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Family Education
at Congregation B'nai Israel

Calendar   Story Hour
Nosh and Drash   Mishpacha Shabbat
Coffee and Conversation   Tot Shabbat
Habitat For Humanity   13 Mitzvot
A Bibliography and Web Links for Families   Elaine Chetrit, Director of Family Education 

Family Education at B'nai Israel

The Family Education Program at B'nai Israel strives to ensure that Jewish family learning is constantly occurring because we know, as Jews, that this is essential to the maintenance of Jewish values, identity and continuity. Our goal is to create a community where people can share in experiences of Jewish family learning and become energized by it. The programs we provide are meant as opportunities for individuals to develop a spiritual, educational and social connection to Jewish life and to the Congregation, as well as to integrate Judaism into people's daily lives.

Family Education at B'nai Israel enables parents to teach their children about Judaism so that they can create meaningful Jewish rituals, observances and traditions in their own homes. It encourages parents to assume the role of being their children's primary educator, while encouraging parents to engage in Jewish learning and observance for themselves as well.

Family Education programming at B'nai Israel connects adults and directly engages children of all ages and asks them to consider what it is to be a Jew in ways that are meaningful and enriching for everyone. Our Family Education program recognizes that learning is and should be lifelong, so regardless of the definition of your "family", whether someone's children have long departed from the nest or one is just starting a family, opportunities for Jewish growth and connection are designed to make Judaism relevant to all. Cognizant of our rich and full Jewish calendar, Family Education provides activities for congregants to come together as a large and unified community as well as offering more intimate settings for specific groups throughout the year.

At B'nai Israel, many Family Education programs are integrated into the Religious School and Nursery School. These programs directly correlate to the material and curricula of the specific classes. For example, the Kitah Alef (first grade) curriculum in the Religious School concentrates on Genesis. Each year we offer a Torah workshop corresponding to the particular Torah portions being studied. Kitah Bet (second grade) focuses on Israel, so Family Education always plans an Israeli picnic at the time of Yom Haatzmaut, which includes Israeli foods, songs, dancing art activities and discussion.

As the gimel (third grade) class is the year for students to receive their Hebrew names, a whole workshop on the significance of naming and names is made a part of the studies. Likewise, the Nursery School does a complete unit on tzedakah, and what accompanies that is a program that focuses on the word mitzvah and the broad definition that comes with it.

Family Education seeks to foster connections outside of the classroom as well. Monthly Tot Shabbat and library Story Hours bring together Preschool families to make further connections to the synagogue and other young families.

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The Thirteen Mitzvot project engages parents and their B'nai Mitzvah age children in fulfilling mitzvot as a means to underscoring the significance of mitzvah in Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Monthly Shabbat celebrations at the Temple called Mishpacha Shabbat bring families with preschoolers and elementary school age children together for dinner and a Shabbat service geared specifically toward young children.

The monthly Coffee and Conversation group is made up of many retired adults who come together to socialize and continue their lifelong pursuit of Jewish knowledge. The weekly Nosh and Drash, a thought provoking discussion, debate and exploration of our sacred texts is made up of an intergenerational group of men and women who love the informal exchange of ideas.

Our Family Education programming even ventures beyond our Synagogue with a Family Kallah (retreat) in the Berkshires. The weekend seeks to provide fun, spiritual growth, fellowship and family camaraderie.

Family Education also endeavors to weave the Jewish calendar into our daily lives. To that end, for every major Jewish festival, there exists a family event that capitalizes on bringing together the community in joy and celebration. An evening of Sukkah decorating and a Sukkot picnic is one example. The Shavuot picnic and flower planting is another. Family services are a part of both of these programs that offer congregants a chance to socialize, share a seudah (a ritual meal) and be spiritually enlivened.

Family Education at B'nai Israel is often a collaborative effort. The Mitzvah Connection, our annual Social Action Fair, draws on the efforts of the Family Education Committee, the Social Action Committee and the Brotherhood to achieve its success. The fun and folly of the Purim Carnival is a joint Brotherhood and Family Education function.

The Habitat for Humanity projects, in which the Congregation has participated for the past six years, call upon every Temple committee and auxiliary to make a commitment: the Nursery School children preparing lunches for the volunteers, the Religious School students collecting tzedakah in Habitat House banks, BIFTY organizing youth group build days and every Synagogue committee signing up for a volunteer Sunday.

