Jewish Enrichment Program for pre-schoolers
Give your little ones the chance to explore Judaism!
Managed by Abbe Smerling, these weekly play groups are for preschoolers between the ages of 2-1/2 and five years old. The ten weekly sessions feature activities including holiday themes, arts & crafts, movement, music, cooking, stories and fun. The fee per child is $150. Classes begin the first week of October.
For a list of class dates, times and ages, please click here.
For more information, please contact Abbe Smerling, aksmerling@aol.com; 781-862-0455
Young Families Listserv
A Temple Isaiah-based email group geared toward providing information to Families with Young Children. Postings in the past have been about Temple Isaiah events and programs, finding a Jewish summer camp, connecting families whose children are about to start Jewish Preschool, and coordinating get-togethers at local parks or community activities. Since postings are limited to Temple Isaiah/Jewish/local topics appropriate for the group, and not for commercial purposes, you need not worry about spam. To sign up, please use the form available here. You do not need to be a member of Temple Isaiah to belong to the listserv, so please invite friends and family as well!
TOT Shabbat Family Services, Dinner and Fun! - Friday evenings; 5:45 pm
TOT Shabbat services are family-friendly Shabbat services for families with young children and are led by Isaiah’s clergy (Rabbi Howard Jaffe, Cantor Lisa Doob and Rabbi Jill Perlman) and Jodi Jarvis, Director of Early Childhood and Family Life.
TOT Shabbat services are held once a month on friday evenings at 5:45 pm, last about 30 minutes, and are appropriate for families and children ages 0 - 6. Each TOT Shabbat service includes candle lighting, giving tzedakah, an age-appropriate Shabbat service, singing and a story with our TOT Shabbat puppets, Molly Mitzvah and Tommy Torah! And introducing, our newest puppet friend, Ilana Ivrit, who will be teaching us some Ivrit (Hebrew)!
SOMETHING NEW! BIG KIDS (NOT TOTS) Shabbat Activities! Do you have older children that have “outgrown” the TOT Shabbat experience, but still want to come with your little ones? Bring the whole family and after the blessing over candles, big kids will join an educational staff member for age-appropriate Shabbat activities during TOT Shabbat services. Afterwards, we will all join together for blessings over wine and challah, dinner and more FUN!
After services, we join together for Shabbat table blessings, a complimentary family-friendly dinner and Oneg (dessert), arts and crafts activities,a playspace for our youngest guests, and the opportunity to meet other families with young children. We hope that you will join us! No RSVP is required for dinner. We hope you will join us and get to know other families with young children!
The friday dates for TOT Shabbat for 2011 – 2012:
November 4; December 9; January 6; February 4**; March 16; April 27; May 11; June 15
Kabbalat Shabbat Services - Friday evenings; 6:15 pm
Our congregational Kabbalat Shabbat services begin at 6:15 pm, last about 1 hour, and are appropriate for families and children of all ages. Kabbalat Services are offered 1 – 2 times per month throughout the year. We are pleased to offered complimentary childcare (sponsored by our clergy) for our youngest children, from September – June. Childcare will be provided by an experienced young adult(s), with a snack and fun activities provided.
The Friday dates for Kabbalat Shabbat are:
September 9 and 30; October 21; November 18 and 25; December 16 and 23; January 20; February 10; March 2; April 13; May 4 and 25; June 22 and 29.
SHIR Shabbat Family Services - Saturday mornings; 9:15 am
SHIR Shabbat (Song of Shabbat) are Shabbat morning services designed especially for families with children ages 10 and younger. These family-friendly services from 9:15 - 10:15 am are full of joyful song and prayer and an oneg snack is offered afterwards.
The Saturday dates for Shir Shabbat are: November 5, January 14, February 4 **, March 24
**This is a special upbeat, lively musical family service, with well-known interactive performers, Peter and Ellen Allard and will begin with a festive and delicious breakfast at for all! Breakfast 9:00 am; Services begin at 10:00 am.
As with all our programs for Families with Young Children,
membership is NOT required to participate.
Temple Isaiah’s Family Playspace
We welcome you to visit the young children’s play space at Temple Isaiah! It is located in the front half of room 13. Our play space has many toys and books for young children along with two comfortable sofas for adults and a cozy rug for our youngest friends and their parents. We also hope that you will help us in maintaining this area by cleaning up after you play! Thank you!
Please understand that the play space is also a staff workspace – with this in mind, the play space may not always be accessible and/or available for use. You can check in with the staff members, or refer to the sign on the play space door.
Parenting Through a Jewish Lens
A 10-week journey for parents of all backgrounds to explore core values (ikkarim) that can strengthen your family. Learn with expert instructors who understand your interests and concerns as parents, and who are adept at facilitating meaningful discussions. Meet and get to know other parents
Free on-site babysitting is available for all daytime classes. Pre-registration is required.
