For the past 18 years, a special program has been inspiring families to explore and celebrate what they love about Jewish life, through a free monthly book subscription service: PJ Library, the flagship program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and of the JUF Young Families department in Chicago.
Recently, PJ Library launched the Get Together grant program, an initiative in the Chicagoland community dedicated to fostering deeper connections within Jewish communities. The small grants, up to $100 each, are open to any household currently receiving PJ Library books. The goal is to empower families to host their own Jewish-themed gatherings with friends and neighbors.
Since launching the Get Together initiative in late fall of 2024, more than 100 Chicagoland families have applied for the grant and hosted their own gatherings.
Arden Austin and Katherine Silverman, two moms who met at a local children's museum and initially bonded over having babies around the same age, discovered that they were both looking for a deeper connection to their local Jewish community and to Judaism. In December, after hearing about the Get Together initiative, they came together to host a Chanukah party at Austin's Lincoln Park home.
"The Get Together grant was a game changer," Arden explained. "We were still in the 'should we do this' phase of the process and getting the grant turned it into 'we should do this!'"
The grants encourage families to celebrate Jewish life outside of traditional institutions, making connecting with other Jewish families more accessible and personal. Events funded by Get Together grants include Shabbat dinners, book clubs, Tu B'Shevat playdates, Purim costume parties, and
hamantaschen
baking sessions.
Requirements for Get Togethers are that more than two (but no more than 10) Jewish families come together for a gathering centered around a Jewish value, custom, or holiday. The intention is to bring small groups of people together to deepen, renew, or create new friendships.
One of the key goals of the Get Together initiative is to help parents feel confident about planning and hosting Jewish gatherings and making the process as easy as possible. "The idea for a Chanukah potluck came from a desire to build relationships with other Jewish families and to build meaningful traditions for our kids," Austin said. "With young kids it's no small feat to host a party, even for something as casual as a potluck. But when the grant was approved, it gave us the leg up we needed to successfully pull it off."
Participants can host up to three Get Togethers and receive up to $300 total in reimbursement for their gatherings-a perfect opportunity to engage with friends and build lasting relationships. Parents can apply for a Get Together grant on behalf of their PJ Our Way kids, too; it can be an event for families or a "big kids only" kind of party.
For more information about the program or to apply for a Get Together grant, visit
pjlibrary.org/gettogether
.
Dara Cameron is the Director of the Young Families department at JUF. She lives in Oak Park, and her son, Ezra, has been happily receiving PJ Library books for the past seven years.
