December 5, 2021

PJ Library Presents

Home to Home: Celebrations of Jewish Life

Throughout the year 5782 our Home to Home programs will be a consistent source of Jewish celebration for families in our community.  Planned thoughtfully with a mix of in-person and virtual platforms families will have options for how they want to participate.  With an eye toward the safety and comfort of families we will continue to utilize family material kits for each program both in-person and virtual and will also provide a “welcome kit” to each family the first time they participate. The creative and engaging activities in our Home to Home Celebrations will connect Jewish families and empower parents to make Jewish memories.

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This event has been cancelled: Lech Lecha Hike of Kindness – Saturday October 16, 2021

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The Ninth Night in Our Neighborhood

Our celebration will take place on the afternoon of the last night of Chanukkah. Using the PJ Library book The Ninth Night as an inspiration, families will discover ways they can end Hanukkah with plans to be a shamash, or helper, to those in their neighborhood.

Please note: This event will be Virtual only

Sunday December 5, 2021 – Virtual on Zoom 4:30-5:30 pm

REGISTER HERE

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Making Sense of Tu B’Shvat

This year, Tu B’Shvat coincides with Martin Luther King Jr Day.  Knowing the importance of this day, and the commitment of many Jews to engage in social justice activities in honor of his memory, we will be celebrating Tu B’Shvat prior to the holiday.

Tu B’Shvat is about more than planting trees, and our  Pre-Tu B’Shvat this all virtual celebration will help families use their five senses to explore all that this holiday has to offer.

Registration is required

Sunday January 9, 2022

Virtual on Zoom 4:00-4:45

REGISTER HERE

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Havdalah Mystery

Many Jews end Shabbat with the observance of Havdalah.  This short service often ends with the singing of Eliyahu Hanavi… but who is Eliyahu and why is he important?  Our family Havdalah celebration will solve the mystery and help families prepare for Passover by creating a cup for the mysterious Elijah. This celebration will be held virtually on Zoom.

Registration is required

Saturday February 12, 2022

Virtual on Zoom: 5:00-5:45

REGISTER HERE

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Purim Shabbat

In preparation for Purim, families will welcome Shabbat and get to know the characters of the megillah.  The commonality of ometz lev, courage of the heart, will help families connect these ancient ancestors to our present lives.  This celebration will only be held virtually on Zoom.

Registration is required

March 11, 2022

5:30-6:15

REGISTER HERE

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A Place for Elijah

Building on our Havdalah Celebration, our Passover Celebration will dig even deeper into Elijah.  We will introduce families to the often unknown tradition of leaving a seat for Elijah and explore what it means to open the door for Elijah during our seders. As a visual reminder of all that Elijah represents, families will create a special chair cover to be used year after year on which they can record hopes for the coming year. With both COVID and convenience in mind, this celebration will be offered in two in-person sessions with limited capacity as well as a virtual session.

Registration is required and all JCC COVID policies will be followed

Sunday April 3, 2022

• Session 1: In Person at the JCC in Squirrel Hill 1:00-1:45
• Session 2: In Person at the JCC in Squirrel Hill 2:00-2:45
• Session 3: Virtual on Zoom 4:00-4:45

REGISTER HERE

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Yom Ha’atzmaut: Hatikvah Means Hope

Creating and waving the familiar blue and white of the Israeli flag is a traditional way to celebrate Yom Ha’azmaut.  The challenge of Yom Ha’atzmaut in the diaspora, is how we connect families to our homeland land.  The Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah will help us explore the theme of hope and how hope is a Jewish value that can be found in all of us. With both COVID and convenience in mind, this celebration will be offered in two in-person sessions with limited capacity as well as a virtual session.

Registration is required and all JCC COVID policies will be followed

Sunday, May 1, 2022

• Session 1: In Person at the JCC in Squirrel Hill 1:00-1:45
• Session 2: In Person at the JCC in Squirrel Hill 2:00-2:45
• Session 3: Virtual on Zoom 4:00-4:45

REGISTER HERE

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Shavuot Family Game Night

Kids can’t handle an all-nighter, so our Kindness Counts Family Game Night will help families laugh and learn together on the eve of Shavuot.  Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz built a family based on kindness, and our Shavuot celebration will highlight the value of chesed, kindness, while sharing the legacy of these ancestors.  During the celebration families will craft their own Kindness Counts game with game pieces inspired by the actions and attributes of Ruth (the Queen of Kindness), Naomi (the Master of Pleasantness) and Boaz (the Pillar of Strength).  Our Kindness Counts game will inspire them to lead with kindness long after Shavuot.   This celebration will only be held virtually on Zoom.

Registration is required

Saturday June 4, 2022

Virtual on Zoom 6:00-6:45

REGISTER HERE

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Home to Home Celebrations are funded by a grant from National Center to Encourage Judaism

PJ Library is funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and implemented by JCC of Greater Pittsburgh