16 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 J
N

10, she says. 
The program is funded 
by a PJ Library Engagement 
Grant on behalf of 
the Harold Grinspoon 
Foundation. JFamily received 
the grant last year and this 
year.
“We spend a lot of time 
thinking about how to put 
the group together and 
making sure that families are 
grouped with people they 
will click with, people who 
live near them, people whose 
children are close in age and 
who are looking for similar 
things,” Fain says. 
“We hope this will help 
them experience Shabbat 
with other families who may 
become lifelong friends.” 
The program was a huge 
success last year and served 
as a pathway for families 
looking to connect with 
congregations, Tot Shabbat 
programs and more, she 
adds. “Sharing Shabbat truly 
exemplifies what JFamily is 
all about — building Jewish 
connections and 
community.”

LEFT: Isaac Plotkin 
and Aliya Segal 
make spice boxes for 
Havdalah.
BELOW: Rabbi Aaron 
Starr and Mikki Frank 
lead the Shabbat 
blessings at the 
opening Shabbat 
dinner. 

OUR COMMUNITY

continued from page 14

