Group Provides Books for Canadian Jewish Youth

British Columbia has recently been added to the list of Canadian cities and provinces that receive Jewish books for schoolchildren. The PJ Library Initiative is a group founded by Harold Grinspoon. The group, which aims to distribute Jewish literature at kids’ doorsteps, started four years ago in Massachusetts. Since then, it has delivered to Canadian locations such as Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg and now British Columbia.

"We look for a balance of books that reflect the diversity within the Jewish community and that deal with holidays, values, ethics, folk tales and Bible stories," Natalie Blitt, program director for book selection at the PJ Library, told the Canadian Jewish News. "Not every book will appeal to every child or family, but we hope families will see themselves in some of the books and not in others, so kids can understand there are many different ways of doing things Jewishly."

Grinspoon, who is dyslexic, first decided to get involved when he heard about Dolly Parton’s program, Imagination Library. Parton gives away free books to disadvantaged families in the U.S. Grinspoon decided to sponsor Parton’s charity before forming his own. The idea to distribute Jewish literature was later on inspired by his daughter.

Since its inception, the PJ Library Initiative has given away two million books across Canada and the U.S. According to the Canadian Jewish News, 360 Jewish kids from British Columbia recently received the gifts. Children receive 11 books and one CD every year, which are sponsored by Jewish agencies, synagogues and donor families.

Some of the Canadian titles by Jewish authors include Bagels from Benny by Aubrey Davis, Clever Rachel by Debby Waldman, The Market Wedding by Cary Fagan and The Kugel Valley Klezmer Band by Betty Ann Stuchner.