Family Programs
Kane Street Synagogue has a large and active community of families with children.
Our mission:
To help families celebrate, learn and enjoy Jewish life to the fullest!
Youth and Family
Shabbat Morning Services
Most weeks during the school year we hold Shabbat morning services for families and kids. We all gather with the main service in the sanctuary at the end to close out our services as one community.
In the Goldman Educational Center Building
September, 2024–June 14, 2025
BRAND NEW PROGRAM: Tot Shabbat
For children ages 0-4, with a grown up.
10:45am–11:30am on the first Saturday of the month on the 2nd Floor of the Goldman Educational Center.
Led by Adina Ornstein-Luks, early childhood ed. teacher
A unique blend of silliness and soul. Children and family members sing prayers, dance and hear stories, march with stuffed Torahs and fall in love with a joyful Judaism! Each Tot Shabbat concludes with hallah, grape juice and bagels with schmears
- March 1
- April 5
- May 3
- June 7
On weeks when Tot Shabbat does not meet, we invite this age to join in with Kinder Minyan!
Kinder Minyan
11:15am-12:00pm on the 2nd Floor of the Goldman Educational Center (3rd floor the 1st Saturday of the month)
Led by Landon Braverman
A fun, friend-filled time to be inspired. Children attend with or without a grown-up. Singing, learning and a story are led by Landon Braverman using a colorful siddur that kids enjoy. We end in the Sanctuary with the whole Congregation and kiddush lunch.
Minyan Noar
(We welcome parents to drop kids off, so they can go to the main service)
11:15am-12:05pm in the Chapel, 2nd floor of the Goldman Educational Center
Led by Rabbi Val, Melissa Zimmerman, Sarah Rebell and Teen Apprentices.
Kids explore meanings of rituals and prayers, sing and master tefillot. Kids take all the Torah service honors, learning how to carry, bless read the Torah and discuss it vigorously. Dramatic re-enactments of Torah are favorites. Each week is an adventure! We end in the main sanctuary with the whole congregation and kiddush lunch
SHABBAT FAMILY DINNERS
We charge a small fee per person, and the overall cost is subsidized by generous sponsors!Shabbat Mishpaḥa (Family Shabbat)
For families with kids age 1-6 (through K)
Friday, Sep. 20, 2024, 5:00pm
Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, 5:00pm
Friday, May 9, 2025, 5:00pm
Blessings and dinner with kid-friendly and adult-tasty food, beer, and wine.
Register in advance or sign up to sponsor at kanestreet.org/shabbat-mishpaha
Shabbat Yeladim (Children's Shabbat)
For families with kids in grades 1–4
Friday, Nov. 1, 2024
Friday, Feb. 26, 2025
5:15pm — Family Service led by our clergy and Landon Braverman6:15pm — Blessings and dinner with kid-friendly and adult-tasty food, beer, wine.
Register in advance or sign up to sponsor kanestreet.org/shabbat-yeladim
Shabbat Noar (Youth Shabbat)
For families with kids in grades 5-7
Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, 5:15pm
Friday, April 26, 2025, 5:15pm
Service led by Rabbi Dardashti & our Shaliaḥ Tzibur (Prayer Leader) Noah Solomon-Chase followed by dinner with tasty food, beer and wine for adults and dessert!
Register in advance or sign up to sponsor at kanestreet.org/shabbat-noar
KeTeR Torah
Yom Siddur ~ Prayerbook Day
Yom Siddur is an annual event in which each 3rd graders in our membership receives their very own inscribed prayer books during the main Sanctuary services. This is a highlight event for the 8-year olds each year, and they relish carrying their siddur to services when they attend.HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS
Please note that the dates and times below reflect the dates for the current Jewish year, so some or all of the dates may have passed! However, these should give you an idea of timing and what to expect next year! Subscribe to our newsletter Kane Street Connections, which contains updates and links for all services and events at kanestreet.org/subscribe!
High Holy Days
Pre-High Holy Days:
Candy Apple Bash
Sunday, September 22
10:30–11:25am for ages 0-3
Tasting, touching, singing, dancing
11:30am–12:30pm for ages 4-11
Cook, taste, sing, make art and have a blast!
Register for tickets at kanestreet.org/candy-apple-bash
Reverse Tashlikh
Sunday, September 29
Before real Tashlikh, this event allows us to compensate by taking impurities OUT of the water and cleaning up our environment as a way to celebrate the creation of an amazing world.
