Publisher's Synopsis
Early childhood education is the gateway to Jewish life. Early childhood programs affiliated with Conservative synagogues seek not only to introduce families to the joys of Judaism but also to bring families into the community of the synagogue and the practices and traditions of Conservative Judaism. Yet conveying a sense of Jewish life from a Conservative perspective can be a challenge.
The Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide seeks to address this challenge. The guide is designed to facilitate an understanding of the Conservative perspective on God and spirituality, ethical behavior, ritual observances, and the place of Jewish learning in early childhood, as well as to help early childhood educators in Conservative settings grapple with daily issues of ritual such as kashrut and wearing kipot, bring Jewish values into the classroom, envision what daily tefillah might look like in a Conservative early childhood classroom, and in general ask the right questions. The journey guide also will help lay leaders and parents understand what a Conservative early childhood program should include. The Director's Manual provides a director the tools necessary to implement the guide in his or her school community. Activities, text study and resources are included for each section of the Vision Guide.
The Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Some schools may find the suggestions in this guide overwhelming; other schools may find themselves saying "We do that." Jewish life is a journey, and the path will look different in every community and in every school. The information contained in this guide will serve to inform, enrich, and deepen the Jewish experience of every director, teacher, child, and parent who is touched by a Conservative early childhood school.
