 | |
The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
|
|
|
eNewsletter
September 2011 |
|
|
|
_____________________
Share the joys of being a PJ Library Family with your friends!
|
|
In Your Mailbox | |
Books for September
Each PJ Library book has a dedicated page on the new PJ website. On each book page, you will find a short synopsis, information about the authors and illustrators, the parent reading guide, and related links.
Age 6 months - 2 years:
Tamar's Sukkah
Age 2-3:
Sadie's Sukkah Breakfast
Age 3-4:
Shalom Sesame DVD:
Monsters in the Sukkah
Age 4-5:
Sammy Spider's First Day at School
Age 5-6:
Shalom Sesame DVD:
Shabbat Shalom, Grover
Age 6-7:
The House on the Roof
To see reading guides for these books, please visit
http://www.pjlibrary.org/Books-and-Music.aspx |
|
|
| Greetings! | |
This is the season of New Beginnings. We will soon be gathering to celebrate a new Jewish year. So, too, does our PJ Library program look forward to another year of learning, growing and celebrating together.
Warmest good wishes for a healthy and happy 5722! May you and all you love be inscribed for health and joy for the coming year! B'Shalom, Rabbi Leslie and Eleanor |
|
It Takes a Village -- Or a Synagogue ! | | A Teaching Moment from Rabbi Leslie Alexander
I am a Rabbi and I LOVE Judaism... I care a lot about whether you and your children love it to!
A lot of this wonderful Judaism is home-based -- things that you can do with friends and family. So it makes sense that every month, that big white PJ Library envelope comes to your home where you can explore Jewish values, holidays and ideas in a personal, loving way.
But there's more. There's the warm, safe and meaningful experience you can have being a part of the larger Jewish community, to be cared for by an extended family, and to care about them in return. One of the best places to find this family is in a synagogue!
In a synagogue, you can be part of a multi-generational family, which is something that many of us don't often get an opportunity to enjoy.
For example, how often do your children get to be with their grandparents? Do you really know your neighbors? Do you interact often with people who may be at a different stage of life? Well, synagogues offer all of these things to us and to our children.
In addition, there is the potential for a religious and spiritual connection. All these thing happen powerfully in synagogues. And they can happen for you!
The Rabbis of our community are dedicated and caring. They want to meet you, to know you and to help you become engaged in the community. Synagogue communities care as well.
I know that you have heard the Nigerian proverb, famously quoted by Hillary Clinton: "It takes a village to raise a child." A synagogue is a village. A village with delightful people and characters, old and young, straight and gay, Jewish since birth and new to the tradition, there for the socializing and there for the connecting with God.
This Rosh HaShanah, take a stroll into the village. We hope that after that first stroll, once you encounter the positive life there, you will choose to return.
In order to help you, we have listed the services for kids and families offered by the synagogues who are our partners in bringing the PJ Library experience to our community. Each of them has special, delightful, celebratory, warm things planned for you and your children.
If you have questions, feel free to call a synagogue and ask to speak with the Rabbi -- or call me at (408)357-7509 and we'll talk.
|
|
|
|
| Synagogues Welcome Kids on Rosh HaShanah! | |
Your local synagogues will have their doors open wide as the season of holiday observances begin. You are warmly encouraged to explore our Jewish community and sample the richness of our religion as the New Year -- 5722 -- begins.
The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley has prepared a booklet of High Holiday services at all our local synagogues. Click here for a copy of the listings (Children's activities are highlighted.)
Also, you are encouraged to contact the Rabbis at any synagogue to learn more about what their congregation has to offer. Here is their contact information:
Congregation Beth David
(408) 257-3333
www.beth-david.org
Rabbi Daniel Pressman
Rabbi Philip Ohriner
Congregation Emeth
(408) 778-8200
www.emeth.net
Rabbi Debbie Israel
Congregation Shir Hadash
(408) 358-1751
www.shirhadash.org
Rabbi Melanie Aaron
Associate Rabbi Joel Fleekop
Rabbi Lisa Levenberg, Educator
Congregation Sinai
(408) 264-8542
www.sinai-sj.org
Rabbi Joshua Berkenwald
Temple Emanu-El
(408) 292-0939
www.templesanjose.org
Rabbi Dana Magat
|
| Celebrating Rosh HaShanah with PJL | |
PJ Brings Rosh HaShanah to "Mommy and Me"
September 13 at Santana Row, San Jose
3055 Olin Avenue, San Jose
The theme for this Mommy and Me is "Food!" Join us as we taste some Rosh Hashanah Delights (applies, honey and challah) and make some holiday cards. Don't miss the raffle!