In this large institution where there are so many people with so many diverse interests and needs, Family Education aims to provide a source for intimate and focused possibilities. Family Education at B'nai Israel maintains a philosophy and outlook open to new ideas and opportunities that reflect the character and interests of our Congregation and we hope you will consider joining us at several of our programs throughout the year.

 
 

FAMILY EDUCATION CALENDAR

NOSH 'N DRASH
Thursdays from 9:45 TO 11:30 a.m.
Join a group of adults who discuss, debate and learn together lessons from our Sacred texts. Come weekly, come when you can! After four years of studying the Five Books of Moses, the Wednesday morning Nosh 'n Drash is moving on to the Early Prophets.

Following escape to freedom and forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Hebrews are poised to enter, conquer and possess the promised land. Together, we will begin an exploration of the wisdom and teachings in the stories of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and the Kings.

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MISHPACHA SHABBAT
Friday, May 16 @ 6:30 p.m.

Join in our monthly family (mishpacha) Shabbat experience which includes Shabbat dinner and service ideal for families with preschool and elementary school-aged children. We provide the chicken, challah, candles and grape juice. You bring a side dish or dessert. The cost is $4.00/adult, $2.00/child.

For further details and to RSVP, contact Elaine Chetrit at the Temple (336-1858) by the Monday before that Shabbat .


COFFEE & CONVERSATION
Tuesdays, @ 10:00 — 11:30 p.m.

One morning a month - a facilitator leads a discussion of a timely topic: Judaism, politics, health care, retirement issues, etc. Once during the year a day trip is organized to a place of Jewish interest. This program is open to all members of the congregation, but of particular interest to our senior members. Click here for topics and dates.


TOT SHABBAT
Will be back in the fall!

A Shabbat morning of crafts, songs, service and Kiddush for pre-schoolers and their parents


STORY HOUR
Will be back in the fall!

Bring your preschooler to the B'nai Israel Sifriya (Library) for a morning of Jewish tales and an introduction to our most precious book, the Torah.

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THIRTEEN MITZVOT PROJECT
For
Bar/Bat Mitzvah students, a complementary individualized Bar/Bat Mitzvah program whereby the student becomes involved in mitzvot that benefit the community and synagogue. Click here to see the work of some of our students!

B'NAI MITZVAH HAVDALAH GATHERINGS
Hosted by a B'nai Mitzvah family and facilitated by a senior staff member, 4 to 5 B'nai Mitzvah families gather at a family's home to get to know one another and share in an informal Havdalah service.

B'NAI MITZVAH FAMILY CLASSES
These classes for students and their families take place several months before the Bar/Bat Mitzvah. The families meet with members of the professional staff to learn the history of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, discuss individual concerns, explore ways in which family members can become more involved, and become accustomed to the service at B'nai Israel.

SUKKOT
Decorate the Synagogue Sukkah, enjoy a picnic supper under the stars and share in the Sukkot family service.

SIMCHAT TORAH
Make your own flags and banners preceding the Simchat Torah family service.

MITZVAH CONNECTION
Co-sponsored with the Social Action Committee, this is an annual Social Action fair dedicated to recognizing and fulfilling mitzvot. Participants learn about and get involved in hands-on interactive mitzvot experiences with a variety of community social service organizations at the Temple. Click here for more information!

PURIM CARNIVAL
The entire community is invited to our annual Purim Carnival co-sponsored with Sisterhood and Brotherhood.

ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Israeli music, singing and dancing are part of an enjoyable Oneg Shabbat in honor of Israeli Independence Day.

SHAVUOT PICNIC AND FLOWER PLANTING
Families are invited to share in a pot luck dairy picnic before Festival services and participate in a flower planting of the Temple grounds after services.


The Jewish Family Bibliography

cover Jewish Family & Life : Traditions, Holidays, and Values for Today's Parents and Children by Yosef I. Abramowitz, and Susan Silverman, Golden Books Pub. Co., 1997.

A practical resource for activities, "how-to" directions for family-friendly celebrations, as well as explanations of observances.

coverTears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope : A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss by Nina Beth Cardin,Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1999.

 

coverLiving a Jewish Life : Jewish Traditions, Customs and Values for Today's Families by Anita Diamant & Howard Cooper, New York: HarperPerennial, 1991.

  • An excellent, accessible book to learn about Holidays, Life Cycle Events, and general Jewish practices.

