Early Childhood Education
The goal of our early childhood programs is to increase family connections to the congregation and to regular practice, incorporating Jewish tenets and ritual within the home and family. Many of our Early Childhood programs and all community events are open to all.
Connect with other Congregation B'nai Shalom families with young children for discussion and play dates.
Biweekly Preschool Program for 3 and 4 Year-Olds!
גרעינים Garinim!
Garinim, Hebrew for seedlings, is the name of our preschool program which will become a biweekly program this fall! We will be offering a class for three and four year old children on alternating Sunday mornings from 8:30 am-11:00 am! There will be 12 sessions annually, beginning September 23, 2018, at a tuition of $300. Music, arts and crafts, free play time and snack will be included in the morning’s activities. Garinim programs include Candy Apple Decorating for Rosh Hashanah, Planting for Tu B’Shevat, Purim Palooza, and a Pajama Party!
CBS Members May Register for Garinim under "My Account" on Shulcloud as a part of religious school enrollment!
If you are not yet a member of CBS, please complete Garinim Application, or contact Executive Director Steve Winer to find out how you can enroll your child in Garinim!
Now Enrolling!
Tot Shabbat
Tot Shabbat provides a warm, fun-filled, and accessible Shabbat experience for your entire family. Geared to children from birth to age five and their parents, Tot Shabbat is led by an experienced musician and one of our Rabbis. Tot Shabbat includes a welcome art activity, often linked to an upcoming holiday. Then, children and families also gather for a brief, 30-minute service filled with song, prayer, movement, stories, and fun. Following the service, a light children’s snack is served.
Early Childhood Programming
Monday, September 10, 2018 - HHD Childwatch
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - HHD Childwatch
Saturday, October 13, 2018 - Tot Shabbat at 10:15 AM
Saturday, December 8, 2018 - Tot Shabbat and Day of Giving at 10:15 AM
Coming Soon!
High Holy Day Services – These spirited and interactive services are filled with music, stories, shofar blowing, a Torah parade and you! No tickets are required. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur AM Services!
- Parents to Be – (2nd and 3rd Trimester) - Group will provide communal support for parents who are experiencing their first pregnancy. We provide a space to honor the transition into parenting, offer resources, self-care practices, and friendship all through a Jewish lens. Select Sundays, 10:00 – 11:00 am.
- My Toddler & Me - Are you looking for a fun, lively class that challenges your toddler as they continue to figure out how the world works? Activities will focus on movement, multi-step activities, using problem solving skills, and providing rich sensory experiences. Dance and gymnastics also included! Weekday mornings (TBD) beginning in October 2018!
- Sunday Tots - A unique program of creative Jewish learning designed to enrich the lives of young children and their families. Join us to explore the year through Jewish eyes with music and movement, stories, and art focused on Jewish holidays and values. The perfect introduction to your child's formal Jewish education. Ages 1-5 with an Adult, Select Sundays, 8:30 – 9:30am.
- Dancing with Alissa – A dance class for children ages 2-3 and their adult partners. Dance, play, celebrate the coming of Shabbat, and share in the joy of music and movement. Weekday mornings (TBD) beginning in January 2019!
These programs are co-sponsored through a generous grant from Jewish Federation of Central Mass. Contact our front office at office@cbnaishalom.org for further information.
PJ Library
PJ Library is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, made possible through partnerships with philanthropists and local Jewish organizations. Today, families in hundreds of communities across the United States and Canada are able to explore the timeless core values of Judaism through books and music. Through a partnership between Congregation B’nai Shalom and PJ Library, we mail high-quality Jewish children’s literature and music to our families on a monthly basis – free of charge.
All Congregation B’nai Shalom member families with children from age six-months through six years of age are welcome to enroll.