On Wednesday, May 18th, there was a little more blue and white in Los Angeles. Carrying balloons that match the program’s logo, community members Jeff Polak, his mother Janet, 9-year-old son Ethan and 6-year-old daughter Alexa arrived at the door of our 10,000th PJ Library® in Los Angeles subscriber to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Jeff, whose children have been receiving PJ Library books for the past five years, feels very strongly about the program. “It’s very effective and has a lasting impression on young children in terms of their Jewish identity,” he said. “I’ve seen it firsthand.”
The Polak family recently made a generous 5-year grant through The David & Janet Polak Foundation that allowed PJ Library in Los Angeles to clear its extensive waitlist. Said Janet, “It’s a very good concept that children get their own books every month with their name on it and a package they can open. They learn about Jewish life, holidays and celebrations. We wanted to spread that to as many families as possible.”
Thanks to the Polaks’ unprecedented gift, 1,000 additional children now receive free monthly books and CDs with Jewish themes. One of these children is 10,000th subscriber, 13-month-old Ethan Kaizer, whose mother Michelle learned about PJ Library through a friend while she was pregnant. “I signed up as soon as Ethan was born,” she said.
Last Wednesday, Michelle and Ethan’s grandmother, Pam, were thrilled to greet their guests — and the feeling was mutual. Said Jeff, “My children were excited to share this nostalgic feeling of something they’d experienced with an up-and-coming reader.”
Ethan Polak sat down next to his “protégé” and read him a favorite PJ Library book, Todah by Kyra Teis. “Ethan really enjoyed meeting ‘big Ethan’ and Alexa,” said Michelle. “He could sense their enthusiasm and was so happy to open all his great gifts and books!”
Janet found it a very touching experience. “It was nice to see what a good reader my grandson is. He was very happy to sit there and read and show little Ethan the pictures.”
Following this meaningful meet-up, Jeff is more committed than ever to making PJ Library in Los Angeles accessible to everyone who wants to participate. “We’re going to do everything we can to ensure that nobody has to be on a waiting list,” he said. “We’ll work very hard and we want to try to create more sustainability with the program to encourage people who have experienced it to match the grant.”
Concluded Michelle, “We have enjoyed all our books from PJ Library and love learning about Jewish holidays and Jewish values in such a fun, engaging way. Reading is a big part of our daily routine and books are absolutely the best gift you can give any child.”
Whether you’re a past subscriber or current subscriber who wants to pay it forward, or you simply want to share your love of reading with our Jewish community, it’s easy to support this incredible program. Make a gift to PJ Library in Los Angeles today.
For more information or to sign up, visit the PJ Library website or contact Risa Goldstein at (818) 668-2343 or RGoldstein@JewishLA.org.
PJ Library program in Los Angeles is made possible by Jewish Federation Los Angeles, generous local donors and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
