Blog Filtered | Union for Reform Judaism

an image of a teacher sitting on a colorful mat with a book in her hands and three toddlers sitting in front of her

Showing Congregational Educators That You Value Their Work

Lisa Langer, RJE

Rachel Margolis, RJE

September 7, 2023

Just like some of the employees that are spotlighted in Undercover Boss, congregational educators do work that is critical, yet often underappreciated and undervalued for their impact on the community and their role in vibrant congregations.

woman teaches children to read at a table

Early Childhood Education

Toddler to Teen Learning: Changing the Narrative with Vision, Connection, and Partnership

Stephanie Lerner

Alison Weikel

July 29, 2022

Summer is a time for expansive thinking and creativity. What do we imagine for our learning programs? How can we support teachers in their own learning journeys? What opportunities can we offer families and congregants?

Susan Zukrow Mackevich, zichronah l'vrachah

Early Childhood Education

The Susan Zukrow Mackevich Seeds of Compassion Fellowship Grows Connection between Early Jewish Education and Camp

Cathy Rolland, RJE

Rachel Margolis, RJE

June 10, 2022

Sometimes an outsider’s perspective yields a beautiful question. Susan Zukrow Mackevich, whose second yahrzeit was April 27, provided that kind of perspective for us at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ), and Chicago-area early childhood Jewish educators.

Education

Shalom LinkED: Online Jewish Values Learning

Lisa Langer, RJE

Rachel Margolis, RJE

June 10, 2022

What if your congregation’s students learn about Jewish values and living online with Shalom LinkED once a week for 18 weeks next year and celebrate, build relationships, and learn Hebrew together during the remaining weeks? How might your congregation’s educators focus and deepen their work if some planning and teaching is taken care of by leaders in the field?

Young girl wearing googles while watching a Zoom screen surrounded by materials for conducting a science experiment

Jewish Values

Creators, Thinkers, and Inventors: STEM in our Synagogue Learning Community

Alison Weikel

Jacob Paikoff

April 2, 2021

As the STEM educator and director of education, respectively, at Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland, MA, we’re sharing reflections on introducing STEM to Jewish learners in our building pre-COVID and in our online learning community.

Three pane window with a rainbow fingerprinted onto it and facing the outdoors

Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education Centers on the Brink: Coming Together to Address Crisis

Amy Asin

Cathy Rolland, RJE

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

Rachel Margolis, RJE

September 15, 2020

Although the pandemic has not altered the overall mission of our sacred work – to engage the next generation of families with young children on their Jewish journey – it has further amplified our sense of urgency and is helping to redefine and clarify our goals and priorities.

Mom holding daughter on her lap while they look at a laptop from the sofa

Education

Resources for ECE Center Directors and Educators: Coronavirus and Your Congregation

Cathy Rolland, RJE

March 19, 2020

Caring for each other, as well as for our children, families, and staff, doesn’t stop when challenges surface. But it is also during these difficult times that we reinvent ourselves and meet the needs of our community more than ever.  

Group photo of early childhood educators in Israel

Early Childhood Education

Learning to Share Israel With Our Youngest Students

Jennie Rubin

April 17, 2018

A recent visit to Israel by early childhood educators enriched our ability to engage the next generation of Jews with a rich and meaningful dialogue around Israel.

Early Childhood Education

It Is No Dream: How to Connect Preschool Families to the Congregational Community

Fern Katz and Rabbi Seth Limmer

April 20, 2017

Here's how one Chicago-land congregation successfully deepened its engagement with families with young children.

Early Childhood Education

(Pre)school (Full) Days: No Longer a Luxury

Johanna Ginsberg (NJJN)

August 25, 2016

Jacqueline and Kevin Haney of North Caldwell wanted to send their children to a Jewish preschool, so last summer they took a look at the Early Childhood Center at nearby Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in Caldwell.

Related Blog Posts on Early Childhood Education and Education