Family Center Programs and Events
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PROGRAMS AND EVENTS 2011-2012
Programs and Events Descriptions
FOR ADULTS ONLY
Meet Me at Starbucks
Informal coffee meetings on topics chosen by the group and facilitated by Esther Wolf, our Family Center Director. These meetings are scheduled at various times throughout the year.
FOR CHILDREN ONLY
Enhanced Youth Services
Four times a year we will have a special Shabbat Service with our rabbis for children in grades 1 through 5. Celebrate Shabbat and enjoy a yummy Kiddush lunch after services!
PRACHIM -Prachim is a Hebrew word that means flowers and is also an acronym of Preschool*
Rabbis* Art* Cooking* Holidays* Ivrit (Hebrew)* Mitzvot*. This curriculum, offered only at Shearith Israel, is a program of Jewish and Hebrew enrichment for children ages three to five years old.
Each semester we include the following topics: the weekly Torah portions; mitzvot, such as Baal Tachcheet (taking care of the environment); Hachnasat Orchim (greetings guests); and Gemilut Chasidim (acts of loving kindness). In addition, we explain the holidays and Shabbat through art, cooking, music, and drama. Lastly, the children begin to learn basic Hebrew conversations with their friend Benzie the turtle!
Prachim classes are held every Sunday at 9:15 am until 12:15 pm.
To register for the semester or for the complete school year, contact Esther Wolf, the Family Center Director.
Mr. Donavan
The Family Center is pleased to have Mr. Donavan help ourchildren lead healthy lives. Mr. Donavan as been getting kids moving for almost twenty years. He began his career as a gymnastics instructor and coach. By combining sports fitness, movement, games and motor development activities, Mr. Donavan has created a program that helps children achieve their overall physical development. This program is designed for children ages 2 through 8.
FAMILIES TOGETHER
Tiny Treasures
Tiny Treasures honors and celebrates families whose babies were born from July of any year to the following July. The program takes place each year in October. Family and friends are invited to join us as we welcome our youngest members of the synagogue to the bimah. Following the ceremony, a Kiddush luncheon is provided for guests of the babys’ families. To register your child for this year's Tiny Treasures, click here.
Shabbat Beyachad-Shabbat Together
Families with children close in age to your own children will have Shabbat dinner together in a home. Host homes will alternate.
A chavurah or havurah is a small group of like-minded Jews who assemble for the purposes of facilitating Shabbat or holiday observance, sharing communal experiences such as lifecycle events, and Jewish learning. If you are interested in becoming part of a chavurah with families who have children of similar age to yours, please contact Esther Wolf at 214.939.7316 or ewolf@shearith.org.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
Crafting the Holidays- Sukkot, Chanukah, Pesach; A Time to Learn, A Time to Create
Spend time with friends at our programs learning and creating crafts for the Jewish holidays. During each session, you will learn with one of our rabbis about a new aspect of the holiday. Then, create a wonderful craft project to enhance your holiday experience.
Sukkot Dinner
Meet other Shearith families with children; eat, drink and do an art project and celebrate together in the sukkah!
Tu B’Shevat Seder: Celebrate the Jewish Earth Day
Participate in a Seder with four cups of grape juice; enjoy fruits and juices of the tree.
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Purim...what a Fun Holiday!!
Join us for our annual production of the holiday story presented by our very own Queen Esther and her talented team of actors, then grab a hot dog and play a game at our carnival at the State Fair of Shushan. It’s Free, fun and open to the community.
Get Into the Mood for Passover
Join our Prachim classes for a model seder geared to toddlers –kindergarten age children. Make some props you can take home and use at your own family seder.
Passover Family Dinner
Get out of the kitchen and have dinner with us!
Lag Ba’omer Family Fun Day Carnival
Lag Ba’omer, the 33rd day after Passover, traditionally is a track and field day. We’ll celebrate our families and our Family Center with family friendly activities, entertainment, games, prizes and an early dinner.
PJ Havdalah and Movie
Shabbat ends early. We will come together for the Havdalah service as we bid Shabbat together with other families with children. Enjoy a light dinner then watch a movie. The kids will take in a movie in Barnett Hall, while the adults watch another movie in the Pidgeon Family Theater (PG13)!
Donuts with Dad
On this Sunday morning, Mommy sleeps in! Daddy is taking the kids to shul for donuts and games.
NON-HOLIDAYS...JUST FOR FUN!!!
Back to School Park Fun
Reconnect with old friends and meet new friends at the park. Get back into the school year routine with an outing to park. Games for the kids; snacks for everyone!
Grand Times with Grandparents
Join us for an interactive program where memories will be made while doing a project together.
Grandparents...don’t you love spending time with your grandchildren, playing, exploring, reading and sharing hugs when it’s just you and them?
Parents...don’t you love having quiet time alone together while your kids are with your parents?
Story Times
Spend time with one of our rabbis as he reads his favorite books. Story Times are scheduled at various times thoughtout the year. Watch the Shabbat announcements, The Shofar, CSI-News, and the CSI-Douglas reception area flat screen for up to date times and locations.
Bim Bam Shabbat
Friday mornings from 10:15 am until 11:30 am. Each class will include a variety of developmentally appropriate activities. The class will begin with preparing and welcoming Shabbat with songs, stories and dance in Fonberg Chapel, after which we will perform movement activities. We will return to the playroom for a snack then our morning will continue with introduction to art and other tactile experiences. We will have circle time, books and fine motor activities. In addition, based on parent interest, we will have discussions on different parenting issues. We will offer parents ideas and reading materials to continue with at home. The class size will be limited so as to optimize the experience for the adults and children involved. Adults and children join Esther Wolf and CSI rabbis as we prepare for Shabbat together. New sessions start every semester.
Tot Shabbat
Tot shabbat is held on Shabbat mornings at 11:00 am at CSI Douglas and Beit Aryeh. Our Tot Shabbat program is exciting this year! We’ll enjoy new music, new friends, and snacks. These services include prayer through song, Torah, story, dance, challah and grape juice.
ITSE (In The Shul Experience)
This Family Shabbat Service is with one of our rabbis and ITSE the Jewish Dragon. It is held once a month on Fridays at 6:00 pm, and is usually followed by Shabbat dinner.
Cooking with Abba
This popular event is held on Sunday afternoons twice a year at our Douglas Campus. Join Rabbi Gershon and Jeffrey Kollinger from Spice of Life Catering for a unique cooking class for your child and you. The space is limited so reservations are required. Contact Esther Wolf to reserve your space.
Family Mini-Plex/Parent Education
Learn from parenting experts how to make your child‘s growing years stress free for your family. Among our topics: Who’s The Boss: Parents in Charge?; Losing Battles: Sleeping, Eating and Toilet Training; The Truth about the Internet; Parent Effectiveness Training: A Communication Workshop; Supporting Your Child When Conflicts Arise.
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Truck Time
Rev up your engines! This is fun for the whole family – children, parents and grandparents will all enjoy up-close views of a variety of large trucks, tractors, and earth movers, emergency vehicles and other cool stuff. There are also hot dogs and t-shirts for sale for this popular event. Truck Time is open to the public.
