Youth & Families
Shabbat
Children love to come to synagogue on Shabbat and use the skills they have learned during the week either in Hebrew School or Day School. They are able to shine in the children’s services, by taking part in leading their peers in prayer, demonstrating their growth in Hebrew and prayer skills and finding their own space in the Kane Street community. Every Shabbat, except on public holiday weekends, Kane Street offers four Family Services as well as baby-sitting. Family Services are free and open to all, both members and non-members. Parents are always welcome to attend our children’s services. During the year we have several family-friendly, spirited Havdalah services with music, singing and dancing. Contact Rabbi Valerie Lieber, Director of Education and Family Programming at vlieber@kanestreet.org
Download the Family Services flyer 2009/2010
Download the Just For Kids: Shabbat Shalom Rules sign
Schedule
Baby Sitting: Ages 0 – 5
Saturdays 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
We provide babysitting so parents can participate in the sanctuary service.
Camp Shabbat: Ages 4 – 12
Saturdays 10 – 11:15 AM and after Family Services until 1 PM
Camp Shabbat is an informal game room staffed by counselor Mike Stein. Mike will have games, drama exercises and hangout space. The program provides a fun, safe place for kids to be while their parents attend services in the Sanctuary.
Mini Minyan: Ages 2 – 5
Saturdays 11:15 – 12 noon
This is a very special hour for our youngest children to learn about and experience Shabbat. During Mini Minyan children join in Shabbat songs, movement, simple prayers and Torah stories. The service ends with a snack kiddush. Children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
Junior Congregation: Grades K – 2
Saturdays 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
In this spirited youth service students are invited to not only participate, but also to lead the prayers in which they are proficient. The Parshat Ha-Shavua (weekly Torah portion) is taught in a fun and interactive manner. The children are called up for aliyot at some Junior Congregation services.
KC Minyan (Kavanna & Competence): Grades 3 – 7
Saturdays 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Kavanna (intention) refers to the inner joy and insight which the worshipper strives to bring to prayer. By competence, we mean knowledge of synagogue customs and the meanings and melodies of the prayers. During the KC Minyan students are encouraged to lead the majority of the prayers and read from the torah. We explore the meanings and melodies of the Shabbat morning prayers.
Shabbat Club: A Parent (or Babysitter) and Me Program
Fridays 10 – 11:15 AM
Introduce Jewish customs to your child in a warm, fun environment. Kids prepare for Shabbat, make holiday crafts, sing blessings and songs, hear stories and learn some Hebrew words and letters in a fun environment. Moran Ben-Shaul is back to lead. Kids love Shabbat Club so much they sing Shabbat Club songs at home, pretend they are driving to the synagogue for Shabbat Club in the middle of the week, and associate Judaism with happiness.
January 2010 application & discount
Holidays and Festivals
Creative and fun children’s holiday programs are offered throughout the Jewish year.
On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we hold lively services for children and their families led by experienced Jewish family educators. Children hear the shofar, sing t’fillot and enjoy sweet apples and honey. On the afternoon of the second day of Rosh Hashanah, everyone is invited to participate in our Tashlich ceremony at the East River Fulton Ferry Landing with the entire community. Childcare is available during the High Holidays.
Simhat Torah, with its joyous singing and dancing in honor of the Torah, is a holiday of youthful delight. Families are invited to participate in safe and fun rounds of dancing, or hakafot, with the Torah as we cordon off our block on Kane Street and celebrate in the street.
At Hanukkah families are invited to Kane Street’s Community Chanukah party to sing Chanukah songs and consume their year’s share of sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).
Purim at Kane Street is very family friendly. Everyone comes dressed in costume, parents behave like children and together we listen to the Megillah of Esther, sponsor a costume parade and enjoy hamantaschen.
On Yom Ha’atz’ma’ut, Israel Independence Day, we sing in English and Hebrew, dance and celebrate the modern revival of Israel.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
At Kane Street we take the occasion of becoming a Bar and Bat Mitzvah very seriously and celebrate with great joy. Children are taught about the meaning of the Mitzvot (commandments), about social responsibility and about the services. Prior to their Bar or Bat Mitzvah they fulfill educational requirements and participate in Tzedakah projects. During the service they lead by chanting parts of the Torah, Haftarah and service, and by delivering a D’var Torah, an original teaching before the Congregation. The Sanctuary is alive with support and encouragement, not just from their family and close friends, but from the entire community who join to celebrate.
Specific preparation for Torah and Haftorah fluency occurs mostly during the year before the child’s celebration. Students generally meet with a tutor to learn the Haftarah and Torah Cantillation and other parts of the service and meet with Rabbi Weintraub to write a D’var Torah. At times students meet with their parents to learn about the meaning of Mitzvah, covenant and rituals such as Tallit and Tefillin, and to develop their service projects, which include volunteering their time and donating part of their gifts to charitable causes.