Join us for a clean up of the area on the streets and tree-beds near the Gowanus Canal.
To register and get all the details, go to kanestreet.org/reverse-tashlikh.
No charge to participate!
Each year for High Holidays families with kids gather for dynamic services in the main sanctuary and we hold Family Services as well. These are led by Rabbi Val Lieber, Melissa Zimmerman and Landon Braverman and Adina Ornstein-Luks
Go to kanestreet.org/hhd for the full High Holy Days schedule
and to register (members) or to purchase tickets (non-members)
Family and Youth services are by age cohort, with service leaders who cater the tone and level to each age group.
Mini Minyan
for families with infants, toddlers and preschoolerschoose 9:00–9:35am or 1:00–1:35pm
Kinder Minyan
for families with children in K-grade 2choose 9:45–10:35am or 12:00pm–12:35pm
Minyan Noar
for families with children in grade 3-6At this level several children practice and prepare a 1-2 verse Torah chanting and lead the Torah reading.
10:45–11:50am
Teen Experience
for students in grades 8-1212:00–1:00pm
Rosh Hashanah
We welcome the new year with blasts of the shofar, stories, Torah and song. On the first day of Rosh Hashanah we hold services. On the second day we have games, singing, a play and a story to highlight the meanings and purposes of Rosh Hashanah. Children are offered apple and honey candy.
Thursday, October 3
First day of Rosh Hashanah
- 9:00–9:35am — Mini Minyan #1
- 9:45–10:35am — Kinder Minyan #1
- 10:45–11:50am — Minyan Noar
- 12:00–12:50pm — Kinder Minyan #2
- 12:00–1:00pm — Teen Experience
- 1:00–1:35pm — Mini Minyan #2
Friday, October 4
Second day of Rosh Hashanah
- 10:00–10:40am
Rosh Hashanah sensory activities for children ages 0-3 (with a parent) - 10:45–11:40am
Interactive games, re-enactment of the Torah portion and shofar blasts for age 4-8 - 11:30am
Rosh Hashanah Minyan Noar for ages 8-12
Yom Kippur
We observe the Day of Atonement through prayer, stories and finding ways to express how we are sorry for failures in the past year and our hopes for the coming year.
Saturday, October 12
- 9:00–9:35am — Mini Minyan #1
- 9:45–10:35am — Kinder Minyan #1
- 10:45–11:50am — Minyan Noar
- 12:00–12:50pm — Kinder Minyan #2
- 12:00–1:00pm — Teen Experience
- 1:00–1:35pm — Mini Minyan #2
Sukkot
Sukkot is the Jewish harvest holiday each fall. We put up a sukkah, decorate it wave the lulav and etrog and give thanks for bountiful food and blessings.Wednesday, October 16
4:15–4:40pm — Ages 0–34:45–5:15pm — Ages 4–8
Welcome Sukkot with singing, a story and lulav waving in the Sukkah in our courtyard. We ask a grown-up to accompany each family of children.
5:20–6:00pm — Ages 7-12
Welcome Sukkot with prayers, lulav waving, a game, and making decorations for the sukkah.
Sunday, October 20
Sukkot Spectacular!
Register and get your tickets here.
10:00–11:15am — Ages 0–3Quiet Sukkot activities for infants and toddlers enjoy stories, simple crafts to decorate the sukkah, singing with Landon and lots of fruits and vegetables to touch (and taste).
11:30–12:45am — Ages 4–8
Sukkot & Simḥat Torah activities. Enjoy making lots of decorations for our synagogue sukkah plus games and crafts to get excited about Simḥat Torah! Plus singing with Landon!
Simḥat Torah
On Simḥat Torah we finish reading the end of the Torah scroll and start again at the beginning.
Sunday, October, 20
Just before Simḥat Torah, the families of 7th graders gather to learn about the Torah, the physical scroll (we unfurl the whole thing around the Sanctuary), and the parashah (portion) they will read at their b'nei mitzvah. Each 7th grader receives a personalized copy of the Etz Hayim Torah commentary to use to help them write their B'nei Mitzvah Divrei Torah speeches.Thursday, October 24
Erev Simḥat Torah
Services & Activities
4:00–4:45pm for ages 0–75:15–6:00pm for ages 7–12
6:00pm: Dinner
7:00pm: Erev Simḥat Torah service for all ages with jubilant hakkafot (Torah parades, dancing and singing.)
