Voting took place on November 3 at Gan HaYeled in the Kindergarten campaign for a school mascot. The race included three fantastic candidates - Alligator, Badger, and Hedgehog. Mazel Tov Hedgehog!
While we may not be able to be together in person right now, our Jewish Federation of Madison programs have been super busy, engaged, and staying connected virtually. Over the summer, Camp Shalom and Camp Shalom Katan at Gan HaYeled Preschool opened in person with modifications and stringent health and sanitation precautions.
Voting took place on November 3 at Gan HaYeled in the Kindergarten campaign for a school mascot. The race included three fantastic candidates - Alligator, Badger, and Hedgehog. Mazel Tov Hedgehog!
We weren't able to visit the Sukkahs of our friends and neighbors this year, as is the tradition in our community, so we're bringing the Sukkah Hop to you. Tour the Sukkahs of Madison from Sukkot 5781…virtually - featuring our Madison synagogues, Jewish organizations and families.
Proud to have co-sponsored this informative event along with Urban League of Greater Madison, African American Council of Churches, and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, covering the incredible sacrifices individuals made in the struggle to earn the right to vote and the importance of making your voice heard by voting. This co-sponsored event was a direct result of our Community Relations Committee (CRC)'s outreach efforts to other minority communities.
Camp Shalom Katan, Gan HaYeled Preschool's summer program, concluded last Friday with Camping Week. Highlights included: marshmallow painting, campfire stories, s'mores, tent building & lantern making.
The final week, included a camp-wide game of Camp Shalom GO! Campers earned prizes for finding playing cards of staff members hidden around the camp.
It was zoo week at Gan HaYeled Preschool's summer program last week. Campers made zoos, constructed animal creations, and fed the birds.
"Zoo week was AWESOME." ~ Ben, camper, age 4
Camp Shalom is Making Mensches...Mitzvah Mensches!
It was community week at Camp Shalom Katan, Gan HaYeled Preschool's summer program, with doctors, construction workers, and pilots.
On August 7 we celebrated #NationalFarmersMarketWeek with a Camp Shalom market! Each group created items to show/share with fellow campers. And, we enjoyed sweet honey sticks for a special treat.
Camp Shalom may look different this summer due to COVID-19, but having fun hasn't changed!
We explored space for this week's theme at Camp Shalom Katan, Gan HaYeled Preschool's summer program
We had a heartwarming and fun-filled gardening themed first week at Camp Shalom Katan, which opened on June 15 at Gan HaYeled Preschool . The week included playing in the sand, arts and crafts, cooling off with sprinklers and popsicles, and challah making for Shabbat.
The week preparing for session one included playing social distancing games, a workshop with Emilie Sondel on supporting kids emotionally and staff self-care, a talk with deputy Jocelyn Longley from Dane County Sheriff’s Office on safety and security, motivational words from Jewish Federation of Madison executive director, Alan Klugman, cooling off with Kona Ice, and even a social distance friendship circle.
Members of the Jewish Federation of Madison board of directors and staff participated in the Black Lives Matter Solidarity March sponsored by the African American Council of Churches (AACC) on June 7 to join with others in our community in the pursuit of justice and social change. See photo gallery below.
Congratulations to our Gan HaYeled Preschool 2020 graduating class. Gan staff, students, and families celebrated this milestone on June 5 with a virtual ceremony and celebration that included a video presentation with messages from teachers and students and a "Pomp and Circumstance" graduate walk.
We celebrated Shavuot and reflected on Jewish wisdom in the midst of a pandemic in a community gathering on May 28 co-sponsored by CSS, TBE, JFM, and UW-Hillel. The event included a service, song, and 3 thoughtful and though-provoking moderated panel discussions: “Jewish Resilience in Difficult Times” by community rabbis and cantor; personal reflections of serving patients affected by COVID-19 by 4 physicians; and experiences navigating quarantine by 2 elders and 2 young people.
On Wednesday, May 6, the Midrasha community came together virtually to celebrate our graduates. We are thrilled to announce that we awarded all 9 graduates with a Midrasha Incentive Award of up to $2,000 each to continue their Jewish education following graduation.
We sure do love our teachers at Gan HaYeled Preschool! Students showed their appreciation for their teachers and shared why they are special to them all week May 4-8.
The Camp Shalom Committee met to discuss and explore multi-faceted considerations for Summer 2020 during these very uncertain times.
Gan HaYeled Preschool celebrated Israel's Independence Day together from their homes. The children made Israeli flags that were carried by their families in a parade, and everyone sang songs. Teacher Efrat and Shlicha Danielle shared their personal Independence Day experiences from Israel.
Midrasha Hebrew High School teens have been cooking, drawing, reading, speaking Hebrew, and watching videos in preparation for weekly Jewish studies and Hebrew virtual classes.
We are looking forward to the Class of 2020 virtual graduation on Wednesday, May 6!
Our Shlichim, Danielle and Gal, led a program for MOUSY, Beth Israel Center's high school youth program (pictured), and a Yom HaAtzmaut celebration with Lechayim at Jewish Social Services that included Israel trivia and an update on Israel politics.
Our Community Shlicha, Danielle, organized a Taste of Memories program to commemorate Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, with the Israeli Madison community. Participants shared the story of the late Oren Noah and made his favorite banana cake recipe in their homes beforehand.