Families with Young Children

They can crawl or toddle or walk. It doesn't matter to us. We want to welcome them to a new initiative to engage Families with Young Children (0-5) in the Boston area (in the Back Bay, Jamaica Plain and the South End) in Jewish life through Jewish holiday celebrations, parenting groups, story times, Shabbat sing alongs and weekly drop in meet ups held in many locations in the Boston are and at Temple Israel . This is a collaboration between Temple Israel, FJECC and CJP. If you or someone you know in these three communities, are interested in getting involved, whether they belong to TI or not, please share this new initiative with them. If you would like to join the FYC email list, please email our FYC coordinator, Julie Unger . She will also connect you to our Facebook, Meetup.com, and Twitter pages so you will know about upcoming events, suggest meetups and get to know other moms/dads. We are excited for you to meet Julie, too. She is fantastic and looks forward to meeting you and your friends.

All of our programs for families with young children are open to all - Temple membership is not required. So whether you stay at home or work, there will be plenty of activities that you can participate in.

Here are some upcoming meetups:

Baby and Me Group
Every Friday, 10:00 a.m.
Temple Israel of Boston Babies up to 1-year-old and a parent are welcome to participate in this facilitated group. We are partnering with JF+CS, FJECC, TI, and CJP to bring this wonderful opportunity to our synagogue and Boston area Jewish community. The model of the group is based on the philosophy of empowering each mother to find what works best for her and her baby, rather than giving specific advice. It's a great opportunity to meet other mom's and babies in the Boston area.

Thank Goodness It's Shabbat
The Families with Young Children Initiative will meet up before TGIS at 9:30 AM beginning on Saturday, January 28, 2012 and then the second and fourth Saturday of each month thereafter through June 2012. TGIS music begins at 10 AM and is followed by a light snack.

February 17, 9:15 a.m.
Shabbat Sing
We'll join Temple Israel's preschool community in their lovely sanctuary for Shabbat Sing from approximately 9:30 A.M.-10 A.M. First we'll meet in the lobby before Shabbat Sing at 9:15 A.M., so we can all sit together. Then, we'll reconvene back in the lobby after Shabbat Sing (10A.M.) and go to a separate kid friendly room for a little nosh and a chance to connect with other moms/dads between 10-11A.M.

TI Familiy Shabbat Dinner
March 2, 5:00 p.m.
Open to all
Suggested contribution is $5 per family.

Please join families with young children (0-7 years old) for a relaxed, low-key dinner. We will be serving a simple pasta & pizza dinner for kids and grown-ups alike. After dinner, a member of clergy will come in and say blessings, and then families who want to join services may do so, or families may opt to stay to socialize. To rsvp, please click here.

Purim Storytime at Temple Israel of Boston
March 8 10:30 a.m.
(storytime-2nd Thursday of every Month)
Meet up with Families with Young Children (FYC) for a Purim story-time in the children's library at Temple Israel of Boston. TI Family Educator, Sarah Wilensky will read a few age appropriate Purim stories with our little ones. We'll meet in the Children's library. TI will provide a small snack.
RSVP to Julie Unger.

Validated (free) parking is available for the time you are at Temple Israel for each of these programs.
The garage is located at 375 Longwood Avenue, next to the Temple.

For more information, to RSVP or to get involved in planning, please contact Julie Unger .

Programs and events are sponsored by a grant from CJP (Combined Jewish Philanthropies) and Temple Israel of Boston.