Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide

Jewish Learning
Raise up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
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Lifelong study is one of the highest forms of worship of God, and it is the obligation and
privilege of every Jew. Jewish education, which should not be limited to children, is a
preparation for lifelong Jewish study and engagement. Rabbi Jerome Epstein, United
Synagogue’s executive vice president from 1986 to 2009, teaches that the Conservative
movement has a distinct approach to study. We examine texts critically and we bring
knowledge from other disciplines to help us better understand our own heritage. At the
same time, we approach the text with a commitment to preserve our sacred traditions.
Jewish study is essential because it allows us to appreciate our past, understand our
present, and chart where we wish to go in the future.
In his definitive article, The Sacred Cluster: The Core Values of Conservative Judaism,
Ismar Schorsch, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary from 1987 to 2006,
names the study of Torah as one of those core values, and says, “What Conservative
Judaism brings to this ancient [tradition of study] are the tools and perspectives of
modern scholarship blended with traditional learning and empathy. No matter how
differently done, the study of Torah remains at the heart of the Conservative spiritual
enterprise.” http://www.jtsa.edu/x497.xml
The Conservative early childhood program is the gateway to Jewish life. Jewish study is
at the core of the program for the children, at their own levels, but equally importantly it
is at the core of the program for the parents and for the staff.
The learning in which children engage is designed to instill a joyful, solid foundation for
the love of being Jewish. Providing a high quality Jewish education that also is
developmentally appropriate is an art form. Parents are essential learners in the
Conservative early childhood setting. Many parents who bring their children to a Jewish
early childhood program are just reentering the Jewish world, just beginning a Jewish
journey for their family. The school must do everything in its power to insure that parents
can be knowledgeable teachers for their children. This means meeting parents where they
are in a nonjudgmental manner, and drawing them into a journey of Jewish learning. Of
course, every family’s journey is different. Families with one Jewish parent that have
chosen a Jewish preschool may require, or desire, different considerations and guidance.
We hope that families with no Jewish parents, who can be found in some Conservative
early childhood programs, will become ambassadors for the Jewish people after having
positive experiences.
Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide
USCJ Department of Education
Maxine Handelman
Handelman@uscj.org
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