Parents face immense pressures in today’s society, juggling social, emotional, and work-related demands while constantly questioning their parenting abilities. They often seek support and validation as they navigate the rituals and patterns that shape their families’ futures.
The URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) recognizes the importance of fostering Jewish engagement for families with young children across North America. They firmly believe that providing meaningful experiences for these families is vital for the strength and vitality of the Jewish community, regardless of whether or not they have access to a preschool or early childhood education center (ECEC).
To facilitate engagement, the URJ invites families with young children to explore their online portal, RJ on the Go. Through this platform, families can access a variety of structured activities that promote Jewish life within the context of their family life. One such activity, “Shabbat ShaMorning,” is streamed live and focuses on character traits (middot) that support compassionate growth.
The URJ’s commitment to engaging families with young children is based on their deep understanding of the field, informed by extensive experience with synagogues, JCCs, and other early childhood communities. They continuously stay informed about the latest research and are passionate about responding to the challenges and opportunities faced by families with young children.
The URJ’s partnership with the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ) allows them to offer valuable resources and support to directors, teachers, and lay-leaders of early education programs. Additionally, their collaboration with the JCC Association enables the exchange of knowledge and networking opportunities amongst lay and professional leaders in Jewish early childhood education across North America.
Congregations with ECECs (Early Childhood Education Centers) can participate in the URJ and ECE-RJ’s Project Excellence for Early Childhood Congregational Education (PEECCE). This program introduces a self-assessment tool facilitated by URJ-trained coaches, aimed at developing a high-functioning leadership team comprising administrators, board members, clergy, educators, lay leaders, and parent volunteers. The PEECCE is part of the Benchmarking and Assessment Project.
For further insights, you can access the report “Engaging Families with Young Children: A Report from the 2013-2014 Communities of Practice” and the “Rose Community Foundation: Standards of Excellence.”
FAQs
Q: What is RJ on the Go?
A: RJ on the Go is an online portal provided by the URJ that offers structured activities for families with young children to engage in Jewish life within the context of their own family life.
Q: How can families access the activities?
A: Families can visit the RJ on the Go website to access the activities provided by the URJ. Some activities, like “Shabbat ShaMorning,” are streamed live for families to participate in real-time.
Q: What is PEECCE?
A: PEECCE stands for Project Excellence for Early Childhood Congregational Education. It is a program offered by the URJ and ECE-RJ that provides a self-assessment tool and coaching to help develop effective leadership teams in congregations with Early Childhood Education Centers.
Conclusion
The URJ’s dedication to engaging families with young children is evident in their commitment to providing meaningful experiences and resources. Through their partnership with ECE-RJ and collaboration with the JCC Association, they continue to support and nurture the Jewish community’s youngest members. By fostering Jewish engagement from an early age, the URJ is contributing to the ongoing vitality and strength of the Jewish community as a whole.