AGAWAM, Massachusetts — PJ Library, the flagship program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF), celebrated the delivery of its 50 millionth free book to Jewish families this past summer. What started out in 2005 as a small project in Western Massachusetts has now grown to affect the lives of millions of Jewish children worldwide. Books are translated into seven languages and then delivered to over 680,000 kids each month across more than 35 countries.

PJ Library is truly a collaborative undertaking, a gift from the Jewish community. Here in North America, the program is made possible by partnering with nearly 200 communities to reach more than 240,000 children per month. The Springfield Jewish Community Center in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, has partnered with the HGF since 2021 to bring PJ Library to the Jewish Community in the Pioneer Valley.

“PJ Library provides creative and varied access points for connecting with Jewish families,” says Springfield JCC Chief Executive Officer Samantha Dubrinsky. “As an organization striving to strengthen families’ relationship to their local Jewish community, we are honored to be relaunching this program in Western Massachusetts and thrilled to be a part of the global PJ Library community.”

This 50 millionth book milestone would not be possible without PJ Library’s incredible international growth. In 2009, the HGF launched Sifriyat Pijama in Israel through its sister organization Keren Grinspoon Israel. Since that time, the HGF has partnered with philanthropists around the world to open programs in Latin America, Europe, Russia, and the Pacific Rim.

PJ Library is funded by the HGF and forward-thinking donors, including generous philanthropists and foundations, Jewish communal organizations, and many individual donors who have found joy through PJ Library. “We couldn’t have reached this amazing milestone without the help of our philanthropic partners,” says Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, president of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.“It is through a community effort that we are sharing millions upon millions of stories with the next Jewish generation, and we look forward to doing even more together in the years to come.”

PJ Library, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, sends free Jewish storybooks that provide fun and easy ways for families to add Jewish connections during reading time. PJ Library books have become everyday favorites of kids from birth through age 12, whether the stories serve as first introductions to Jewish values and culture or inspire families to create new Jewish traditions at home. Over 680,000 books are delivered to kids in more than 35 countries each month. To find out more, visit pjlibrary.org.