PJ Library SSI Retreat 2026

March 22 - 26, 2026

General Lodging at the Barn at Boyds Mills – $0.00

Welcome to the Retreat for the Sephardic Stories Initiative

hosted by PJ Library

The Sephardic Stories Initiative is part of PJ Library’s mission to represent the diversity of North American Jewish communities through the books sent to families.

With generous support and guidance from the Seattle-based Samis Foundation, and following extensive research and recommendations from a specially formed advisory committee, the Author Stewardship Team brings together authors of Ethiopian, Sephardic, and Mizrahi backgrounds to create stories inspired by their own experiences.

Details about our In-Person Gathering

WHAT TO EXPECT

This five day, in-person program is centered on idea creation and community, with:

opportunities for learning from guest faculty and the PJ Library Team
ample self-paced time to make progress on a project, or play with your creativity
support for Jewish, Sephardic, Ethiopian, and Mizrahi research

Program Structure & Intentions

Designed to balance creative exploration with meaningful progress, this retreat offers a clear, supportive structure for deepening your work. Each day builds intentionally on the last, so you’ll leave with both renewed creative energy and tangible outcomes you can carry forward.

Storytellers Will Arrive With

One–two picture book story seeds

Storytellers Will Leave With

One lead picture book project developed into a strong outline or expanded concept
Two–three additional viable story ideas ready for future development
Greater clarity around audience, the publishing landscape, and cultural grounding
Deepened community trust, creative momentum, and professional confidence

Daily Deliverables at a Glance

Day 1: Shared language, community trust, and a personal creative intention
Day 2: Two–three newly generated story concepts plus an expanded idea list
Day 3: Ranked concepts and a clearly chosen lead project with defined audience and emotional core
Day 4: A concrete story outline or storyboard
Day 5: A personalized, actionable next-steps plan

Mornings will be structured around lectures, workshops, and hands-on activities. Afternoons will be for independent writing and revising, as well as meetings with fellow creatives (including office hours with the PJ Library Team and special guests).

KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTS:

This is an in-person workshop at Boyds Mills hosted by PJ Library.
Your tuition, lodging, and meals are covered.
Travel reimbursements to the retreat center will be available from PJ Library. (Details below.)
Arrival should be between 3pm – 5:30 pm Eastern on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Departure is set for Thursday, March 26, 2026 following lunch (if travel schedule permits)

Important Dietary Information:

PJ Library maintains kosher style options for programs that they host. During this retreat, we will only be serving vegetarian and kosher fish options. Snacks and drinks will be certified kosher. While the retreat center’s kitchen is not kosher, we are able to provide kosher certified packaged meals for participants who mark this request.

Travel stipend information

PJ Library will provide reimbursements for up to $500 for North American flight travel and $1,300 for international flight travel. For travel from Israel, please only purchase refundable tickets, in which case the travel stipend can extend to $1,700. If flight travel costs exceed any of these limits, please reach out to the PJ Library team for approval: authors@pjlibrary.org.

PJ Library will also cover the cost of shuttles and/or car rentals for travel between transportation hubs and campus. Receipts can be submitted for reimbursement separately from flight travel reimbursement requests. There are no reimbursement caps for shuttles/rental cars, but we ask that you plan reasonably:

Please avoid “luxury” car services or rental options.
Feel free to explore rental cars and/or other car service offerings in the area—please see third party options listed on our website’s Getting Here page. We highly recommend communicating with your fellow retreat attendees to discuss potential carpool options using the virtual classroom when it opens on February 23, and via a shared spreadsheet that will be included in your confirmation email.

When planning your travel, remember that check-in to your lodging begins at 3pm, and the first program event will be appetizers, beginning at 5:30pm.

How to submit for reimbursement

All reimbursement requests (for flights, mileage, and/or car rentals or shuttle services) are due by March 31, 2026. Reimbursement forms will be housed in your virtual classroom and sent via email.

ABOUT PJ LIBRARY:

Learn all about PJ Library at https://pjlibrary.org/home.

PJ Library sends free Jewish children’s books to families across the world every month. We know that something magical happens when parents sit down together to read with their children. PJ Library shares Jewish stories that can help your family talk together about values and traditions that are important to you. PJ Library welcomes all Jewish families, whatever your background, knowledge, or family make-up, or observance may be.

ABOUT THE BOYDS MILLS RETREAT CENTER:

All in-person BOYDS MILLS workshops (including this special partnership with the PJ Library) are held at our Retreat Center: The Barn at Boyds Mills. This site was the home of the original founders of Highlights for Children Garry and Caroline Myers, and is located in the Poconos Mountains of Pennsylvania on the traditional lands of the Lenape Nation. For more information about attending a workshop or retreat here, visit the Barn at Boyds Mills website.

Our name has recently changed from the Highlights Foundation to BOYDS MILLS, please read about this change, our mission, and our Community Standards.

Categories : In-Person, Jewish Interest