Far more than babysitting

When Jewish early childhood educator Rachel Sherman sees an infant holding their hands in front of their eyes while teachers light Shabbat candles, she kvells .

“It’s moments like this when I want to say, ‘See, their minds are turning already!'” said Rachel Sherman, Director of Early Childhood Education at the JCYS Michael R. Lutz Family Center. “We’re modeling these behaviors, traditions, and rituals for them–and they pick up rather quickly.”

When it comes to early childhood education, the earlier the better, according to Anna Hartman, JUF’s Director of Early Childhood Excellence. “The brain grows more in the infant and toddler years than any other period, and the connections carry on throughout life,” she said.

With a growing demand for infant care both inside and outside of the Jewish community, then, Jewish early childhood educators see an opportunity for the youngest among us to form early connections to the Jewish community.

Over the last five years, many Jewish centers have broadened their offerings for infants. “A 2016 JUF study indicated that lack of infant care in Chicago’s Jewish early childhood centers was a barrier keeping [families] from choosing Jewish programs,” Hartman said. “Since that time, through advocacy and various investments, the supply of infant care in Jewish early childhood centers has increased 38%.”

Bree Movitz, Director of JCC Chicago Early Childhood at Beth Emet, is one of many professionals feeling the acutely increased need for infant care. “With people going back to work, everyone needs to be in person, so they need full day care for their babies,” she said. Her program has a wait list that “we can’t keep up with, and we’re not the only ones,” she said – and the impact on the children who make it into these programs is huge. “[Since] we’re here with these kids for 10-11 hours a day, we really play an important role in these babies’ lives.”

Since reopening its center in the summer of 2020 after closing its doors at the start of the pandemic, JCYS Michael R. Lutz Family Center, for instance, added a second infant room to help meet the growing need, according to Rachel Sherman.

Yet, still, demand continues to outpace supply. In fact, most Jewish early childhood centers that offer infant care say they have waiting lists for infant classrooms.

But the wait is worth it for many. In the four years since the Board of Jewish Education infant program opened— thanks to a JUF grant— the babies in the infant room participate in a variety of Jewish activities including weekly Shabbat services, holiday celebrations like the annual Yom Ha’Atzmaut parade, and play with sensory experiences like, at Rosh Hashanah time, rolling apples or playing with a plush shofar.

“We know for some young Jewish families, this is their first taste of a Judaic journey we hope their family is on, and if not, we’re also here to provide knowledge on anything else they want or need,” said Liz Sherman, site coordinator for the Board of Jewish Education in Wilmette. “Sending your child at infancy to a Jewish early childhood center begins their journey and enhances the family’s Judaic experience.”

While early childhood programs have many merits, they also come with an expensive price tag. That’s where JUF Right Start comes in–and helps alleviate some of the costs for families choosing to enroll in Jewish early childhood programs.

Families can receive a Right Start voucher if it’s the first time their child is attending a Jewish early childhood program. This year, in response to the federal Child Tax Credit, JUF increased the amount of money available for participants.

As more families turn to infant care programs after the pandemic’s height, Rachel Sherman hopes to debunk the “misconception that infant care is just ‘babysitting.’ I would argue it’s very much the opposite,” she said. “Yes, we provide need-based care and a safe space, but we also provide a quality Jewish education for our youngest community members. These are the children who will carry on our faith and traditions; why would we ever think they don’t need the highest quality of care?”

For more information about JUF Right Start, visitjuf.org/youngfamilies/JUF-Right-Start.aspx.