A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

Looking for Passover books for kids? Here are recommendations from PJ Library

Looking for Passover books for kids? Here are recommendations from PJ Library

JEN BAER, Special to the Jewish LightPublished March 23, 2022

This time of year brings basketball fever. That’s when the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament occurs. Each year around this time, people start filling out brackets and entering pools…Not the kind you swim in, but the ones where you...

PJ Library books aim to inspire kids’ inner artists

PJ Library books aim to inspire kids’ inner artists

JENNIFER BAER, Special to the Jewish LightPublished July 21, 2021
Does your kid love to sing, draw or play an instrument? Inspire your budding artist or musician with PJ Library stories featuring poets, painters and creators.
Books to help with kids’ summer camp anxiety

Books to help with kids’ summer camp anxiety

JENNIFER BAER, Special to the Jewish LightPublished July 7, 2021

Apparently, I’m developing some skills that just can’t be reflected on a résumé, such as my near perfect ability to embarrass my kids. While I know that they don’t need me to hold their hands anymore when we cross the street, something in me...

Here are three children’s books to help them deal with anxiety, stress

Here are three children’s books to help them deal with anxiety, stress

JENNIFER BAERPublished April 27, 2021

One of the most influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages, Maimonides (also referred to by the acronym Rambam), instructs us that "the soul is subject to health and disease, just as is the body."  A friend once told me that we are only as happy as...

Looking for a great Passover book for kids?  Here are a few suggestions from PJ Library

Looking for a great Passover book for kids? Here are a few suggestions from PJ Library

Jennifer BaerPublished March 12, 2021

“Passover Is Coming!”  By: Tracy Newman and illustrated by Viviana Garofoli  Ages: 6 Months to 2 Years Synopsis: The house is very clean...matzah ball soup is bubbling on the stove...and a seder plate is on the table! Can you guess...

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Celebrating Purim with books for children of all ages

Jennifer Baer, Special to the Jewish LightPublished February 24, 2021

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I was thinking it might be fun to be able to fly, although I probably wouldn’t be able to use GPS up there, which could definitely be a problem. Who doesn’t love a superhero? From movies and...

Yavilah McCoy

Jewish Federation plans parenting for racial equity webinar

By Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-ChiefPublished October 18, 2020

Meet with other parents and discuss our racial equity habits in parenting during an interactive webinar with Yavilah McCoy from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19.McCoy is a pioneer of the diversity and equity movement and advocate for the empowerment of...

Jennifer Baer

PJ Library, MaTovu partner for drag queen story time

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITORPublished March 5, 2020

It’s been called inappropriate and much worse and drawn the ire of a Missouri lawmaker. Still, books will be read when PJ Library holds drag queen story time at MaTovu in the Botanical Heights neighborhood later this month.So popular is this event —...

Local Jewish musician Rick Recht has partnered with PJ Library, a nonprofit that provides families with free Jewish children’s books, for a new streaming service featuring Jewish music. Photo: rickrecht.com

Local Jewish rocker helps craft PJ Library’s new online radio venture

By Eric Berger, Staff WriterPublished December 20, 2017

Jewish Rock Radio, a St. Louis-based online streaming service, and PJ Library, the organization that sends children free Jewish books, have launched a new online radio station.PJ Library Radio went live Dec. 1. It features an array of Jewish artists who...

Harold Grinspoon, the founder of PJ Library, reads one of the program’s books with a gaggle of children.

PJ Library’s free books for kids spur Jewish connections, study finds

By Ben Sales, JTAPublished July 26, 2017

NEW YORK — Families that receive free Jewish children's books from the Massachusetts-based PJ Library say the program has helped them feel more connected to their Jewish communities, with interfaith families especially saying it has spurred them to...

The family of Michael and Leslie Litwack.

PJ Library celebrates 10 years in St. Louis; $10k donation match

Published May 11, 2017

This week, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis is celebrating the 10th anniversary of PJ Library with a #PJPayItForward Campaign. From May 7-12, St. Louis’ founding PJ Library family, Michael and Leslie Litwack, have agreed to match every dollar up to...

Brodsky Library, PJ Library partner for ‘story walk’ series

Published April 20, 2017

Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library and PJ Library are working together to develop a Jewish Story Festival for the community, launching in May, intersecting with the St. Louis Storytelling Festival. This first event on May 4 will then kick-off a yearlong...

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