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How to Be a Jewish Parent : A Practical Handbook for Family Life
by Anita Diamant & Karen Kushner, Schocken, 2000.


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The New Jewish Baby Book : Names, Ceremonies & Customs-A Guide for Today's Families
by Anita Diamant, Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1994.

Motherprayer : The Pregnant Woman's Spiritual Companion by Tikva Frymer-Kensky, New York: Riverhead Books, 1995.

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Parenting as a Spiritual Journey: Deepening Ordinary & Extraordinary Events into Sacred Occasions
by Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1996.


And Hannah Wept : Infertility, Adoption and the Jewish Couple by Michael Gold, Philadelphia: JPS, 1988.

  • This is more explanation of traditions and resources. Nina Cardin's book gives more spiritual support for those facing such challenges.

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Becoming a Jewish Parent: How to Explore Spirituality and Tradition with Your Children
by Daniel Gordis, New York: Harmony Books, 1999.

Ten Attitudes of Highly Effective Jewish Grandparents: Patterns for Enhancing & Sustaining Your Grandchildren's Jewishness. (16 page booklet) by Grishaver, Joel Lurie. Torah Aura Productions, 4423 Fruitland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90058, 1995. (800) BE-TORAH.

cover40 Things You Can Do to Save the Jewish People by Joel Lurie Grishaver, Alef Design Group, 1997.

  • 40 discussions of ways to fit Jewish activity and discussion into a family's busy life, without sacrificing the trip to Disney OR Shabbat.

 

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If I'm Jewish and You're Christian, What Are the Kids?
by Andrea King, New York: UAHC Press, 1993.

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Best Baby Names for Jewish Children
by Alfred J. Koltach, New York: Jonathan David Publishers, Inc., 1998.

Raising Your Child to Be a Mensch by Neil Kurshan, New York: Atheneum, 1987. Out of print.

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When Children Ask About God : A Guide for Parents Who Don't Always Have All the Answers
by Harold S. Kushner, New York: Schocken Books, 1995.

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The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children
by Wendy Mogel, NY: Scribner, 2001.

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Chocolate Chip Challah and Other Twists on the Jewish Holiday Table
by Lisa Rauchwerger, New York: UAHC Press, 1999.


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Adoption and the Jewish Family: Contemporary Perspectives
by Shelley Kapnek Rosenberg, Philadelphia: JPS, 1998.

coverOn the Doorposts of Your House, Chaim Stern, editor, New York: CCAR, 1994.

  • Jewish Rituals for your home and holidays.


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The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap
by Alvin Rosenfeld and Nicole Wise, NY: St. Martin's Griffin, 2001.


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Teaching Your Children About God : A Modern Jewish Approach
by David Wolpe, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1993.


cover
Mothers Who Think : Tales of Real-Life Parenthod
Camille Peri and Kate Moses, editors, New York: Washington Square Press, 1999.

 

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The Kindness of Children
Vivian Gussin Paley, Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ Press, 2000.

 

The Gesell Institute Child Development Series edited by Louise Bates Ames, The Gesell Institute of Human Development, 1976. Reprinted 1980.
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Internet Links

The Jewish Parent Page http://www.uahcweb.org/educate/parent

Shabbat Table Talk http://uahc.org/shabbat/

Building Your Own Jewish Library http://uahc.org/educate/library.html

Reform Jewish Outreach Recommended Books http://uahc.org/outreach/bib.html

Articles for Reform Jews http://www.clickonjudaism.org

Jewish site for 20's and 30's http://www.generationJ.com

Jewish Family Life and Net http://www.jewishfamily.com

Interfaith Family Site http://www.interfaithfamily.com

Dad's and Daughers http://www.dadsanddaughters.org/

Product Recalls http://www.kidsindanger.org/

National SAFE KIDS Campaign http://www.safekids.org/

The Parenting Project is an organization dedicated to addressing our nation's crises of child abuse, neglect and abandonment, teen pregnancy and overall violence by working to bring parenting, empathy and nurturing skills education to all school age children and teens. http://www.parentingproject.org/

The Foundation for Grandparenting http://www.grandparenting.org/

Jewish Music
Click on the link to Jewishmusic.com at the top of this page. See especially Joe Black, Craig Taubman, Jeff Klepper or Kol B'seder and Debbie Friedman.

Family Education Calendar

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Congregation B'nai Israel
2710 Park Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604
203.336.1858
info@congregationbnaiisrael.org