Taking first steps into Jewish life

Lacey Krum, with her husband and their daughter, Shoshana.

Like most new moms, Lacey Krum was over the moon after giving birth to her daughter, Shoshana, in late 2024. Yet, also like so many new moms, she felt the stress and isolation of taking care of a newborn.

When Shoshana was two months old, Krum’s friend told her about a weekly playdate for new parents and babies, facilitated by JUF Young Families. So, she gave it a shot—and was glad she did. “I felt really comfortable,” she recalled. “We could talk about anything—it was the perfect reentry into society, and felt like low stakes.”

But Krum, who worked in sales before having Shoshana, craved more. “I felt lucky to be a stay-at-home mom, but I [also] wanted multiple places to channel my energy,” she reflected. “I wanted something of my own—outside of family life.”

That’s when Krum learned about a jBaby Chicago Parent Ambassador program: an ambassador is a new parent who acts as a resource to other new parents in the Chicago Jewish community.

Today, Krum enjoys balancing motherhood with her role as ambassador. She’s made close friends with other ambassadors and plans programs like last fall’s Chanukah menorah painting and a pizza party Shabbat. As Krum says: “I am really building a community.”

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In 2025, you made it possible to—

Engage thousands of young families in over 550 programs and events.

Provide—in partnership with the Harold Greenspoon Foundation—10,152 local children from 0-12 free monthly Jewish books through PJ Library and PJ Our Way.

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“Although we live in a very Jewish neighborhood, my daughter goes to a dual language school where there are many cultures and not as many Jewish kids. I am so so thankful for JUF/PJ Library for providing an opportunity for us to teach others about our cultures and for her school of her inviting me in!”

-Lori Fink, mom

“We adore PJ Library and are grateful for the literature that is forever expanding and continues rooting us into Jewish culture, traditions, and family history into our home. “

-Aayisha Ruby Gold, mother of two

“My husband and I have been blown away by JUF offerings for young families and are very grateful to plug into this community. We were part of a recent “Connecting the Expecting” cohort and have received such a warm welcome from jBaby.”

 ~New Chicago mom