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Author Illustrator Miri Leshem-Pelly Coming to a synagogue near you!
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Author Illustrator Miri Leshem-Pelly- UVJC
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Author Illustrator Miri Leshem-Pelly- BAJC
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Author Illustrator Miri Leshem-Pelly- JCOGS
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Author Illustrator Miri Leshem-Pelly- Beth Jacob
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Author Illustrator Miri Leshem-Pelly- Chad
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Author Illustrator Miri Leshem-Pelly- Temple Sinai
Jump to Kids Events
PJ Library! Family Events!
PJ Library! Family Events!
This is the home for family friendly events! Updated weekly
Scroll down for events
“I grew up culturally Jewish, but have never really practiced actively, so I was super excited to get PJ Library for my daughter when she was born to help keep that thread alive.
When Nora was about two and a half, one evening she just said, "Why are we a Jewish Family?" Well, clearly PJ Library Books did their work! I don't think she ever would have identified as Jewish without those monthly books!
Starting then, we committed to deepening our practice and now, five years later, we observe Shabbat every Friday and Havdalah every Saturday and are proud members of the Jewish Farmer Network.
PS My answer to her question at the time was, "Because we don't believe that one human being, no matter how amazing, can save all of humanity. We are all called upon to do good in the world every single day to make the world a better place. Many faiths believe this, but we happen to believe it in a Jewish way and call it Tikkun Olam." Ricky Klein
Sign up for PJ Library
A gift of Jewish storybooks delivered each month from JCVT and generous donors in the Vermont Jewish community and beyond.
PJ Library sends curated, award-winning storybooks and activities for kids from birth through age 12.
The program sparks meaningful conversation and provides opportunities to explore and celebrate Jewish life together.
PJ Library in vermont
PJ LIBRARY CELEBRATES 50 MILLION BOOKS
PJ Library in Vermont, now in our seventeenth year, is a program of Jewish Communities of Vermont. We partner with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to send a gift of monthly Jewish children's books to families across Vermont.
PJ Library Collaborates with local synagogues for family programs across the state. We have partnered with Temple Sinai, Ohavi Zedek, Havurah of Addison County, Jewish Community of Greater Stowe, Beth Jacob Synagogue, Shir Shalom, Kol HaEmek, Chabad of Vermont and Rutland Jewish Center, Israel Congregation Manchester, Beth El Bennington and Congregation Beth El St. Johnsbury.
We know that something magical happens when parents sit down together to read with their children. PJ Library shares Jewish stories that can help your family talk together about values and traditions that are important to you. Your children are constantly learning about the world around them through the stories they hear. PJ Library books can bring Jewish ideas and inspiration for you and your children to share together.
We also offer ways for families to meet each other through in-person and virtual family gatherings led by PJ Parent Connectors and other leaders in the community. We offer monthly Shabbat and holiday gatherings, gardening opportunities, meet-ups in different locations throughout Vermont and more!
Families raising kids from birth through 12 years old with Judaism as part of their lives, are welcome to sign up. PJ Library welcomes all Jewish families, whatever your background, knowledge, family make-up, or observance may be.
When your child is 8.5 years old, they are eligible for the next chapter of PJ Library called, “PJ Our Way.” Like PJ Library of Vermont, PJ Our Way is a monthly gift from many supporters throughout Vermont and beyond. Through PJ Our Way, children 9-12 are able to choose their own books each month, write reviews, make videos and are eligible to apply to be part of the PJ Our Way design team. Since it is a separate program, parents need to enroll their children by going to www.pjourway.org.
PJ Library in Vermont is made possible by donations from people like you including parents, grandparents and community members and through partnering with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. For books alone, our cost per child is $40/year. Pay it forward to help another family become part of the Jewish story in Vermont!
For more information, contact our PJ Library of Vermont Director of Community Engagement, Zack Brooks : zack@jcvt.org
Kids Events!
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Kids Events! 〰️
Kids Events
Ohavi Zedek Family High Holiday Programs
Scroll down this page for information about Tamim Academy!
That's right! It's time to sign your child(ren) up for Hebrew School. We have been hard at work on some exciting changes and are thrilled to once again gather for fun hands-on learning at Havurah House.
Classes will begin on Monday, September 23. A full updated school calendar will be sent out with our Welcome Materials for the new school year.
Save the Date: Meet the Teacher / Hebrew School Kick Off Event Sunday, Sept. 15
Lots more details will be coming out over the next month about new staff, in depth projects, Hebrew initiatives and innovative new experiential learning. Looking forward to gathering with you in the fall!
Please fill out your registration form by August 1. Reminder, membership is required to enroll in Hebrew School.
We hope you will join us for an exciting year ahead! Questions? Contact Director of Education, Sarit Katzew.
Shavuot on the Mountain
Join us June 9, three days before Shavuot, as we hike to the Mountain Chapel on Mt. Mansfield to prepare for this holiday of first fruits and receiving the Torah!
