Kids are holy and valued members of this kehilla (community). We aim to make things as accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of kids (and their grownups) as possible. This is work in progress and the ongoing feedbacks from, and organizing by, kehilla families is an integral part of this.
Kids of all ages (including babies) are always welcome in services. Kid voices, kid noises, kid movements are all so much more than "allowed" or "tolerated" (ew!), they are normal and also wonderful. To the grownups reading this, please do not feel you need to quiet your kids during services to any more extent than you might ask adults chatting loudly next to you to keep it down! If we are collectively signaling to kids that they are anything less than wanted and cherished in communal & spiritual space, how do we expect them to grow into teens and adults who feel belonging in communal & spiritual space?
Kid questions are always welcome. We aim to find specific moments during services and other parts of ritual gathering to specifically elicit kid questions and insights, but curiosity should not be contained!
In terms of this year's services and gatherings for the Days of Awe, here is some important information specifically for kids and families:
Rosh Hashana
Here are some of the specific moments which may be most interesting to kids and/or during which there are plans for kid-specific programming
Friday night (erev Rosh Hashana): starting around 5pm there will be kid-centric activities happening, including apple-based crafts, apples & honey tasting, and baking Challah. there will be food available for kids for the evening meal no later than 6:30pm (please note that for adults, the evening meal will be around 8pm. kids are of course also welcome during this time)
at candle-lighting (6:45pm) there will be a moment for a "radically traditional" version of the custom of parents/grownups-of-kiddos blessing their children after lighting Shabbat candles
Shabbat (Saturday): there will be specific opportunities for kids to participate in parts of the Torah service, which will be starting around 11:45am-12pm. We are working on confirming additional kid-centric programming during the morning - this page will be updated as things are confirmed.
Daytime meal and more casual gathering time will begin at 1:30pm.
Saturday evening there will be food for kids available no later than 6:30pm
Sunday: there are people ready and excited to offer kid-specific activities as of 11:30am. The plan is for some unstructured, supervised play time in the parc next to where services are happening, followed by hearing the shofar (!), followed by some more structured Rosh Hashana learning and then lunchtime
Tashlikh: (the "casting off" ritual where we reflect and also throw things into the water) will likely be taking place in the later afternoon/early evening of Tuesday, September 15. Details to follow
Yom Kippour
Specific details to follow! Please check this page for updates in the days following Rosh Hashana
Some other notes:
There is a parc in the ruelle where services will be taking place. And it's a pretty fun parc, at least that has been the feedback from many of the kids in the kehilla.
We will have some snacks available for kids throughout services, but please do bring snacks for your kids as well!
There are toys, books, and some arts & crafts supplies that will be available throughout all services
If there are any kids who are interested in specific parts of services and/or rituals, please be in touch!
Please be in touch with any questions, comments, etc
Kehilla Skool
For anyone who might be interested in ongoing, freedom-focused Jewish learning for kids throughout the year, please get in touch if you are not already connected to Kehilla Skool!