Shabbat Children's Services

SHABBAT FOR FAMILIES & CHILDREN

Join us for meaningful Jewish experiences and memories that blend Jewish learning and living. Programs are open to all families.

 ^NEW! Kabbalat Shabbat Services for Families
Join other families with young children as we welcome Shabbat with song, prayer, and movement. These monthly services are followed by kiddush over grape juice and motzi over fresh hallah.
First service date: Friday, November 2, 5:30-6:15 pm

 Shabbat Morning Family Services
Each Shabbat morning, Ansche Chesed offers services that expose children to the songs and rhythm of Shabbat morning services in a developmentally appropriate way.

 Mishpacha (Family) Shabbat:
Newborns to Pre-Kindergarten
An Introduction to the Shabbat Morning Service
11 am - Noon
Babies and toddlers are exposed to the sights and sounds of Shabbat in a lively Shabbat service. The service follows the outline of the Shabbat service, supplemented with fun and engaging Shabbat songs, stories, and dancing. Parents attend with their children, thus creating friendships and a sense of kehillah (community). We use rhythm instruments and have stuffed plush Torahs for everyone to dance with!

Minyan Yigdal: Kindergarten-3^rd Grade
Exploring the Structure of the Shabbat Morning Service
11 am - Noon
In Minyan Yigdal, children are exposed to more tefillot (prayers) of the Shabbat morning service and are encouraged to take a leadership role in services. Children are also provided with opportunities to engage with spiritual questions and to explore prayer as a lens through which Jews relate to God. During the Torah service, a section of the Torah is read, and the parasha (portion) of the week or a story about an upcoming holiday is presented through discussion, skits, and stories.

Big Kids’ Service: 4^th Grade – Pre-B’nai Mitzvah
Engaging and Leading the Shabbat Morning Service
11:00 am – 12:15 pm
Children in our Big Kids’ service delve into the structure and purpose of tefillot (prayers), and participate in leading sections of the service. The service also focuses on the Torah portion each week through discussion and Bibliodrama. The children are also encouraged to read sections of the Torah, whether one sentence or an entire aliyah.  The group is supportive and excited when their peers participate in this way.

Teen Tefillah: Post-B’nai Mitzvah
11:00 am – 12:15 pm
In Teen Tefillah, post-b’nai mitzvah students read the text of the weekly Torah portion, engage with classic Torah commentators, and add their own insights. Students also enjoy each other’s company in this intellectual and fun atmosphere.

Family Kiddushim
Families and children are invited to share grape juice and hallah together after services each week. Once in the fall and once in the spring, our families sponsor a sit-down kiddush lunch so that we may enjoy each other’s company. To co-sponsor, please contact Rabbi Kurland.
Fall Kiddush Lunch: Saturday, October 13