Welcome Baby! Brunch

Designed for families with children ages 0-1 year
$15/family

Register here! 

Community Room at Whitney Place 

3 Vision Drive, Natick

Have you had or adopted a baby in the last six months? Are you expecting soon, or do you know someone who is?

Let us welcome your baby to the Metrowest Jewish community with a visit and a gift!

Welcome Baby! has welcomed 148 new babies to our community already! Welcome Baby! visits new parents with babies aged newborn to 6 months and gives them a complimentary gift basket filled with high-quality baby gifts. Welcome Baby! connects new parents to resources, family activities, and new friends. If you have a new baby or know someone who does, and would like to connect, sign up here!

добро пожаловать! 

Engaging Metrowest Russian Jewish Families in Jewish Community Life

A grant from the Genesis Fund is enabling us to reach out to Russian Jewish families throughout Metrowest. By developing collaborative relationships, we are identifying and connecting with members of this large and vibrant community through engaging programming and activities. 

As part of this program, JFN is also doing special "Privet Malish" visits -- Welcome Baby! visits with gift baskets and resources tailored for Russian Jewish families. 

If you are interested in learning more about our programs or "Privet Malish," or if you know someone who is, please contact our Russian community connector, Luba Olshan, for more information.   

Play Dates and Get-Togethers

with Heidi, Nissa, and Amy!

South Area (Connector: Heidi Anderson)

Central Area (Connector: Nissa Weiss) 

Playtime Meet-Ups

Every Tuesday morning, Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28     

9:30-11:30 a.m.  

Free! 

Please join Nissa for this weekly drop-in playgroup. Perfect for kids up to 4 years, and for moms, dads, and caregivers of all ages! A light snack will be provided for the kids.   

JFS Children's Room 

475 Franklin St., Framingham 

Shalom, Shabbat!

Thursdays, Feb. 9 and 23    

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Free! 

Welcome Shabbat with music, laughter, and friends of all ages! With a little bit of Hebrew and a whole lot of fun, Nissa will lead singalongs and play time in a warm, inviting setting.  

For those of you who have never been to the main branch, parking is free and plentiful in the garage immediately adjacent to the library.  

For more information about Playtime Meet-ups or Shalom, Shabbat, please contact Nissa. 

North Area (Connector: Amy Kohen)  

Monthly Drop-In Playgroup in Acton 

Mama Doni: The Purim Bash Show  

Sunday, March 4

11 a.m.

For families with children ages 2 and up 

JCC members, $10/person; nonmembers, $12/person 

Boston Jewish Music Festival special family price, $40

Buy tickets here!

In the spirit of outrageous Purim fun, Mama Doni's show is filled to the brim with dancing, singalongs to catchy pop tunes, and a costume parade where kids can strut their stuff. Don't miss this festive, high-energy, interactive family rock concert with a Jewish twist! Part of the JCC Magic Ark Performing Arts Series for Families, presented in collaboration with The PJ Library.

Mama Doni makes a special guest appearance at Temple Israel of Natick's Tot Shabbat on March 2 at 5:45. Contact the temple office at 508-650-3521 for more information!  

To read more about the Mama Doni Band or to hear some samples of the music you'll be hearing, check out the band's website at www.mamadoni.com.  

The concert takes place at:  

Leventhal-Sidman JCC 

333 Nahanton St., Newton

For more information or to buy concert tickets, please call 617-965-5226 or 866-811-4111.

For more information about the Boston Jewish Music Festival, please visit http://bostonjewishmusicfestival.org/. 

by Julie Wolf, JFN Program Specialist  

A few years ago, Hilltop Farm, an organic farm in Westport, Mass., began a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. A CSA allows an individual or group to become a "member" of the farm by purchasing a farm share, which entitles them to a certain amount of freshly harvested produce each week through the growing season. Last year, Temple Israel of Natick developed a relationship with Hilltop Farm. Michelle Wilen has played a crucial role in the success of this program. In this interview, Michelle talks about how the program works and its significance not just to the temple, but to JFS and Metrowest families in need. Michelle and her husband, Adam, live in Ashland with their daughters, Kayla and Lesley.

How did Temple Israel begin its affiliation with Hilltop Farm? What made you want to get involved in this program particularly?

Hilltop Farm sent a letter to Temple Israel last year letting them know about an opportunity to have members enjoy fresh, organic produce and help out a local family. For every 10 families that purchased a farm share, Hilltop Farm would donate a farm share for the temple to distribute to a family, or families, in need.

The donation was what really caught my attention. I thought it would be wonderful for a family or families to have fresh produce weekly who otherwise wouldn't. My role was helping with the startup logistics and contacting JFS of Metrowest so that they could identify recipients for the donation.

