Jewish Community Partners

The Memphis Jewish Federation is delighted to announce Sarah Besser will be serving as PJ Library Coordinator. Building on her passion and dedication as Federation’s Campaign Associate, Besser is well prepared to build and grow the PJ Library program for the Memphis Jewish community.

Sarah Besser began working at the Memphis Jewish Federation in August as Campaign Associate bringing with her experience in planning young adult and family engagement events, as well as women’s philanthropy, and a background in sustainable and regenerative tourism.

When asked about her new role as PJ Library Coordinator Ms. Besser shared,” I am beyond excited to work on PJ Library; it is a fantastic program, and I hope to bring the young families in our Jewish community closer together.”

A program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library partners with communities around the world to provide families raising Jewish children with the gift of free, high-quality children’s books, music, and resources that foster deeper engagement with Jewish life. In Memphis, Federation leads PJ Library programming with the support of local donors. Beyond a mere book delivery service, PJ Library is a dynamic initiative fostering connections within the community.

Bluma Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein, Executive Vice President of Memphis Jewish Federation and Chief Impact Officer of Jewish Community Partners, expressed confidence in Sarah’s ability to enhance the PJ Library program, saying, “In her short time as Campaign Associate, Sarah has already built new relationships with young, Jewish families in our community. I am confident she will take our PJ Library program to new heights.”

PJ Library actively fosters collaboration with key community institutions, including the Memphis Jewish Community Center (MJCC), local synagogues, early childhood centers, and Jewish day schools to incorporate Jewish stories and engaging programming into school and community events. One such collaboration is MJCC’s PJ Library Snack & Story, led by Rabbi Abe Schacter-Gampel.

Most recently, PJ Library collaborated with eight community partners for the wildly successful Pajamakkah program– an interactive Hanukkah experience that drew nearly 300 participants from across the Memphis Jewish community.

With 326 children and 256 families already benefiting from PJ Library in Memphis, the impact is undeniable. Ms. Besser’s appointment as PJ Library Coordinator signifies a commitment to fostering a sense of belonging among young Jewish families in Memphis and strengthening their connections to Jewish life. Take part in this enriching experience for your family by registering for PJ Library today at jcpmemphis.org/pjlibrary. For more information, email sbesser@jcpmemphis.org or call 901-767-7100.