Adath Jeshurun Congregation — Gan Shelanu Preschool and Camp Mishpacha Summer Program
10500 Hillside Ln. W.
Minnetonka, MN
55305 952-545-8694
Fax: 952-215-3917
janices@adath.net
Gan Shelanu Preschool Director: Janice Schachtman Camp Mishpacha and Childcare Director: Heidi Zipkin Gan Shelanu Preschool is a licensed early childhood program for children aged six weeks through prekindergarten.
• Infant/Transitional Toddler Program (Beit Tinokot) ages 6 weeks to 20 months: Gan Shelanu’s Infant Program provides a warm, affectionate, stimulating, safe and fun setting where babies’ social, intellectual, physical and emotional needs are met. The low staff to child ratio allows staff to interact with each baby, providing a wonderful experience for the child and peace of mind for the parent. Adath membership is not required. Full- and part-time programs are offered.
• Toddler/Preschool/PreKindergarten Program ages 20 months to PreK: The Gan’s Toddler, Preschool and PreK program provides a rich variety of learning experiences intended to stimulate the cognitive and social development of the child within a Jewish context. Two-, three- and five-day school options are available with optional morning and afternoon childcare. The STEM-based program focuses on socialization, self-esteem and communication, as well as academic enrichment. Educational field trips and tzedaka projects are part of the Gan’s curriculum. A special science curriculum introduces children to the world around them. Ongoing Hebrew, Math and Music sessions with “specialists” are an integral part of the program. The low ratio of staff to students provides a great deal of individualization. Adath membership is not required.
• Camp Mishpacha: Camp Mishpacha is Gan Shelanu’s summertime camp for children 16 months and older. Camp Mishpacha is filled with weeks of outdoor games, waterplay, nature activities, gardening projects and more,
• with an emphasis on hands-on messy fun in the sun. Camp Mishpacha is led by a trained and caring adult teaching staff along with fun-loving and energetic teen counselors. Adath membership is not required.
• Gan Katan Parent-Child Program: Gan Katan is a safe, supportive and nurturing environment for parents and children (ages birth to 2 years) to share experiences. Each week a different child development, Jewish family living or parenting topic is presented and discussed. Morning and evening classes are available. Adath membership is not required.
Bet Shalom Congregation — Bet Shalom Yeladim
13613 Orchard Rd.
Minnetonka, MN 55305
952-933-8525
Fax: 952-933-3238
info@betshalom.org
betshalomyeladim.org
Preschool Director: Amber Brumbaugh
Now enrolling children ages six weeks to five years. Offering three to five days a week, full-time and part-time program options. Early morning and afternoon care available.
Beth El Synagogue — Early Childhood Jewish Family Education (ECJFE)
5225 Barry St. W.
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
952-873-7320
kburton@bethelsynagogue.org
bethelalephpreschool.org
Director: Karen Burton
Facilitators: Ali Berdass and Dori Gelfman
Safe, supportive and nurturing parent education classes — similar to ECFE but with the added benefit of a Jewish lens. You and your baby will meet other Jewish families as you engage in meaningful group discussions; experience developmentally appropriate activities; discuss child development and relevant parenting topics; discover ways to strengthen your home as your child’s first learning environment; learn exciting ways to integrate Judaism into your family; and much more. Join us for Babies and Bagels and take part in the Aleph Preschool’s musical Shabbat from 9:30 to 11:00 am on the first Friday of each month. Parents and children (up to 24 months) are invited. Free.
Beth El Synagogue — Shirley R. Abelson Aleph Preschool
952-873-7320
kburton@bethelsynagogue.org
bethelalephpreschool.org
Director: Karen Burton
Art, music and Hebrew enhance a traditional curriculum rich with Jewish customs. Afternoon enrichment classes will challenge your child’s curious nature. Choose from two-, three- or five-day programs for children 16 months to 5 years. Early morning and extended care is available.
Beth Jacob Congregation — Iyunim
1179 Victoria Curve
Mendota Heights, MN 55118
Senior Rabbi: Morris Allen
Associate Rabbi: Tamar Grimm
Congregational Educator: D. Marcos Vital
Iyunim: Jewish Explorations @ BJC is our Shabbat morning educational program for children age 3 through third grade. Iyunim is inspired by the Reggio method of education. In Iyunim, we focus on our communal Jewish values while activating your children’s own curiosity. Your preschool children will play, sing and learn together through stories, activities, games and conversation. They learn Hebrew, songs, prayer and fundamental community skills, such as sharing and listening, activated by Jewish concepts, stories and language. Children younger than age 3 play together in the nursery and join with their families and children in pre-K for Minyan Katan, our warm and welcoming family tefilla every Shabbat at 11:30 a.m. On Wednesday afternoons, and one Sunday a month, families and children in Iyunim come together in a non-Shabbat setting to continue our learning and community building through art, song, writing and crafts.
Lubavitch Early Childhood Center
1778-80 Ford Pkwy.
St. Paul, MN 55116
651-698-2460
Fax: 651-690-3387
dfeller@lubavitchcheder.org
Director: Rabbi Shlomo Bendet
Principal: Mrs. Dina Feller
NAEYC nationally accredited Jewish daycare center and preschool for toddlers through five years old (pre-K). Also provides daycare for school-aged children before and after school, and on days when school is out.