What was the response  to the program? Are parents encouraged to pick up the produce together with their kids? How do you think families benefit from a program like this?

About 20 temple members and nursery school families participated in the program. Pickup was between 6:30 and 7 p.m., and several families brought their children to help pick out their produce. The program ran for 20 weeks, so pickup really became part of the weekly routine. My girls looked forward to going each week, seeing what they got to take home and oftentimes running into temple friends. Getting our vegetables at the temple was definitely viewed as more special than going to the grocery store! Pickup time brought people together, even if just for 5 to 10 minutes each week.

What type of produce was available through Hilltop Farm? How did you personally incorporate it into your meal planning, and do you think involvement in this program has made healthy eating more fun for your kids?

Hilltop Farm delivered a large variety of vegetables, including lettuces, peppers, eggplant, squash, and tomatoes, and too many more to name; herbs; and fruit. Although my girls are not big vegetable eaters, selecting the vegetables themselves made them a little more willing to try. A few of our favorites were potato leek soup, zucchini bread, and fresh basil on pizza. 

Let's talk about the JFS connection. JFS runs the Lucy and Joe Food Pantry, and in general, food pantries stock nonperishables. Was this the first time the food pantry had a steady supply of fresh produce? How many families benefited from the share?

Malka Young of JFS says this is the first time the food pantry has had fresh produce, but I'm hoping it can happen more often in the future. JFS' Healthy Harvest program at the Wilson School in Framingham provides about 70 families with produce every other week during the school year. However, other than through this program, fresh produce is not usually available.

JFS identified two families a week who received the farm share. These were families that were using the food pantry at JFS, as well as refugees, asylees, and frail elders.

Why do you feel it's important to be involved with a Community-Supported Agriculture program (CSA) like this one?

I think it's beneficial when individuals or groups can be a part of a program with such positive outcomes. The produce is grown in Massachusetts, so purchasing a farm share supports local growers. We who picked up farm shares had a chance to chat with other people from Metrowest, swap recipes, and make new social contacts. Families in our community received donated fresh produce. It was a win-win all around.

We plan to run the program again this year and welcome new families to participate. If you'd like to know more about the program, please check out Hilltop Farm's website.

Vacation Week Fun!  

Do your kids want something different to do during school vacation? Do you want something to keep your kids happy and busy during vacation? MWJDS is offering a camp during February school vacation. Your kids will enjoy sports, make new friends, work with arts and crafts, learn new music, and play games.

29 Upper Joclyn Rd., Framingham

For more information and to register, visit the school's website or contact Risa Werblin, director of admissions, or call 508-620-5554.

Stacey Peasley Concert at Temple Israel 

Wednesday, Feb. 22

10-11 a.m.

$8/person; kids under 2 are free 

Temple Israel of Natick's Judy Gordon Nursery School is thrilled to welcome Stacey Peasley and her full band for its annual kids' concert fund-raiser to benefit the school. 

Stacey Peasley is a family favorite, the winner of a 2010 Nickelodeon Parents Connect Parents' Pick Award. To hear a sample of her music, visit Stacey's website.

Tickets will be sold at the door. If you would like more information, please call the temple office at 508-650-3521.

145 Hartford St.   

Do you ever wonder where your money goes? How to set reasonable financial goals? What to do about unexpected expenses?

This free workshop series for women will help you gain control over your personal finances in a confidential and supportive group. Each participant will receive a $25 gas card.  

475 Franklin St., Framingham

RSVP to Diana O'Brien, or call 508-875-3100 x300. Space is limited.

Tot Shabbat

Congregation Beth El, Sudbury 

Families with children ages 2 through 6 are invited to come to our Tot Shabbat program as we sing, dance, and celebrate Shabbat together. The program begins at 10:30 a.m. and includes a Shabbat morning snack. All are welcome to stay and play until the congregational service is over and join everyone for Kiddush.   

Saturday, Feb. 11 

105 Hudson Rd., Sudbury  

For more information about this Tot Shabbat or to get the schedule for the rest of the year, please contact Julie Wolf. 

Shabbat Services with Rabbi Judy

Friday, Feb. 3
10:30-11 a.m.

JFS's Kesher invites you to help Jewish seniors celebrate Shabbat with a short Shabbat service with Rabbi Judy Spicehandler. Young families and children bring joy to isolated elders. An easy way to teach your children about helping others.

Sunrise Senior Living
285 Commonwealth Ave. (Route 30), Wayland

RSVP to Nancy Fried-Tanzer if you plan to attend, or for more information about this program. 

Jewish Family Network is a collaboration of Jewish Family Service of Metrowest and the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston with generous support from the Metrowest Jewish Community Fund, Clare and Richard Lesser and Combined Jewish Philanthropies. Interfaith families, single parents, people with disabilities, and GLBT families are welcome.