Young Families

Find community and support as you navigate the epic journey and joys of parenthood.

Contact Us

Clergy Leader
Rabbi Amy B. Ehrlich

Staff Contact
Grace Guterman

Email Us
212-507-9603

A collage shows young children and parents participating in a vibrant family program at Temple Emanu-El. Children are clapping, creating crafts with adults, and joyfully engaging with a puppet during group activities on a colorful play mat.

Children bring a unique blessing into the world. Temple Emanu-El offers a number of engaging and entertaining opportunities to share the wonders of Jewish culture and holidays together as a family.

Shabbat Programs for Young Families

An adult helps a baby sit up on a colorful play mat during a family program at Temple Emanu-El, with other families and young children gathered in the background. The baby looks toward the camera while being gently supported.
A young child joyfully reaches for bubbles floating in the air beside the softly glowing Shabbat candles, with a vibrant alphabet play mat in the background at a Temple Emanu-El community gathering.

Baby Shabbat

Fridays, once a month from 9:15-9:45 AM
Friday, September 12, 2025 – Friday, May 15, 2026

Enjoy the company of other families as we celebrate Shabbat with music, blessings and a taste of challah! Baby Shabbat is a 30-minute program led by Rabbi Amy Ehrlich and Cantor Sara Anderson. The program is designed for children up to 20 months. Baby Shabbats are held in the Library. Enter through 1 East 65th  Street.

Register Now

Tot Shabbat

Once a month, alternating between Fridays from 4:30 PM-5:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:00-10:00 AM

Tot Shabbat is created just for preschool and nursery school-aged students and their families. Join Rabbi Amy Ehrlich and Cantor Sara Anderson to share joyful music and meaningful rituals in your growing family’s life. Be sure to invite grandparents and other loved ones to join us! Babies are welcome, too! There is no charge for this program.

Register Now

Upcoming Young Families Programs

For parents with children 15 months and older. Come explore helpful parenting skills with Dr. Juliet Cooper and Rabbi Ehrlich, such as negotiating family roles, effective co-parenting, establishing positive and consistent routines, incorporating Jewish ritual into your family life, and finding a healthy balance as a parent.

Toddlers and their grown-ups explore the world through a new and exciting Jewish lens of music, art, and blessings. Each session offers a special “take-home” Jewish art project crafted together in class, leading to a one-of-a-kind, cherished collection. Led by musician and educator Hadar Orshalimy, this 45-minute class offers a unique opportunity for creative exploration […]

Join early childhood specialist and musician Hadar Orshalimy for a lively 45-minute program for children 6 to 24 months and their grownups; each week is filled with music, movement, Jewish holidays, a taste of Hebrew, and free time to make friends and connect with other families.

For parents with children 15 months and older. Come explore helpful parenting skills with Dr. Juliet Cooper and Rabbi Ehrlich, such as negotiating family roles, effective co-parenting, establishing positive and consistent routines, incorporating Jewish ritual into your family life, and finding a healthy balance as a parent. Registration to follow.

Toddlers and their grown-ups explore the world through a new and exciting Jewish lens of music, art, and blessings. Each session offers a special “take-home” Jewish art project crafted together in class, leading to a one-of-a-kind, cherished collection. Led by musician and educator Hadar Orshalimy, this 45-minute class offers a unique opportunity for creative exploration […]

Join early childhood specialist and musician Hadar Orshalimy for a lively 45-minute program for children 6 to 24 months and their grownups; each week is filled with music, movement, Jewish holidays, a taste of Hebrew, and free time to make friends and connect with other families. Registration to follow.

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PJ Library

Temple Emanu-El partners with PJ Library for a number of our Young Families programs. For more information about PJ Library and to request free Jewish books for your children, click here.