This event runs from 10 am to noon on the green at Park Valencia (Olin Street and Winchester). Stop by for a tasty treat!
 APPLES AND HONEY
September 20, 2011, 4:00pm-5:30pm
Yavneh Multi-Purpose Room (2nd floor, School Building)
14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos
Local beekeeper and Jewish educator Alisa Goldberg will bring a special "Apples and Honey experience" to the Levy Family Campus on September 20th, as we celebrate Rosh HaShanah with our PJ Library families and friends. There will be PJ Library stories about Rosh Hashanah and about bees), and a snack of apples and honey. Alisa will tell us about the life of bees, the art of beekeeping, and the importance of bees to our world.
This event is being co-sponsored with Yavneh Day School and the APJCC Preschool.
RSVPs a must! Register at www.jvalley.org/pjlibrary.
|
|
A PJ Library Experience in Your Child's Classroom This Rosh Hashana |
Members of our PJ Library Steering Committee are happy to read books from our wonderful collection anytime and anywhere. Such visits are especially appropriate around the Jewish holidays. We would be especially pleased to read stories about Jewish holidays to preschool and kindergarten children. If you have a child at a secular preschool or kindergarten and would like to arrange for this kind of special experience for your school or classroom, please let Rabbi Leslie Alexander know. Call her at (408) 357-7509 or email rabbialexander@jvalley.org. |
|
Activities for Children in Our Community | |
Events listed here are open to the entire community.
Call the organization for more information.
(Membership in the organization/synagogue is not required.)
|
Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life and Learning
Los Gatos - (408) 357-7492 |
- Rosh Hashanah Family Seder September 25, 2011 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and you are invited to celebrate with us at our annual Rosh Hashanah Seder. Bring your family to eat traditional foods, sing songs, and make crafts. Geared toward elementary-school-aged children and their families. Space is limited; RSVP by Monday, September 19th. JCC members: $20 per family up to five people, $3 for each additional person. Non-members: $30 per family up to five people, $4 for each additional person. For more information or to RSVP, contact the APJCC Center for Jewish Life and Learning at 408.357.7411 or cjll@svjcc.org.
|
|
Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center Pre-School
Los Gatos - 408) 357-7417 |
- Registration for the 2011-12 school year is now open. For more information or to request a tour, please call 408.357.7417 or email elizabeth@svjcc.org.
|
|
Congregation Beth David
Saratoga - (408) 257-3333 |
- Congregation Beth David provides a unique and exciting set of High Holyday experiences for families with children of all ages. Our family-oriented services are led by staff educators, rabbis, and talented community volunteers. Tot, youth, and family services at Beth David all seek to engage parents and children alike through age-appropriate worship, song, movement, games, and stories. The variety of different services and programs ensure there is something geared directly towards every child in your family! Beth David is particularly excited to be working with Storahtelling on the first day of Rosh Hashanah to engage children in grades 3-6. Storahtelling is a Radical fusion of storytelling, Torah, contemporary performance art and traditional Ritual theatre. Schedule of tot and youth services at Congregation Beth David:
- September 28th, Erev Rosh Hashanah 6:00pm: Youth services & babysitting. September 29th Rosh Hashanah 9:30am: Babysitting; 10:00am: Youth Services; 11:00am: Tot services.
- September 30th Rosh Hashanah 9:30am: Babysitting 10:00am: Family Services. October 7th Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre 5:45pm: babysitting provided.
