Greetings!
Take a Star Trek: Help your friends explore new worlds!
We've got a Starfleet Command for you for January: Recruit ONE NEW FAMILY to become your crewmembers on this voyage to the delightful world of reading Jewish books!.
Let's share this great Enterprise with as many new friends as possible! You can be our very best ambassadors in sharing this unique gift with other families who, like you, will love belonging to the program.
- Please feel free to forward this newletter to a friend.
- Tell them about our Facebook Group (The PJ Library Program of Silicon Valley).
- Direct them to our website (www.jvalley.org/pjlplace).
- Invite them over to your home and show them the books.
Spread the word!!! Todah Rabah/Thank You! |
Coming Soon In Your Mailbox
January
It's Tu B'shevat
By Edie Stoltz Zolkower
Ages 6 months to 2 years
A Tree Is Nice
By Janice Udry
Ages 2 to 3
Hanna's Sabbath Dress
By Itzhak Schweiger-Dmi'el
Ages 3 to 4
It Could Always Be Worse
By Margot Zemach
Ages 4 to 5
The Castle on Hester Street
By Linda Heller
Ages 5 to 6
The Tale of Meshka the Kvetch
By Carol Chapman
Ages 6 to 7
February
My First Shabbat Board Book
Ages 6 months to 2 years
When It's Purim
By Edie Stoltz Zolkower
Ages 6 months to 2 years
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
By Simms Taback
Ages 2 to 3
The Bedtime Sh'ma
By Sarah Gershman
Ages 2 to 3
The Mystery Bear
By Leone Adelson
Ages 3 to 4
The Shabbat Box
By Lesley Simpson
Ages 4 to 5
Bagels From Benny
By Aubrey Davis
Ages 5 to 6
Raisel's Riddle
By Erica Silverman
Ages 6 to 7 |
Let's Hear YOUR Ideas!
We've been doing PJL for a year. Is there anything you'd like to see/do that we haven't done together?
Call or email your suggestions to Eleanor or Rabbi Leslie. We'd love to hear from you! |
| Our Partners |
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Addison-Penzak JCC
(Los Gatos)
Congregation Emeth
(Morgan Hill)
Jewish Family Services
(Los Gatos)
Jewish Federation Silicon Valley
(Los Gatos)
Congregation Sinai
Temple Emanu-El
(San José)
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| For More Information |
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For more information about the PJ Library™ Program and our role, please visit www.jvalley.org/PJLplace
or Contact:
408-357-7509 office
Eleanor Dickman
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Celebrate Tu B'Shevat at Congregation Beth David
January 21, 2010 ~ 5:30 pm
Celebrate the World's Original "Earth Day": Tu B'Shevat, the Birthday of the Trees, as The PJ Library Program and Congregation Beth David's Jewish Families Group present:
Children Celebrate the World!
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Learn about keeping our environment healthy. Enjoy a special Tu B'Shevat Seder. Listen to stories, sing songs, do "ecology" craft projects and have fun!
This program is for children 3-6, but siblings are most welcome.
Please RSVP by January 13th so we will be sure to have enough goodies on hand for everyone. RSVP to Rabbi Leslie Alexander ( rabbialexander@jvalley.org or (408) 357-7509.
Looking foward to seeing you at this delightful program!
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Tikkun Olam, Repair the World:
A Text Study with Rabbi Alexander
This month, we are sharing two wonderful texts from Midrash, ancient Rabbinic stories used to teach Jewish law and values.
Tu B'Shvat, the New Year of the Trees, was a holiday established to make sure that Jews in ancient times would value all of God's creations. The laws protecting the environment had a dual purpose. If one is obligated to care for even a tree, all the more so will we know how important it is to treat other human beings with dignity and justice. And, protecting nature, protects human health and well being. Maintaining the beauty of the world, the positive possibilities of the world and the responsibility for the world are placed into our hands.
"When God created the first human beings, God led them around the garden of Eden and said: "Look at My works! See how beautiful they are- how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy my world; for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it."
Midrash 800CE
The next text reminds us that in order to assure a healthy, beautiful and whole world for our children and future generations, we should, throughout all of our lives, be involved in doing just and good deeds, Mitzvot. The text focuses on trees, as does the holiday of Tu B'shvat, but the text can also be seen as a metaphor for all "planting" we must do to ensure a positive future for our children. We can teach our children to see how fortunate they are to be a crucial link in the long and strong chain of Jewish traditions of care for our world. We can teach them that doing Mitzvot is a privilege that begins in our childhood and continues even when we are old.
"The Holy One said to Israel: "Even if you find the land full of all good things, you should not say, 'We will sit and not plant' ; rather, be diligent in planting! Just as you came and found trees planted by others, you must plant for your children; a person must not say, 'I am old, how may years will I live? Why should I get up and exert myself for others?' ... You must not excuse yourself from planting. As you found trees, plant more, even if you are old."