We’ll gather at the Stowe Mountain Resort, then make our way up the mountain, finding the first fruits of Vermont (spring wildflowers like trout lilies and trilium) and enjoying community, contemplation, and the beauty of nature. At the Mountain Chapel, we’ll share in a bikkurim (first fruits) parade and songs in the chapel with Rabbi David and JCOGS educators. Seeking musicians to help support the parade with joy.
When: June 9, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Meet outside the Mansfield Lodge at Stowe Mountain Resort
Details:
Hike is 1.5 miles each way, and is moderate but accessible for kids and families.
Prepare to be on the mountain for about 3 hours.
Event will run rain or shine!
What to bring: filled water bottles, backpack, bug repellant, rain gear, hat, sunscreen, snacks
We will provide: fun and reflective programming along the way, community building, songs, Shavuot teachings, smiles, fruit, and chocolate.
We are grateful for our co-sponsors: Jewish Communities of VT and Jewish Community of Greater Stowe (JCOGS).
Green Up Chabad Day
LET'S GET DIGGING! GREEN UP CHABAD DAY
JOIN US ON SUNDAY, MAY 12TH
DROP IN ANYTIME BETWEEN 10:00AM - 2:00 PM
All skills and ages are welcome!
Planting, Outdoor Projects, Landscaping and more
Let us know how you can help maximize our outdoor spaces
Mother’s Day on the Farm
Music and farm fun for the family
Families with young children are invited to honor our mothers and Mother Earth with a morning on the farm. We’ll share in song, story, and the joys of planting in the spring. Some of what is planted will be donated to the local food pantry.
When: Sunday, May 12 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Where: Living Tree Alliance, under the tent in the field, park at 96 Living Tree Lane
Who: Young children (1–7 years old) and their families; older siblings welcome
We’ll start the morning with song and movement under the tent with Miss Andrea from Musical Munchkins.
Then, we’ll have fun on the farm:
Decorating and planting flowerpots to give to moms and grandmothers
Planting veggies in the garden that will be harvested later for the food shelf
Visiting farm animals
While children are enjoying the farm with LTA’s farm educators, parents are invited for a discussion about bringing meaningful ritual into your child’s life with educator Melanie Grubman.
Schedule
10–10:45 am: Musical Munchkins with Miss Andrea (geared for families of young children with farm & mother themes)
10:45 am: Healthy snack time
11am–12 pm: Decorate flowerpots for mom, plant veggies for the food bank
12–12:30 pm: bring your own picnic lunch to eat under the tent with short discussion about bringing ritual in your own home
Many thanks to our sponsors: Jewish Communities of VT and JCOGS.
Community Purim Celebration
Come celebrate Purim at Israel Congregation!
Sunday, March 24th, 5:00 pm
Purim Celebration
Purim Celebration
On March 24, the Young Families Program will be hosting a Purim Celebration from 3-5pm. We will have lots of fun crafts and other things to do. Please come dressed in costume as there will be a costume parade! All children will receive a participation award for being in the costume parade.
Each family will receive a Purim basket/mishloach manot to bring home. In order to have enough baskets, please let me know if you will be able to attend this event at: https://forms.gle/wnVbVejdxgZWZPeZ6.
Sugar and Schmooze
Celebrate Purim and early spring in the sugarbush!
See an old-school sugar operation that the Crowley Family runs at Living Tree and share in the joy of fresh sap and syrup and the coming of spring. We’ll parade to wake up Mother Earth and honor the Jewish festival of Purim, and we’ll also celebrate with the traditional Purim customs of creating gifts for others and performing skits (in the sugarbush—Living Tree-style). Hibernation season is over, so lets celebrate! People of all faiths are welcome.
Come in costume, if you’d like!
Be prepared to walk down a muddy path to the sugar house.
Bring cash or check to purchase fresh maple syrup to bring home or gift to someone.
Admission based on sliding-scale donation: $8–$25 per person or $18–$54 per family suggested. Funds support community programming and outdoor education.
JCOGS PuRiM Party!
5 pm Festival of Fools
5:30 Persian Potluck Picnic
6:00 pm Megillah reading
6:30 Just Come On Get Silly Spiel
7:00 pm Disco Dance Party! with Sparkly Snacks and Sarah’s Sangria
Volunteers needed for: decorating, potluck coordinating, festival activity running, DJing , and spiel performing
Contact Beth to help out! beth.liberman@jcogs.org
Tu biShvat Ice sculpture building Festival
We’re building a community ice sculpture in honor of our theme this year: ahavah/love. Come help build at 4pm! Lighting ceremony and a family-friendly Tu biShvat seder from 5 - 6 pm. Pizza and warm drinks will be served.
Adult volunteers needed to start the building earlier. Helping hands welcome on Tue 1/23 and Wed from 11-2 pm!
TU BISHVAT:" BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE TREES!