- October 8th Yom Kippur 9:30am: Babysitting 10:00am: Youth Services 11:00am: Tot Service Regular Service (Incl. youth services & babysitting).
- CBD Shabbat Mishpaha (Family Services) September 02, 2011 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Welcome the Shabbat Bride with song, story and dance. Join us every first Friday night for an energetic, family-friendly Kabbalat Shabbat experience with something for everyone!
- CBD Tot Shabbat September 10 and 24, 2011 from 11:15 AM. For kids ages 0-5. Join us for a fun and interactive parent-led service for babies, toddlers, and preschool kids. Open to the whole community. Tot Shabbat includes singing, storytelling, and a Kiddush snack!
- CBD PJ Shabbat September 16, 2011 from 6:01 PM Do you have a toddler? Have you had a long week? Then come and take a break by joining us for Pajama Shabbat! This mini Kabbalat Shabbat service is geared towards tots (ages 0-5) and will feature songs, puppets, felt, story time, plus a kid-friendly Shabbat dinner! Come as you are with kids in PJ's! No worries about getting dressed up - this will be a casual night for all! Cost: $10.00 per adult; $ 2.00 per child (over 3); kids under 3 eat free! RSVPs are requested! Please respond by the Wednesday before each event to the CBD office at 408-257-3333.
- CBD Ganon September 25, 2011 from 11:00 AM. A fun intro to Religious School for 3-4 year olds. Art, dance, singing, & circle time relate to Jewish holidays, values, & Israel. No membership required. Must be toilet trained.
|
|
Congregation Emeth
Morgan Hill - (408) 778-8200 | |
|
|
Congregation Shir Hadash
Los Gatos - (408) 358-1751 |
- Tot Shabbat September 10, 2011 from 9:30 AM. Join Rabbi Levenberg and other families with young children for Tot Shabbat. Enjoy: * Songs and simple prayers; * Story time; * Special jobs for every child; * Hands-on music; * Cuddly Torahs; * Fun;* Friends; * Oneg Snack. Tot Shabbat is free and is open to the community - tell your friends!
- High Holy Days 5772: Family Services. On Rosh HaShanah, the Family Service will be at 3:30 pm at Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos, led by Rabbi Aron, Rabbi Levenberg, Cantor Felder-Levy, and Early Childhood Center Director Robin Adelman. Apples and honey will be served following the service out on our patio and children will have a chance to try and sound the shofar. On Yom Kippur, the Family Service will be at 1:30 pm at Sacred Heart Church,13724 Saratoga Ave., (our temporary location for the High Holy days) led by Rabbi Fleekop, Rabbi Levenberg, and Early Childhood Center Director Robin Adelman. These services, geared to children ages 2-6 and their families, are free and open to the public, so please feel welcome to bring your friends.
- During the year we hold special Tot Shabbat services at 9:30 am on the 2nd Saturday of the month and No Shush Shabbat services at 6:30pm on the first Friday. Both of those services are very welcoming of pre-school families.
- Orchard Gleaning: a Hands-on Sukkot Experience Thursday, October 13, 2011, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. "Let's Go Gleaning: a Hands-on Sukkot Experience." We will celebrate Sukkot by visiting a fruit orchard in the Santa Cruz Mountains to glean fruit for the hungry. Following our gleaning, we will have a short service and a picnic lunch. Working with Village Harvest, we will be providing food for others and have a chance to fulfill the biblical command to share our joy and abundance with people in need. We will meet carpool from the Shir Hadash parking lot on Cherry Blossom (meet at 8:30 am). Please bring a bag lunch. Limited to 20 adults; reserve ASAP (nadine@shirhadash.org or 358-1751 ext 5) Children are welcome with an adult.
