her grandchild the story of Judah Maccabee. Then, on “Beyond the Bookcase,” follow Miri and Micah as they are transported back to Mashal to help Jack Be Nimble find the courage to jump over a hanukkiyah full of candles. When they launched, the two new story-based audio series climbed to the top 10 of Apple’s podcasts for kids.

Long a valuable resource for interfaith families, PJ Library also offers guidance this year, including their list of Hanukkah Books for Interfaith Families. They are co-presenting two webinars with 18Doors, an organization dedicated to empowering interfaith families and individuals to engage in Jewish life and make educated Jewish choices. For those balancing both big end-of-year holidays, these webinars will be engaging and informative: What to Do in December: A Live Q&A for Grandparents Balancing Hanukkah & Christmas and What to Do in December: A Live Q&A for Parents Balancing Hanukkah & Christmas.

For more Hanukkah gift ideas, PJ Library has set up shop at amazon.com/pjlibrary where families can find colorful aprons for cooking and crafting and books from the PJ Library imprint, PJ Publishing, including recent additions Havdalah Sky and Laila Tov, Moon.

In Alberta, PJ Library is a gift for Jewish children and their families from Calgary Jewish Federation’s UJA Campaign and Jewish Federation of Edmonton’s UJA Campaign, along with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the PJ Library Alliance, and generous donations from local supporters. For more information about PJ Library Calgary, contact Kathie Wainer, PJ Library and PJ Our Way Manager at 403-537-8592. In Edmonton contact Jennifer Browbridge at 780-487-0585.

To find out more, visit pjlibrary.org.

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