Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide

Some people continue with the she’hecheyanu prayer:
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Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, she’hecheyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higiyanu
lazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive and
sustained us and permitted us to reach this moment.
If you are putting up more than one mezuzah at the same time, you have to say the
brachah only once. That covers all the mezuzot.
In an early childhood program, we want to make the mezuzah accessible to the children.
In that case we can consider hanging it somewhere other than in the traditional top third
of the doorway. Since the top third of the doorway is at eye level, or within reach, of the
typical adult, we can consider what is at eye level or within reach of the children in the
classroom. Some say it is acceptable to have one mezuzah, down where children can
reach it, because it is there for the sake of chinuch, Jewish education. Some put the
mezuzah at the traditional level but keep a stool near the door so children can still reach
it. Sometimes there are two mezuzot on the door in an early childhood classroom, one
down low where the children can reach, and one higher up to fulfill the halachah.
Whatever the decision, the staff should discuss the location of the mezuzah with the
rabbi, who is the mara d’atra.
Whether you see the mezuzah as God’s protection or God’s reminder, having one on the
door is a sign to everyone who enters the classroom, and defines it as a Jewish space with
the potential for holiness. It serves to remind us of how we should behave when we enter
the room, when we are inside it, and when we leave it, if we are to embody that holiness.
Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide
USCJ Department of Education
Maxine Handelman
Handelman@uscj.org
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