Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide

Introduction
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. Too often this goal is out of reach for members
of the early childhood staff, which may consist of a director or teachers who do not have
a strong Jewish background. Even educators who have a strong Jewish knowledge-base
may not have an understanding of Conservative Judaism. Conveying a sense of Jewish
life from a Conservative perspective can be a challenge. When issues arise, the early
childhood director may not know the right questions to ask to be able to get answers from
the rabbi, who is the synagogue’s mara d’atra (religious authority). Without guidance,
the school may be unable to fulfill the goal of bringing a Conservative Jewish experience
to the children and families.
The Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs seeks to address this challenge.
A group of early childhood educators and lay leaders from across the country spent two
years seeking, questioning and writing this vision in order to help directors and teachers
understand what it means to teach in a Conservative early childhood program. This
requires understanding of the Conservative perspective on God and spirituality, ethical
behavior, ritual observances, and the place of Jewish learning in early childhood. The
guide is designed 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.
How to Use this Vision
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. It is the authors’ hope that
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.
Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide
USCJ Department of Education
Maxine Handelman
Handelman@uscj.org
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