|
|
Congregation Sinai
San José - (408) 264-8542 |
- Back-to-Shul Open House, Kabbalat Shabbat and Dinner at Sinai September 09, 2011 from 5:30 PM. Open House at 5:30 pm - Wine and Appetizers. Musical Kabbalat Shabbat at 6:00 pm. Shabbat Dinner at 7:00 pm. Please plan on joining us as we welcome Shabbat together as a community. Whether you were at shul last week or have been away for the whole summer, we hope to see all of you for our annual "back-to-shul" event. You can also bring your family, friends, neighbors, grandparents and cousins and introduce them to Sinai! Early Bird Special: RSVP by September 6; $20.00 per adult (age 13 and up) and $5.00 per child age 5-12 (free for children under age 5). $54.00 maximum per family. Regular price for Dinner: RSVP after September 6: $24.00 per adult (age 13 and up) and $10.00 per child age 5-12 (free for children under age 5). $65 maximum per family. For reservations, contact the Sinai office at 408-264-8542 or office@sinai-sj.org.
- 5771 High Holiday Youth Programs: Saturday, October 8. Torah for Tots is an active service for preschoolers and their parents or other adult friend. This program will take place on both days of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur in the Social Hall from 10-11:15 am and will include singing, stories, and tefillah, and will be followed by snacks. Torah for Tots is led by Shirat Negev-Berg. D'vash. This children-only program for kids in Kindergarten and first grade will start at 10 am in Religious School classroom 2. Snacks will be provided. D'vash will be led by Dana Berkenwald. A Family Service will offer parents and children in grades 2-7 an opportunity to experience the High Holidays together in a meaningful way. The service will include Tefillah and family discussions led by Director of Education Kate Mueller. The Family Service will be in the Mirkin Chapel from 10-11:15 am on the first day of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. There will be a Kiddush for families who participated in the Family Service in the chapel after the Shofar Service on the first of Rosh Hashanah. Children's Programming Second Day Rosh Hashanah. Games will be available in the Mirkin chapel for children in grades K-7 beginning at 11:45 am on both days of Rosh Hashanah, and at 11:15 am on Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah 2nd Children's Programming. On the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah, we will offer children's only programming for grades K-7 from 10 am-11:15am. There will not be a Family Service. Children's programming will include tefillah, games and stories. A Kiddush will be offered to participating children after the Shofar Service.
|
|
Jewish Family Services Silicon Valley
Los Gatos - (408) 556-0600 |
- JFS SV offers parenting classes throughout the year. Contact Lizi Oceransky for more information.
| |
South Peninsula Hebrew Day School
Sunnyvale - (408) 738-3060 | |
| |
Temple Emanu-El
San José - (408) 292-0939 |
- Sunday September 11, 4:00pm Preschool Back to School
- Friday, September 23, 5:30pm - PreSchool 10th Anniversary Dinner
- High Holiday Services: September 28, 6:00pm Family Service; September 29, 9:00am, Family service.
| |
Yavneh Day School
Los Gatos - (408) 984-6700
- Check the Yavneh website (www.yavneh-day-school.org) for information about activities for children in Gesher (pre-kindergarten) and Kita Gan (kindergarten).
|
|
|
Our Partners |
Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center (Los Gatos) www.svjcc.org APJCC Preschool (Los Gatos) www.svjcc.org/preschool.html
Congregation Beth David (Saratoga)
www.beth-david.org
Congregation Emeth (Morgan Hill)
www.emeth.net
Hillel of Silicon Valley (San Jose)
www.hillelsv.org
Jewish Family Services (Los Gatos)
www.jfssv.org
Jewish Federation Silicon Valley (Los Gatos)
www.jvalley.org
Sharone Hadassah
www.sharone-hadassah.org
Congregation Shir Hadash (Los Gatos)
www.shirhadash.org
Congregation Sinai (San José)
www.sinai-sj.org
South Peninsula Hebrew Day School (Sunnyvale)
www.sphds.org
Temple Emanu-El (San José)
www.templesanjose.org
Yavneh Day School (Los Gatos)
www.yavnehdayschool.org
|
| For More Information | |
For more information about the PJ Library® Program and our role in the community, please visit
http://www.jvalley.org/pj-library
General Inquiries:
(408) 357-7509
Rabbi Leslie Alexander, Program Director
(408) 357-7509
Eleanor Weber Dickman, Outreach Coordinator
(408) 255-3109
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
