Baby & Me

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Baby & Me Shabbat Class invites our youngest community members and their grownups to experience the warmth, rhythm, and togetherness of Shabbat. Through singing, stories, snacks, and a healthy dose of silliness, families are introduced to the sights, sounds, and simple rituals that make Shabbat a weekly anchor of Jewish life. Whether you know Shabbat well or are just beginning to explore it, each class centers on a core set of familiar songs and playful experiences. Together, parents and children learn how to create a joyful, meaningful, and restful Shabbat tradition of their own, carrying home both the “why” and the “how,” along with the melodies that bind our community together.

What Happens at Baby & Me?

  • Shabbat Basics

    By celebrating the Shabbat rituals like candle lighting, challah, song, and blessing, families are introduced to the building blocks of Shabbat. We focus on the “why” and the “how” in ways that feel intuitive and doable, so parents leave confident bringing Shabbat into their own homes, no matter their prior experience.

  • Age Appropriate Play

    Babies and toddlers learn through movement, music, and repetition. Each week will blend singing, celebrating, playing, and silliness designed specifically for little ones, meeting them exactly where they are developmentally. Play becomes a pathway to meaning, helping children associate Jewish life with joy, comfort, and connection.

  • Jewish Community

    Baby & Me Shabbat is as much about the grownups as it is about the kids. Families gather in a welcoming circle to build relationships, share experiences, and grow together. Over time, this becomes a first taste of belonging, a community rooted in Jewish joy, shared melodies, and the feeling that you and your family truly belong here.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The cost is $36 per session, or $360 for the full season (Fall & Spring). Families are welcome to join for a single session or commit to the season for continuity and deeper connection.

  • This class is designed for babies 18 months and younger, along with the grownups who love them. Parents, grandparents, and guardians are all welcome. No prior Jewish knowledge or experience is required.

  • Baby & Me Shabbat is led by Rabbi Alex Kress, Eitan Strauss-Cohn, our Director of Jewish Life & Music, and Helena Simon, our ECC Director. Together, they bring warmth, musical joy, and deep experience in early childhood Jewish education.

  • Baby & Me Shabbat meets most Friday mornings from 9:30–10:15 am. The timing flows naturally from our ECC Shabbat at 9:00am which ECC families are welcome to join.