Meet the Fingerman-Maldonado Family of San Leandro
PJ Library® Family of the Month
Meet Beth and Gonzalo, and their children Abby (4) and Oliver (20 months), who live in San Leandro. Gonzalo was raised in Bolivia, and Beth grew up in Berkeley, attending Jewish day schools through middle school and spending her summers at Jewish camps. The couple is proudly raising their children Jewish. Abby attends Temple Beth Sholom Preschool in San Leandro and has loved learning about Judaism and celebrating Shabbat each week. She shares songs and blessings when their family celebrates Shabbat with family and friends, even now via Zoom during shelter-in-place. Abby and Beth began making challah together every Friday these past few months, which according to Beth “brings more warmth to our weekly Shabbat experience.”
Abby and Oliver have been receiving PJ Library books since they were babies and relish growing their home library collection, with many titles on regular rotation. When a new book arrives each month, both kids eagerly rip open the book envelopes and run to the couch so that Beth can read to them. This has become a special family ritual. It’s a Mitzvah, Grover is a current favorite for both children, “especially when Gonzalo impersonates a funny Grover voice as he reads aloud.” Abby has learned a lot about mitzvot and continues to find ways to perform mitzvahs for her family and friends. Another PJ Library family favorite is Rise and Shine, A Challah – Day Tale. This delightful book has prompted conversations at home about ways the children can be kind to seniors in our community.
A powerful element of PJ Library for the Fingerman-Maldonado family has been the families they are meeting through PJ Library Bay Area and PJ Family Connector events. During shelter-in-place, PJ Library has hosted a suite of fun Zoom and Facebook Live events with community partners for families, children, and some geared specifically for parents. Beth says, “these events are a great way to connect with others and feel a sense of community during these uncertain times.”
Beth is our new PJ Library Parent Connector for San Leandro!
She is excited to connect with local PJ Library families and continue creating Jewish community for families with young children in her area. As a parent connector, Beth will be supporting families with children ages 0-4 (and their siblings) to create deeper relationships and Jewish connections. She would love to get to know you and your family, so feel free to reach out to her.
PJ Library® sends free Jewish books and music on a monthly basis to children ages 6 months through 8 years of age throughout the Bay Area. Learn More
If you would like to be featured as our Family of the Month, simply fill out this form and we will be in touch!
