Jewish life
What a Jewish early childhood center means here
Sage is run by a Jewish congregation, and the Jewish year shapes the rooms. Children learn it through the things they do with their hands and voices.
The Friday gathering
At the end of each week the whole center gathers: candles, grape juice, challah and the blessing over the bread, led by the pre-K children.
Songs and Hebrew words
Ori teaches a few Hebrew words with every song: the names of the days, the things on the table and the words for thank you. Children sing them the way they sing any song.
Food and festivals
Children bake for the holidays and taste what is on the table: apples and honey, doughnuts, matzah. Snacks stay dairy or vegetarian all year.
In plain words
What we teach, and what we don't
What children learn
The stories, songs, foods and customs of the Jewish year, and the idea that a festival is something a whole room does together.
What we don't ask
We don't ask a family to be Jewish, to belong to the congregation or to change anything at home.
A different tradition at home
Many families keep other traditions or none. Tell us at the tour what matters to your family, and we will talk about how a day looks.
Questions are welcome
Children ask why. Teachers answer plainly, say what Jewish families do and leave the rest to families.
Blessings
The blessings children learn, in English
In the room each one is sung in Hebrew. Here we name them by what they are for.
Over the candles
Said on Friday, when the candles are lit to begin Shabbat.
Over the bread
Said before the challah is shared, on Friday and at festival tables.
Over the grape juice
Said when the cup is raised on Friday and at the seder.
Before eating
A short thank-you sung at snack, with hands washed first.
For something new
Said at a festival's first night or a first taste of a new season's fruit.
Ask us anything about Jewish life here
A tour is the best time, and the director is glad to talk.