[by Jennifer Tuvlin, the PJ Library Director]
Over 30 participants in the Jewish Community Center’s PJ Library program met at the JCC on Sunday, May 19, for a Tzedakah Fair, where they learned about tikkun olam, repairing the world, and supported our local community. Marsha Roth, co-chair of the PJ Library Louisville read Jumping Jenny and taught the kids that they are never too young to help others.
Jumping Jenny, by Ellen Bari, is a book about a young girl who conducts her own fundraiser for children in Africa. It was sent to Louisville children aged 6 and 7 in 2012 and served as the impetus for the Louisville PJ Library’s Tzedakah Fair.
The children went to various stations and “earned money” by working on various projects. Some kids decorated quilt squares that are being bound together in a blanket for the Center for Women and Families. Other children decorated reusable grocery bags, which, along with two bags of canned food and toiletries, will be donated to the JFCS Food Pantry.
Younger children decorated pictures to be hung at Signature HeathCARE of Cherokee Park, formerly Four Courts. And, inspired by the PJ Library book, the children had a jump rope task to see how many times in a row they could jump. Finally, all of the children made tzedakah boxes to bring home and continue raising money for those less fortunate.
At the end of the event, the children donated all of their earned money to either JFCS, the PJ Library or the fund for upkeep of the JCC baby pool.
The next PJ Library event will be Sunday, June 30, 10-11 a.m. at the JCC. The Littlest Pair will be read and children will make bird feeders. During the event the concepts of taking care of animals, being nice to each other and words can hurt will be explored. Please reserve you place at this event by contacting PJ Library Director Jennifer Tuvlin, jtuvlin@jewishlouisville.org or 238-2719.
If your child or grandchild living in Louisville is not yet registered for PJ Library please log on to www.pjlibrary.org or contact Tuvlin.
PJ Library is a Jewish family engagement program operating in Louisville thanks to the generous support of the Louisville JCC, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence. Every month registered children receive a free Jewish book or CD on various topics ranging from the Jewish holidays to Israel and even Tzedakah.
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