Just in time for Hanukkah, PJ Library is launching in Russian, beginning with a pilot program in Moscow which will for the first time provide the gift of free, high-quality Jewish books in Russian to children and their families throughout the year. PJ Library in Russian will begin by serving Jewish children ages 4 through 8 and their families. As part of a Hanukkah campaign, the first books will be distributed this week to more than 1,000 children in Moscow.

Through a partnership with Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPG), for the past five years, PJ Library has been actively engaging thousands of families with young children in Russian-speaking Jewish communities in North America. The launch in Moscow aims to reach up to 2,000 children and families by August 2016.

Ten times a year, the PJ Library program in Russia will deliver free, age-appropriate, Russian-language books on Jewish themes directly to the homes of participating children and families in Moscow. Beyond the books, partnerships with community organizations will engage families through local programming including holiday celebrations and gatherings that will incorporate Jewish values, as well as elements of Russian culture and literature. Funding from PJ Library Russia’s network of supporters, which also includes the JDC, Russian Jewish Congress, and individual donors, will support books as well as efforts to develop relevant and innovative programing experiences.

The PJ Library Program was created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in 2005. Today, more than 400,000 Jewish children and families in eight countries receive PJ Library books each month through PJ Library and Sifriyat Pijama, a sister program in Israel. More than 6,000 Russian-speaking Jewish families in North America have also benefited from PJ Library’s Russian-speaking engagement efforts.

Interested families can register for PJ Library Russia at www.pjlibrary.ru.