PJ Library helps people “do Jewish” at home

Kids enjoy decorating and eating sugar cookies in the sukkah during a Get Together in Chicago. (Photo courtesy of PJ Library)

Ten years ago, PJ Library—the free Jewish book and family engagement program—launched “Get Together” as a pilot in 10 communities across the U.S. and Canada. This initiative awarded families up to $100 in reimbursements for hosting Jewish-themed gatherings for at least two other families raising Jewish children. The goal? To inspire and support more people to “do Jewish” in their own homes, in their own way.

Over time, the organization started rolling these microgrants out to more PJ Library communities across the country, and eventually made “Get Together” available to all PJ Library subscribers in the U.S. and Canada, including in the Chicago area.

Since the initiative launched locally in 2024, Chicago-area families have hosted more than 500 gatherings throughout the city and suburbs. So far, this year alone, Chicago-area families have hosted 170 Get Togethers. Events have included: Shabbat dinners; hamentashen bakes for Purim; apple tastings and sukkah decorating in the fall; and a menorah-making party and potlucks for Chanukah. Outside of holidays, the reimbursements have also been used for intro-to-Judaism classes and Jewish book groups for adults.

“For our community, which is so diverse, but also so engaged, having that added push is a really powerful resource,” said Dara Cameron, Director of JUF’s Young Family Engagement.

Cameron added that she used Get Together to host a group of friends for a Havdalah bonfire in the backyard. One family had never made Havdalah before, while another hadn’t done it since their own time at Jewish summer camp.

The 2026 Get Together cycle is open, and we encourage active PJ Library subscriber families looking to host two to 10 other Jewish families to apply. A family can receive Get Together grants up to five times in a calendar year.

The program is for anyone—those who are just making their way into Jewish community, those already deeply involved in Jewish life, and everyone in between. Part of Get Together’s appeal is its flexibility: It’s available to any PJ Library subscriber, to be used for any Jewish experience, so long as you’re doing it… together.

PJ Library subscribers can check their email inbox for their unique invitation or head to pjlibrary.org/gettogether to have a link resent. Not a PJ Library subscriber yet? Sign up at the same link.

Naomi Barnett is Communications Manager for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.