The man who changed Jewish bedtime stories is still reinventing himself at 97
JTA — Most people spend their later years looking back. Harold Grinspoon has spent his reinventing himself.The businessman became a philanthropist. The philanthropist discovered Jewish children’s books and created PJ Library. In his late 80s, he became a sculptor after a cherry tree fell in his yard.Now, as he turns 97, Grinspoon is reflecting on the unexpected pivots that have defined both his life and his approach to Jewish giving.Known for innovative programs like PJ Library, which engages young Jewish families with monthly deliveries of age-appropriate children’s books and music, Grinspoon and his eponymous foundation have focused on programs that, in the spirit of the real estate business that made his fortune, build Jewish habits, institutions and relationships that he hopes will outlast him.“I was 10 years old in 1939 when the Holocaust began and the horrific news of what was occurring to the Jews in Europe over the ensuing…
Harold Grinspoon, a 97-year-old businessman and philanthropist, has continually reinvented himself throughout his life, most notably by founding the PJ Library. This initiative delivers free Jewish children's books to families globally, aiming to foster Jewish identity and connection. Grinspoon, who was deeply affected by the Holocaust, established the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) in 1991 with his wife, Diane Troderman, after making his fortune in real estate. The HGF also supports JCamp 180, aiding Jewish camps, and Life and Legacy, which helps institutions secure their financial futures, having facilitated over $2.2 billion in future commitments. In his late 80s, Grinspoon discovered a passion for sculpture, creating over 140 large-scale, abstract pieces from distressed wood and other materials. Reflecting on his life, Grinspoon stated, "I always knew that if I made money, that I would give it back to the Jewish people."
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