Family Education Programming

Featured: The Gifts They Give: Non-Jewish Parents Helping to Raise Their Jewish Children

This story describes two Roman Catholic women married to Jewish men who take charge of leading a chaotic family service for their children when the rabbi doesn't show up. It encourages us to welcome and appreciate the contributions of non-Jewish parents of Jewish children.

Topics: Family Education Programming, Interfaith

Type: Article

Featured: Fall Holiday Family Education

These two programs for preschool students and their parents incorporate a variety of activities. The first focuses on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. The second focuses on Hannukah.

Topics: Family Education Programming, Holiday Resources, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Simchat Torah, Sukkot, Hanukkah

Type: Family Education Program

The 100 Languages of Children Meet the 70 Faces of Torah: Preparing the Encounter of Jewish and Reggio Emilia-Style Approaches to Early Childhood

Rabbi Jeffrey Schein and Deb Schein describe their assumptions and search for a metaphor to describe the groundbreaking work they are doing in bringing the philosophy of early childhood education from the Reggio Emilia approach in Italy to Jewish early childhood education in North America.

Topics: Education, Family Education Programming, Human Development

Type: Article

Journeying Through the Torah

This Simchat Torah program is geared for family education with children K-5. The program incorporates various learning "stations" to explore the beginning, middle and end of the Torah.

Topics: Family Education Programming, Holiday Resources, Torah, Simchat Torah

Type: Family Education Program

Brit Adamah Checklist for Home-based Environmental Action

In advance of Tu Bishvat 5767 (2007), students at West End Synagogue organized to try to make a difference in their community. They created a "Brit Adamah," a covenant with the earth, which asked/challenged members of the community to take on a variety personal practices that make a difference in bettering the environment. This is a downloadable Microsoft WORD document, so congregations can easily adapt if for themselves.

Topics: Education, Jewish Life, Family Education Programming, Tikkun Olam

Type: Community Discussion Guide

Fall Holiday Glossary

This file contains a helpful glossary of terms for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. It begins with a letter to parents suggesting themes to think about during the holiday season.

Topics: Education, Family Education Programming, Holiday Resources, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Simchat Torah, Shemini Atzeret, Sukkot

Type: Glossary

Two Shabbat Morning Family Services

This piece describes the two children's services held at Beth Hatikvah in Chatham, NJ.

Topics: Education, Family Education Programming, Teaching Liturgy, Ritual Life and Music

Type: Program Description

D'var Torah by Parents

This program invites parents to share Torah with their children in the context of a Shabbat morning family service.

Topics: Education, Jewish Life, Family Education Programming, Synagogue Programs, Jewish Practice

Type: Program Description

Yom Ha'Atzma'ut Program for Pre-K Students and Families

This self-guided tour of Israel for four- to five-year-olds and their families uses games, art and science. It comes from Oseh Shalom Religious School in Laurel, MD.

Topics: Education, Jewish Life, Family Education Programming, Israel: Culture

Type: Lesson Plan

Tu B'Shevat Program for Pre-K and Families

An introduction to Tu B'Shevat for four- to five-year-olds and their families through science, games and art, from Oseh Shalom Religious School in Laurel, MD. (From 2004)

Topics: Education, Family Education Programming, Jewish Practice, Tu Bishvat