Celebrate the deep beauty of mid-winter with Living Tree Alliance as we gather to honor the holiday of Tu BiShvat, the birthday of the trees. With programs for all ages, we’ll plant seeds of stewardship and intergenerational community-building.
We’ll gather 11 am to 2 pm, with three program options:
Contemplative showshoe/walk for adults. Led by Kohenet Sephirah Oshkello, we’ll snowshoe or walk through the woods on a contemplative journey inspired by the teachings of Jewish mystics, while appreciating and connecting with the tree community that lives here.
Outdoor family program. Led by primitive skills mentor Elliot Cluba of Herbs and Arrows and Living Tree Education Director Melanie Grubman, we’ll connect with the holiday through storytelling, forest games and tracking.
Music for little ones. Ms Andrea of Musical Munchkins will lead a joyful musical program for young children.
A few more details:
Be sure to dress warmly for outdoor activities.
If there's snow, you're invited to bring sleds, skiis, and snowshoes for outdoor fun on the property.
Snowshoes available for rent at Clearwater Sports
Bring food to share around the fire!
Mitzvah Weekend Literacy
Mitzvah Day Weekend
Did you know that only a third of fourth graders in America can read at a proficient level? Unfortunately, illiteracy impacts many children in Vermont, too. There are lifelong implications for children who don’t learn how to read, and they grow into adults who struggle with low literacy. This is a solvable problem! Learn how we can all work to change the early literacy crisis for all children and their families.
Annual PJ Library in Vermont Update
We are excited to share with you our
accomplishments this year. In 2022, Jewish Communities of Vermont, implementing partner for PJ Library in
Vermont, received a Signature Covenant Grant for a total of $150,000 for up to three years, to work on building
and expanding the Jewish community in Vermont for statewide community building programs for all ages. We just
received the grant for the second year.
Covenant Grant
Through the Covenant Grant, in 2022, JCVT awarded Mini grants to 13 synagogues and Jewish organizations to
bring the Jewish community together to celebrate Jewish cultural and communal events. We also co-sponsored
Jewish music concerts and a film festival. We know that in all the programs offered, many individuals and families
who attended were not members of synagogues or affiliated with the Jewish community.
We were very excited that so many Jewish organizations wanted to provide Jewish gatherings to the Jewish
community, especially to unaffiliated Jewish families and adults. There are so many Jews who want to be
connected to Jewish life but need a way to find their way in. We offered four regional events and many local
events as a doorway into being connected to the Jewish community.
At the largest regional gathering, Northern Nosh, we offered a Hanukkah puppet show, a children’s concert, and
an intergenerational songwriting workshop, all with well-known Jewish artists, including and Anna Sobel, Joanie
Leeds and Jon Gailmor. Popular and beloved puppeteer Anna Sobel also brought the audience into the puppet’s
world at two other regional events.
PJ Library in Vermont
PJ Library in Vermont is now a well-known and well-liked program. We send monthly books for over 600 kids in
Vermont ages 0-12. PJ Library families are encouraged to invite other families to do something Jewish together
through Get Together Grants, where they are reimbursed up to $100 for food. However, there are still many
people who don’t know about PJ Library and are very interested in enrolling once they know. We had a PJ Library
table at four regional events which was a great way to promote the program. Monthly Zoom and in-person
Shabbat and Holiday programs for families for families are very popular at Temple Sinai in Burlington. We also co-
sponsored many PJ Library programs with other synagogues throughout the state. During Hanukkah, PJ Library in
Vermont cosponsored a public Menorah lighting at the State Capital where attendees were invited inside the
Statehouse to hear the Governor read a PJ Library story to children, to sing Hanukkah songs with a local Jewish
musician and enjoy local cider, hot latkes and donuts. At the regional gatherings and Hanukkah party, PJ Library
books were given out to all.
Harold Grinspoon Grant for Family Education
Through the Parenting Education Grant, state-wide parenting classes and family programs on Zoom and in person
are currently being offered using traditional and modern sources for topics including Feeding the Family, Teaching
our Children about Tzedakah and Encouraging Gratitude. Outdoor Family programs that have been offered at the
Living Tree Alliance Jewish Moshav included Tu B’Shvat and Shugar and Shmooze. Upcoming programs will be
Mother’s Day on the Farm and Shavuot on the Mountain. A week-long Jewish children’s overnight camp will be
offered this summer at Living Tree Alliance, co-sponsored by PJ Library in Vermont. PJ Library families can apply
for a grant for this camp and any overnight Jewish summer camp.
PJ Library Collaborations with local synagogues for family programs across the state have included Temple Sinai,
Jewish Community of Greater Stowe, Beth Jacob, Shir Shalom, Chabad of Vermont and Rutland Jewish Center
Tamim academy
Tamim academy
Vermont’s first and only Jewish day school is located in the heart of Burlington. Guided by leading educators and enriched by the spirit of community, Tamim Academy prepared students for purposeful lives by empowering them with a positive self- concept, a passion for learning and eternal Jewish values.
More information is at: www.tamimvt.org