*Participants hail from all backgrounds. Interfaith, GLBT, and single parents are welcome.
Classes will meet on Sunday mornings from 9:00 - 10:30 am on the following dates: 2011: 10/23; 11/6; 11/20; 12/4; 2012: 1/8; 1/29; 2/5; 3/4 ; 3/11; 3/18
To learn more about or to register for ParentingThrough a Jewish Lens click here.
Holiday Resource Materials
If you are interested in information to help you celebrate the holidays at home, please contact Jodi Jarvis, Director of Early Childhood and Family Life – jjarvis@templeisaiah.net or 781-862-7160 ext. 15.
TOGETHER...the Mishpacha (family) Way
TOGETHER...the Mishpacha (family) Way is a new initiative for families with Pre-K - Kindergarten-aged children. It is designed for parents and children to explore key Jewish ideas together through engaging, playful activities, and to offer adults some learning time of their own with other parents.
More about Together…the Mishpacha Way!
- Whole families are encouraged to participate.
- Childcare and refreshments are included!
- Eight monthly sessions on Sunday mornings, from October to April.
- Hands-on experiences, including music, movement, arts and games led by our early childhood educational staff.
- Parent learning opportunities with Isaiah’s clergy.
- Families of all backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to participate.
- Free tuition for Isaiah members
- Cost for non-member families: $250, includes tuition and materials fee.
- Special events: Shabbat Day Away Retreat and Shabbat dinner included!
- Make friends and build community together!
Questions or to register...Please contact Jodi Jarvis, Temple Isaiah’s Director of Early Childhood and Family Life at jjarvis@templeisaiah.net or 781-862-7160.
Please note: As of August 15, 2011 our Together...the Mishpacha Way program is filled with 25 families. If you are interested, please contact Jodi jarivs, in the event that space becomes available!
Jumpstart Judaism
Jumpstart Judaism is a program for babies, toddlers and grown-ups too! Join us for the opportunity to meet new family friends, sing, play and learn together! Jumpstart Judaism is co-led by Jodi Jarvis, our Director of Early Childhood and Family Life and a member of our clergy. Jumpstart Judaism has been generously funded by Temple Isaiah's Sisterhood.
Jumpstart your Jewish journey today, come sing, learn and play!
Jumpstart Judaism is held on Sundays from 11:15 am - 12 noon; snacks are provided!
Jumpstart Judaism dates for the 2011-2012 year are:
November 20, December 18, March 4, and April 1
High Holiday Services and Programs for Families with Young Children
Rosh Hashanah Family Services, Thursday, September 29 at 2:30 pm, Temple Isaiah
This service is designed for families with children up to age 8.
Tashlich, Thursday, September 29 at 4:00 pm, Lexington Reservoir, Lexington, MA
Tashlich (you will cast) is the ceremony when we throw bread crumbs from our pockets into a moving body of water, symbolizing casting away our wrongdoings of the past year.
Yom Kippur Family Services, Saturday, October 8 at 2:15 pm, Temple Isaiah
This service is designed for families with children up to age 8.
Afternoon and Yizkor Services, Saturday, October 8 at 3:30 pm, Temple Isaiah
Yizkor, (remembrance), is Judaism's memorial prayer. At this service we remember family members who have passed on.
N’eelah Services, Saturday, October 8 at 6:15 pm (approximately), Temple Isaiah
N’eelah (closing) is the closing service of Yom Kippur. Join us to mark the end of Yom Kippur Day with the blast of the Shofar and a light-filled procession at the end of N’eelah (the closing service). We will celebrate Havdalah together and create a beautiful and joyous mood for the end of our holy day.
ALL OF THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS LISTED ABOVE DO NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR TICKETS – PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE JEWISH NEW YEAR TOGETHER!
If you have questions about any of the services or programs listed above, please feel free to contact Jodi Jarvis, Temple Isaiah’s Director of Early Childhood and Family Life at jjarvis@templeisaiah.net or 781-862-7160.
Our Families with Young Children Calendar of Programs and Events is now available as a Google Calendar!
To view the Google calendar, click here.
To display the calendar as a searchable list and to subscribe, click here.
To add the link into your personal email program (outlook, lotus notes, etc) click here.
To add our Google calendar to your Google calendar simply:
1. Log into your Google calendar
2. In the "Other Calendars" area on the bottom left, click "Add" and then click "Add a friend's calendar"
3. In the contact email box, type templeisaiahlexington@gmail.com and click "Add".
4. Once you have added to your Google calendar, you can add it to your mobile device (if the Google calendar account is setup on that device) by visiting the following link on your mobile device:
http://m.google.com/synch