PJ Library Turns the Page with a New Professional
We’re thrilled to announce that Bethany Friedlander, a long time Jewish educator with a diverse array of experience in religious and secular education, is joining our team as the new PJ Library manager.
“I can’t think of anyone more suited for this role than Bethany Friedlander,” said Chief Jewish Life and Engagement Officer Dr. Julie Lieber. Friedlander has worked from coast to coast as a classroom teacher, education director, assistant principal, program coordinator, and curriculum designer in public, religious, private Jewish day schools, and synagogues.
“I’m passionate about Jewish education for young people, about literacy, and about the role that families can play when they take an active role in their children’s Jewish learning,” said Friedlander.
PJ library is a worldwide program that sends free Jewish children’s books to families every month. An initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the program is made possible through partnerships with local Jewish organizations and philanthropists. As the local PJ Library partner, JEWISHcolorado helps connect Jewish families—children, parents, and grandparents—across the state to PJ Library and its programs. Here in Colorado, nearly 5,000 families take part in one of the PJ Library book programs each month.
In addition to Friedlander’s work as a professional educator, she holds teacher certification in virtual experiential education and facilitation, teacher certification with honors from Rutgers, a Master’s of Education from Arizona State University, a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University, and she has studied at Hebrew University, Mount Scopus in Israel.
“We are delighted to have Bethany joining our Jewish Life and Engagement Team as we seek to expand our reach and serve more people in Colorado,” said President and CEO Rabbi Jay Strear. “This is an extraordinary program that is having incredible impact every day in the lives of families, and we look forward broadening the reach of this program.”