Young Family Engagement

We are of all ages, and we are ageless.

At Beth Emet, we strive to foster a sense of community within our large congregation and engage children and families in a variety of Jewish experiences, from classroom education to holiday celebrations.

We offer ongoing activities throughout the year for children and families to enjoy, including regular holiday and Shabbat celebrations, JBaby classes, Sunday morning Gan Yom Rishon class, and special events and classes throughout the year.

Interested in learning more and/or receiving our Young Family Weekly Newsletter?

Contact Kathy Kaberon

Welcoming All Families with Young Children

Young Family Engagement’s programs are for families with young children (perfect for kids ages 0-5) to explore Judaism in a lively, experiential and supportive community. This group hosts Jewish family experiences and provides a comfortable space for those of any religion to explore Judaism. From Pizza in the Sukkah to Tot Shabbat to Singing and S’mores, we have events the whole family can enjoy.

Shabbat Celebrations (Monthly)

Bring the warmth of Shabbat to the youngest member of your family.
Each month we’ll enjoy a fun celebration: a brief Saturday morning service and kiddush, a Havdalah sing-along, a Friday evening dinner, or even a pizza party!

Check our calendar for the plans this month.

Gan Yom Rishon (Ages 3 to 5)

Sundays | 9:30 – 11:00 am

This class, for children ages 3-5 with a loving adult, is a wonderful way for parents to meet others with same-age kids, and for the children to begin their “formal” Jewish education in a casual and fun-filled way. Your family does NOT need to belong to Beth Emet to enroll in Gan Yom Rishon.

Learn More Register Here

Jamberry Music and Movement Class, with Nicole Jaworski

Enjoy singing, dancing, swaying and jumping–and meet new friends! Great for kids ages 6 months – 2 years. Co-sponsored by JBaby.

Contact JBaby for more information.

Hear From Our Families with Young Children

“We are very grateful to Beth Emet’s Gan Yom Rishon (GYR) class for nourishing our family and children’s sense of Jewish identity. Our children learned to love and have fun being Jewish, and it was a wonderful way for our family to test the waters at Beth Emet. Importantly, it was also a treasured time carved out of our busy work and life schedule.

For me, this father/daughter time was a highlight of my week.

Thank you again for this invaluable Jewish education and quality structured time with our children!”


“We visited several temples, but when we came to Beth Emet and met Kathy Kaberon, Director of Young Family Engagement, we knew that this was the community we were looking for. The teachers and parents of the Beth Emet Early Education Program were wonderful!

Through the years, our family has been part of programs that foster and cultivate our daughters’ Jewish learning and identity.

Both girls have made wonderful connections with their teachers and peers; they look forward to celebrating the holidays and learning about their tradition in a fun and stimulating way. Programs like Tot Shabbat, Gan Yom Rishon and Beit Sefer have made our family’s journey through Judaism a meaningful experience.”