“The one place during the week where I can just slow down for a minute and get to be myself.” ~Rachel, Age 15
Midrasha: My Weekly Jewish Refuge
“Camp is a great place. All the activities are really fun, and I really feel Jewish at camp. I can’t believe there are so many people like me!” ~Jeffrey, Age 8, Pleasanton
Take Me to Camp!
“Before we had a kid, we had very few children’s books about Jewish things. Now, we have a huge library!” ~The Goldberg Family, Livermore
From PJ Library to PJ Our Way
Together, we engage youth and families through Jewish life and learning by:
Educating the next generation – We invest in education through scholarships at Jewish day schools, programming at Berkeley Hillel, and year-round Jewish family activities at Camp Tawonga.
Reaching out to families – We connect 400 families with preschool through high school aged children connect to Jewish life in the East Bay. Our Sprout Grants help families take their first step into formal organized Jewish life. We sent free Jewish books every month to over 3,700 children in the East Bay age six-months to eleven-years-old.
Supporting youth programs – We provide financial aid so over 540 East Bay kids and teens can form lifetime memories and friendships at Jewish summer camp. We empower over 650 teens to grow as leaders and take pride in their Jewish identity through programs provided by BBYO, midrashot (Hebrew High School), and NCSY.
Cultivating thoughtful family philanthropy – We help funders choose the best vehicle for their family giving and involve their children in their gift planning, thus helping create a generation-to-generation tradition of giving.
STORIES OF ENGAGING YOUTH AND FAMILIES
- Knowledge is Power: Learning more about BRCA-related cancer riskOn Thursday night, March 28, Congregation Beth El in Berkeley will partner with The Basser Center for BRCA to host a panel discussion entitled “Knowledge is Power: Understanding and Managing [...]Read more
- Not Just Any Playdate: Making Space to Build BridgesOn Sunday, January 27, a group of 11 toddlers and pre-schoolers gathered with their grown-ups for storytime and yoga in a synagogue classroom. But this wasn’t just any playdate. It was a “friends [...]Read more
- January 2019 Family of the MonthThe Bell Family of El Cerrito Rabbi Yanky and Shternie live in El Cerrito with their son Mendel (2). They moved to the Bay Area two years ago. Hailing from Montreal, Canada (Shternie) and Leeds, [...]Read more