Midrash 800CE
If you want to see just how old the Jewish law and tradition of justice, care and dignity are, please click on this link to see a brand new archeological discovery dated to 10 centuries before the year 1. |
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What our Young Readers Think About PJ Library
On a sunny Wednesday morning, we visited Kitah Gan at Yavneh Day School to learn what our "customers" think of their PJ Library books.
Delightful, articulate, enthusiastic, and positive, these four kids shared their thoughts with us, and we'd like to share them with you.
[How do you feel when you get a new PJ Library book?]
 Benjamin: I love getting the envelope with my name on it because I know there will be a book inside and I love the PJ Library books.
Yuval: My brother is in PJ Library and he loves it when I read a PJ Library book to him. Sometimes my mom reads the books to me and sometimes my teacher reads to me, too.
[What books have you liked best?]
 Talia: The one about Rachel and grandma making latkes and making a big mess was funny, especially when the grandma said, 'Oy, oy oy.'
Braden: Once I drew my own picture of the picture in a book.
Talia: I like the happy stories where people are kind to each other, and PJL has these kind of books.
Yuval: We've read the books so many times, I can almost read them to myself.
[Why do you think Mr. Grinspoon wants to give free books to children?]
 Braden: He gives us these presents because he wants us to have Jewish books.
Talia: He wants to be kind to us, because we pay lots for lots of things and he wants us to have something for free.
[What do you like best about getting Jewish books?]
 Yuval: The books help us remember the holidays.
Talia: I'm learning about more Jewish faces; not only are you Jewish, but many other people are Jewish, too.
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We had a wonderful week celebrating Chanukah at Santana Row in San Jose. Representatives from local Jewish community organizations presented delightful programs of music, storytelling, and craft activities.
We were warmly welcomed by the Santana Row management, and well received by our visitors, both to the sheltered space we used during misty weather and the inviting Park Valencia we used for the last few evenings, when the weather was better.
Sincerest thanks to all the volunteers who supported this event, and to all our friends who attended.
See you next year! |
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Activities for Children in Our Community
Events listed here are open to the entire community. Membership is not required.
APJCC PreSchool
(408) 357-7417
- Ratatouille and Spaghetti: Sunday, Jan 10, 4-7 pm, APJCC Auditorium. Spaghetti dinner followed by screening of Disney movie "Ratatouille." Tix: $5 members; $8 non-members; Kids under 4: FREE.
- Open House: Sunday, Jan 31, 2-4 pm. Children welcome to attend. Applications for the 2010-2011 school year accepted beginnng Feb 2010.
Congregation Beth David
(408) 257-3333
Congregation Shir Hadash
(408) 358-1751
- Shir Hadash Babies: Ongoing every Thursday from 8:45-9:45 am. through Dec 17. Activities for children 6 weeks to 12 months and child development discussions for adults.
- Shir Hadash Tots: Ongoing every Thursday from 10:15-11:45 am through Dec 17. Toddler and parent program for children 12-24 months.
Both Groups are facilitated by Robin Adelman, Director of the Shir Hadash Early Childhood Center. 8 sessions: $140.
Congregation Sinai
(408) 264-8542
- Torah for Tots: First and Third Saturdays of the month, 11:00 am-noon, Social Hall. Dec 5, Dec 19, Jan 2, Jan 16. Child-friendly parent-led Shabbat service for children 5 and under. Sinai membership not required. Info: torahfortots@sinai-sj.org or, on Facebook as: Torah For Tots at Congregation Sinai of San José.
South Peninsula Hebrew Day School
(408) 738-3060
- Open House for Gan Aviv Preschool, Wednesday Jan 20, 7-8:30 pm. Individual tours also available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:15 and 11:15 am.
- Gan Aviv Lecture Series: "Handling Parental and Child Anger." Wednesday, Feb 3, 7-9 pm. SPHDS Multi-Purpose Room. Free for SPHDS families; Commuity members are asked for a $5 donation.
Temple Emanu-El
(408) 292-0939
- Mishpacha Sheli (My Family): Pre-K Family Education Program is a year-long program, designed for pre-kindergarten-aged children. Classes will meet monthly for 8 sessions on Sundays, from 10:15 am-12:30 pm. The class is open to the community at a cost of $118 for the full series. Children must be 3 years old by Dec 2, 2009.
Yavneh Day School
(408) 984-6700
- Puppet Show: Sun Jan 22, 2010 1:00-800 pm. During the APJCC's "Jewbilee" event, Robyn Stone, Early Childhood Educator and Junior Kindergarten Teacher at Yavneh Day School, will present puppet shows of favorite Jewish stories.
- Open House for Prospective Parents of Yavneh Day School. Wed, Jan 27, 2010, 7-8:30 pm. Visit the Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes. Contact: Dana Lowy dana@yavnehdayschool.org. (Open to students in all grades, JK-8).
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Does your little one wait by the mailbox for his/her big white envelope from PJ Library and shout with glee when it arrives? Does your budding reader want to share his/her PJ Library story with you and other family members? 
If so, capture the moment in a photo or a YouTube video and send them to us. The more creative the better! We would like to share them (with your permission) in our eNews, on our Website, and with PJ National.
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PJ Library eNews
