by Debra Rubin
NJJN Staff Writer

August 18, 2009

For Monmouth County families who have received their first free books or CDs through the PJ Library, the experience has served to open avenues of learning and Judaism.

The program offered by the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County — for families with children between six months and five-and-a-half years of age — kicked off in July and has already gained many enthusiasts.

“My twins do get excited,” said Betsy Veysman of Freehold, whose son and daughter just celebrated their fourth birthday.

“We always read together before they go to sleep, so having new books to add to their collection is definitely a plus,” she said. “They definitely like Jewish books, and I think they especially like these because they are new and different and the twins are getting some Judaism from them as well.”

The idea for PJ Library came from philanthropist Harold Grinspoon, whose Massachusetts-based foundation launched the program about three years ago. It provides a new book or CD with Jewish-themed, age-appropriate material to participating families each month for a year.

In partnership with local federations, the program is in place in more than 70 communities across the United States.

The books and CDs have been chosen by a select panel of Jewish educators and child development experts for their ability to transmit Jewish heritage, culture, and values.

“Parents and grandparents reading PJ Library books to young children is a valuable tool that will strengthen their alliance to the Jewish community,” said Monmouth federation executive director Howard Gases. “We know that some people ordering books are unaffiliated, and many are intermarried. We have to get them to identify as Jews. And what better way than by reading to their children?”

Kevin Mandeville of Matawan, a stay-at-home dad with 18-month-old twins Lukas Tyler and Hannah Grace, said the PJ Library book The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings To Raise Self-Reliant Children by Wendy Mogel “was a very good book and I think our kids got a lot out of it.” He even recommended that his wife, Robin Satty, take it with her to read on her commute to New York.

“I read our kids maybe 10 books a day,” he said, so the PJ Library books coming to them are a real boon.

The federation has made a three-year commitment to the project, including a $40,000 outlay for the first year. A sustainable portion of that came from a donation from Louis and Judith Premselaar of Manalapan, Jay Premselaar of Freehold, and Ronald Premselaar, mother of Louis and wife of Ronald.

To register for the PJ Library, visit www.pjlibrary.org or call the Monmouth federation at 732-866-4300.

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