Sabes JCC — Early Childhood Center
Barry Family Campus
4330 Cedar Lake Rd. S.
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
952-381-3430
Fax: 952-381-3401
Shannon Rader, Sabes JCC Early Childhood Center Executive Director: SRader@sabesjcc.org
Erin Striker, Sabes JCC Early Childhood Center Director: estriker@sabesjcc.org
sabesjcc.org
Early childhood programming at the Sabes JCC seeks to foster within our children a positive self-concept, a joy for learning, and the ability to work and play well with others. Using the “learning through play” approach, children and parents have the opportunity to learn about themselves, their environment, people and the world around them. We prepare for Jewish holidays through activities in the language arts, music, art and cooking. We are an inclusive JCC where every child, regardless of race, religion or special needs, is welcome.
St. Paul JCC — Early Childhood Center
1375 St. Paul Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55116
651-255-4758
lisar@stpauljcc.org
stpauljcc.org/childcare
Childcare Services Director: Lisa Rosenfield
The St. Paul JCC provides early childcare for infants, toddlers and preschool. (Childcare is also offered through sixth grade.) With one of the lowest child-to-staff ratios in the Twin Cities (8:1), our exceptional teachers and staff provide an educational and nurturing environment with ample physical activities for your children. All programs are fully licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Temple of Aaron Religious School
616 S. Mississippi River Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55116
651-698-8874
templeofaaron.org
Cantor/Educator: Joshua Fineblum
We run a Saturday morning program for parents and toddlers that explores music, prayers and other areas of Judaism. It is an age-appropriate setting for parents to meet each other and for the young children to begin their Jewish path in a fun, informal setting led by trained teachers. This program is open to members and nonmembers. Our pre-K to first graders meet on Saturday mornings to learn about holidays and Jewish culture through art, music and experiencing Shabbat with the community. We are in the third year of My Baby and Me, an ECFE-style class that runs twice a month for parents and children from birth through 18 months. This program is being held Shabbat mornings at Temple of Aaron and is held in collaboration with PJ Library of St. Paul. For information, contact Administrative Assistant Susie Haim.
Temple Israel — Early Childhood Center
2323 Fremont Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
612-374-0380
Fax: 612-377-6630
Sharon@templeisrael.com
Early Childhood Center Director: Sharon Rosenberg-Scholl
Temple Israel Early Childhood Center is a NAEYC accredited, Reggio-inspired, diverse Jewish preschool serving children ages 16 months to 5 years. Our school program takes place from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., and we have before care after care options. We offer 2-day classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-day classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or 5 day classes. Our classrooms are full of music and play, exploring and trying, laughing and dancing, building and creating. Work and play are one in early childhood, so our classrooms are set up to be places where children make choices and engage in hands-on learning while our teachers enrich and extend their endeavors. Teachers reflect regularly to plan experiences that are geared toward the children’s needs, abilities and interests.
Temple Israel Judaic Experiential Whole-person Learning (JEWL)
2323 Freemont Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55405
templeisrael.com
Administrative Director of Education: Darcy Schnitzer, 612-374-0319 or: dschnitzer@templeisrael.com
JEWL Director: Jeri Saad, 612-374-0309 or: jsaad@templeisrael.com
7/8 Grade Director: Rabbi Jennifer Hartman, 612-374-0315 or: jhartman@templeisrael.com
Our K – 8 grade “gem” – JEWL, stands for Judaic Experiential Whole-person Learning. This model utilizes several research-based methodologies, philosophies, and practices, all of which cultivate the optimal environment for truly engaged learning. With a strong focus on relational Judaism (making positive memories, creating friendships and gaining a sense of belonging), whole-person learning (addressing the physical, social, emotional, ethical and spiritual aspects of learner’s lives), experiential education (encouraging exploration, playfulness and discovery), and project-based learning (working towards a meaningful outcome), JEWL fosters a sense of love and passion for Jewish learning and growth.
Via our innovative integrated Hebrew and Judaics curriculum, our students learn in an organic way. Using their bodies and the world around us as our learning spaces, our learners gain a powerful sense of ownership of their learning. Options include creative writing, cooking, yoga or cartooning, the transformative 6th Grade Kallot at Camp TEKO and multiple opportunities across the grades to lead and “do good things”.
7th Grade: Teens meet once during the week to study for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah and also explore what it means to become a Jewish adult. Students learn from a Palestinian working for peace, a high school student who has created a non-profit and others helping to fix our world. In addition, they learn about charitable giving through project based learning where they will determine the Jewish values that most speak to their class and then decide on an organization that meets these values in order to donate to it.
8th Grade: Teens choose between the leadership track and/or the social justice track. As part of the leadership track learners assist in the JEWL classrooms while also meeting together to develop their skills and explore their role as leaders in the classroom and beyond. Learners in the social action track volunteer throughout the Twin Cities and connect their volunteer experiences to Jewish values and teachings.
Torah Tots Nursery School
The Guita (Roberts) Borenstein Center for Early Childhood Education at Torah Academy
2800 Joppa Ave. S.
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
952-920-6630
Fax: 952-922-7844
office@torahacademymn.org
torahacademymn.org
Dean: Rabbi Pinchus Idstein
Executive Director: Rabbi Yehoshua Borenstein
President: Mr. Dovid Schulman
Torah Tots is a licensed, early childhood program in a safe, warm, and nurturing Jewish environment. The program for 16-month-olds through three-year-olds meets from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with after care available. The four-year-old pre-kindergarten class meets from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with after care available. Call 952-285-8607 to arrange a personal tour.
(For corrections or updates, email community@ajwnews.com)
