family focus
DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
WRCJ 90.9 FM PRESENTS
5et- ;e5
MADE POSSIBLE BY THE WILLIAM DAVIDSON FOUNDATION
SCHEHERAZADE
Teddy Abrams, conductor
Joseph Peters, oboe
Rossini Overture to La Gazza Ladra
Mozart Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Op. 35
Southfield
THU., JUNE 6 AT 7:30 P.M.
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK
27375 BELL ROAD
Abrams
Matt, Maya and Brooke Weingarden
T
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I
n March, the New Jersey-based
Jewish publishing company
Behrman House published an
article titled "Advice from a Jewish
Dad: Make Tot Shabbat as Engaging as
Secular Toddler Programs:'
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Southfield had already heeded this
advice. Launched in January, the syna-
gogue's Me and My Toddler program
offers children ages 18 months-3 years
and their families an engaging Shabbat
experience each week.
Children and their parents and/or
grandparents, come every Saturday
morning from 10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
for music, puppets, laughter, dance,
Shabbat-appropriate arts and crafts,
challah and grape juice with instruc-
tor Jackie Eaton, who also teaches at
the Hillel Day School Early Childhood
Center.
Each week offers a different theme,
often related to upcoming holidays,
Israel or simply the joy of Shabbat
itself.
"We love the Me and My Toddler
program:' Dr. Brooke Weingarden
of Orchard Lake said. "Our daughter
Maya looks forward to going to shul
every week. She loves seeing Miss
Jackie, Rabbi [Aaron] Starr and her
friends. She loves the projects and
sings the songs all week:'
Starr said, "We wanted a high-level,
interactive, joyful opportunity for
young children and their parents and
grandparents on Shabbat. We coupled
that with the idea that so many
parent-tot classes are scheduled in the
middle of the day during the work
week, which is often difficult for many
parents and grandparents to attend.
Thanks to Jackie's outstanding leader-
ship, we now have a toddler program
that is a great Shabbat experience:'
Eaton added, "The highlight for
me is the smiling faces of each child
with their eema (mom), abba (dad),
bubbe (grandma)and zayde (grandpa),
singing and dancing with the songs
and waiting in anticipation to learn
more and more about Shabbat. It is
heart-warming to have such involved
families interacting together as we cel-
ebrate Shabbat each Saturday morn-
ing:'
Me and My Toddler concludes
each week with the children, holding
stuffed Torahs, visiting the bimah at
the end of congregational services
to receive candy from Rabbis Joseph
Krakoff or Starr.
Janice Stoneman, a Shaarey Zedek
officer-at-large and organizer of this
program, explained, "It is important
that the children associate sweetness
with coming to shul. These are impor-
tant formative years during which
children form their identity.
"I believe the positive feelings they
will develop through this program for
synagogue and for Shabbat, coupled
with a sense of comfort being on the
bimah during services, will rest in
their hearts always. Plus, all service
attendees love to see the little ones:'
Following services, families join
together at Shaarey Zedek's congrega-
tional lunch: a sit-down buffet that has
adult and child-friendly food. Toddler-
sized tables are set up for the families
as well as booster seats at reserved
tables nearby.
Dress is casual. However, because
it is Shabbat, adult participants are
asked not to wear jeans or sweats;
casual slacks and sweaters are fine.
The class is free and open to the com-
munity, but RSVPs are preferred each
week to missjackie@shaareyzedek.
org.
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
LEONARD SLAT.. Music
Director
A COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED ORCHESTRA
TICKETS JUST $25
($io for children under 18 and students)
CALL 313.576.5111
OR VISIT DSO.ORG
n o • sta rtra x. co
Toddler program makes young families
comfortable at Shaarey Zedek.
• VII
DETROIT
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Shabbat Experience
Generously sponsored by The
William Davidson Foundation with
additional support from the National
Endowment for the Arts.
PRODUCTIONS
Photos by Lieberman Photography
NInia Sushi
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JIB
I.
33214 W. 14 Mile
at Farmington Road
West Bloomfield MI 48322
248-737-4188
May 30 • 2013
1831340
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