The Village for Families with Young Children is a collaborative effort between Temple Israel, the Frances Jacobson Early Childhood Center (FJECC) and Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) to engage families with kids ages 0-5 in the Boston area in Jewish life through Jewish holiday celebrations, parenting groups, story times, and weekly drop-in meetups.

Temple Israel membership is not required to attend any of our Village programs. LGBTQ, interfaith, adopting and single parents are welcome! Validated parking is available for the time you are at these programs at the 375 Longwood Avenue parking garage, next to Temple Israel.

Come to Temple Israel for TGIS on the first and third Saturday of each month. TGIS is a special service for anyone between the ages of 6 days and 6 years and includes dancing, singing, playing and praying. It is led by local musician, Wayne Potash. Music begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends about 11:00 a.m. with a light snack. TGIS is supported by the Marilyn and Mike Grossman Caring Community Fund at Temple Israel.

Join us for weekly stroller walks, park and neighborhood meet-ups, and excursions to local attractions such as the Prudential Center, the Public Garden, Frog Pond, and Franklin Park Zoo. Geared to those ages 6 and younger, meet-ups are scheduled on a monthly basis so check our calendar often or connect with our coordinator, Tatiana Becker, to be added to the Village e-mail list.

This class is appropriate for first time parents or as a refresher course for second (or third!) time parents, also perfect as a supplemental course if you have taken or plan to take another birthing class.

The Bursting with Joy Series has 4 classes total, taught by amazing instructors. Certified Nurse-Midwife, Sarah Kleinman, will cover the birthing process and guide you through birthing practice, while Rabbi Suzie Jacobson will discuss Jewish rituals around birthing, including naming ceremonies and the bris. The whole series costs $180/couple for members and $225 for non-members; and includes dinner and materials. Open to members and non-members; we welcome interfaith, LGBTQ, and single parents by choice! Please wear comfy clothing.

Free validated parking available at 375 Longwood Ave.

About Sarah Kleinman, CNM:
Sarah Kleinman is a full scope certified nurse midwife working for Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (HVMA). She sees patients for GYN, prenatal and postpartum care, attends deliveries at Newton Wellesley Hospital and has a teaching appointment at Harvard Medical School.

She has given lectures at the Yale School of Nursing, Wellesley College and Harvard Medical School and has written curricula for courses which link medicine and the humanities in order to create more compassionate health care providers. She is the 2013 recipient of the Robert H. Ebert Excellence in teaching award at HVMA and is a frequent preceptor for NP, CNM and MD students on the labor floor and in the office.

February 14, 21, 28, March 6, 14

• Fridays 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. for babies 4 – 12 weeks old (from due date)
• Fridays 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. for babies 12 – 20 weeks old (from due date date)

At Baby Sleep Science, we’ve developed a class for parents, new and veteran, that will:

1. Provide a warm, supportive, non-judgmental space in which to bond with others as well as your baby – easing some of the loneliness, stress and guilt that can accompany parenting.
2. Educate parents on important sleep science basics – giving parents evidence-based information and tools required for a healthy sleep foundation and, if necessary, a successful sleep intervention outcome.

The model of the class is similar to the relaxed atmosphere of ‘new moms,’ ‘second time moms,’ etc. type groups that abound throughout the Boston area, but this group will have the added benefit of a sleep focus run by a sleep expert. Each week will begin with checking in with one another – how the week went, the ups and downs. We believe this aspect is critical as research shows that a caring community has powerful potential to help prevent, lessen, or ameliorate the risk of PPD and PPA as well as just the typical emotional roller coaster of parenting. Following this check in, a specific sleep topic will be focused on for the remainder of the class.

Cost: $135

About Dr. Kiri Gurd: