Temple Chai hosts Tot Shabbats for families
Tot Shabbats, participatory Shabbat services designed for kids ages 2-6 featuring music, song and dancing, are getting a remake at Temple Chai, a Reform Jewish Congregation in Long Grove.
"Tot Shabbats are community Shabbat services," said Laura Siegel Perpinyal, the temple's director of Congregational Learning. "Nonmembers and their tots are welcome at no charge."
The tot's services will kick off Monday, Oct. 3, with a Rosh Hashana Tot Experience from 3 to 3:45 p.m., coinciding with the temple's 3 p.m. Family Service, which is geared to our elementary school-age children, said Cathy Schwartz, Temple Chai's director of member services.
Thereafter, Tot Shabbats are scheduled for the first Friday of each month, November through June. Starting at 5:30 p.m. with an optional informal dinner, services will begin at 6 p.m. and will conclude at 6:30 p.m.
The Tot Shabbats are led by Senior Rabbi, Stephen Hart, Senior Associate Rabbi, Ilana Baden, or Cantor Scott Simon.
"During the service, the tots learn songs and some Shabbat prayers, hear stories, and sing and dance to celebrate the joy of Shabbat," said Perpinyal.
"They parade around the temple's sanctuary and make trips up to the Bimah (raised stage), all while loudly playing musical instruments, including triangles and drums. The louder, the better," she said
"Other tots choose miniature Torahs to carry as they parade," said Schwartz.
As the service concludes, the clergy give Shabbat blessings to the tots and their families. The tots then enjoy snacks and the opportunity to play with other children.
"There is a welcoming, organized chaos," said Perpinyal
"In our experience, the kids love dancing and singing with the symbols of Shabbat, the challah bread and grape juice," said Perpinyal. "Many of them learn some prayers before beginning religious school."
"The Tot Shabbats also encourage families with young children to bond and form a small community within the larger temple environment," said Schwartz. "These families have an opportunity not only to introduce their children to Judaism, but also to interact as a smaller group with Rabbi Hart, Rabbi Baden and Cantor Simon."
During the Tot Shabbats, no pressure is put on nonmembers to join Temple Chai.
"While temple staff is available to answer questions, the focus is on making Shabbat a joyful experience for the tots and their families," said Schwartz.
She emphasized that Temple Chai is making it easier for families with preschool children to become temple members. It is offering greatly reduced membership rates for these families until their oldest child enters first grade in the temple's religious school. Thereafter, dues will increase gradually until that child becomes a third-grader.
Schwartz highlighted two other temple programs designed for the preschool children of members and nonmembers. Its Sunday preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds is continuing. New temple members will receive a one year preschool tuition incentive. Beginning this September, the temple is introducing a Child-Parent Experience for 2- and 3-year-old children and their families.
"Tot Shabbats and our preschool programs are an important part of Temple Chai's continuing commitment to be an inclusive community with services and programming for all ages," said Perpinyal.
For details, contact Cathy Schwartz at cschwartz@templechai.org.