By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — Jewish books from the PJ Library are mailed free every month to 680,000 Jewish children, with those for the youngest children to be read at bedtime by their parents or guardians. Yes, you can thank Harold Grinspoon, the Newton, Massachusetts, real estate entrepreneur who funds much of this philanthropy, along with Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, his daughter-in-law who serves as president of his Foundation.
In a Zoom interview with Charlene Wallach of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, the Grinspoons commented that there is someone else whom Jewish families can thank: Dolly Parton, the country music star.
Winnie Grinspoon explained that Parton started an Imagination Library in Tennessee and then expanded it to children elsewhere in the country. Her efforts inspired Harold Grinspoon first to make a contribution to the program, and then to start a giving library of his own, this one aimed at Jewish children, of whom 3,000 currently reside in San Diego County.
It’s called the PJ Library because it is hoped parents will read the books to little children in those special moments before bedtime, Winnie said. Jewish books are printed in seven languages for international consumption, and an Arabic children’s book program also is sponsored by the philanthropic foundation.
In choosing stories and illustrations, Winnie said, the Grinspoon Foundation wants the books to serve sometimes as mirrors and other times as windows. She explained that when they are mirrors, children ranging from infants to 12 years old can see themselves and their families reflected in them. When they are windows, they can see how other Jewish families live and what they may look like. The idea is that although there may be differences, we are all one Jewish people.
When children receiving PJ Library books reach their third birthdays, they are sent a tzedakah box to promote the idea that no one is too young to help someone else.
Harold Grinspoon explained that he decided to create the Foundation after he was diagnosed with cancer on the tongue — a condition that has left him with a speech impediment. He said he thought at that time about what would be his and his wife Diane Troderman’s legacy. Would he be remembered only as a guy who made a lot of money in real estate? “No way!” he decided. He wanted to be known as someone who not only knew how to make money, but as one who knew how to give it away.
Grinspoon said another program that his Foundation promotes across the nation had its origins with the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego’s “Leave a Legacy” program, in which members of the Jewish community pledge to leave money in their wills for the Jewish community.
He said that years ago, he met Marjorie Kaplan and Gail Littman, who since have moved on from the Jewish Community Foundation, and was quite impressed by their presentation about the legacy program. So, the Grinspoon Foundation brought the idea to 72 other Jewish communities and thus far $1.24 billion has been pledged in bequests, with another $134 million already realized.
Families desiring to receive PJ Library books each month for their children may do so via this link.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com