Ḥanukkah
Ḥanukkah is the Festival of Lights celebrated at the darkest time of year. We bring light and joy to families in our celebrations.
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Ḥanukkah Family Fest
Register for tickets here
10:30–11:25am
Quiet Hanukkah activities for ages 0–3
Infants and toddlers enjoy stories, simple crafts, singing with Landon and Ḥanukkah food.
11:30am–12:45pm
Ḥanukkah party for ages 4-7
Baking menorah-shaped cookies, making lego dreidels, find-the-hidden-oil game, create Ḥanukkah cards and more!
MLK Jr. Day Weekend
Dr. Martin Luther King Junior weekend is a time of service to the community. Each year we partner with Repair The World to participate in service learning. In recent years, we have teamed up with Hannah Senesh Community Day School to do service and learning there.
Sunday, January 19
More details to come.
Tu B'Shvat
Sunday, February 9
Tu B'Shvat is the festival of trees. We celebrate by eating a variety of fruits and pledge to protect our natural world.
Bake for the Biosphere Social Action Event
Ages 7-14 and families, 10am–1:00pm
Family Tu B’Shvat Fest
1:30pm for ages 0-3
2:30pm for ages 4-7
Purim
Purim is a holiday to rejoice, wear costumes, give gifts and gather as a community to acclaim the Jewish heroes who bravely stood up to tyrants.
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Purim Palooza
10:30am — Families with kids age 0–4Families with infants and toddlers, please come at 10:30am!
We'll have stories, simple crafts, singing and dancing with Landon Braverman, and more!
11:30am — Families with kids age 4–8
Families with older kids, please come at 11:30am!
Join a giant costume parade,
Enjoy making art, playing active Purim games, baking hamantashen!
Plus sing and dance with Landon!
Don't miss Vashti Dardashti's Shushan Salon!
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Pre-Purim Pizza, Games & Parade
For families with kids age 6–12
Carnival-esque silly games, hamantashen-baking, and a costume parade!
RSVP at kanestreet.org/family-purim
We invite our older kids to join the whole Congregation for a raucous evening service, Thursday, March 13 at 7:00pm! Costumes are encouraged. A similar service with Megillah reading happens the following morning, too!
Pesaḥ (Passover)
The festival of freedom.
Sunday, April 14
10:30am–12:00pmMatzah-Baking and Elijah Cup Decorating for families with children ages 1-5
1:00–2:15pm
Chocolate Seder for families with kids in K–grade 7.
Sign up at kanestreet.org/chocolate-seder
Yom Ha’atzma’ut
Israel's Independence day when we celebrate Israeli culture.
Tuesday, May 14 (on Yom Ha’atzma’ut) 5:00–7:00pm
Yom Ha’atzma’ut Festival @ Hannah Senesh Community Day School
Coming of Age with B'nei Mitzvah
B'nei Mitzvah is a personal milestone for 13 year-olds and also a significant time of transition for the entire family. At Kane Street, B'nei Mitzvah is an opportunity for an adolescent and their family to celebrate on the way toward living a full adult Jewish life.
Rabbi Dardashti and Cantor Lazar have shaped the B'nei Mitzvah program to be full of meaning, powerfully transformative and joyous.
You are always welcome to attend a B'nei Mitzvah service on Shabbat. See the Synagogue Kehilla calendar for all the dates.
For more information about the preparation, go to kanestreet.org/b-mitzvah.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR &
AFFILIATED PROGRAMS
Bringing Stories to Life
In the Build-Your-Own Jewish Musical program children in grades 3-6 create and perform an original musical based on a Jewish story. Led by Musical Theater composer Landon Braverman, BYOJM meets weekly on Mondays 6:00-7:00pm starting in mid-October through late May.
Build Your Own Jewish Musical is an immersive and engaging theatrical program that gives participants the exciting opportunity to be the creators and stars of their own new original musical. Throughout the program, participants learn the basics of how to adapt a Jewish text, write music and lyrics, and stage their show. The program culminates with a fully staged production of their show. The program instills collaboration, leadership, crreativity and a sense of one's place in Jewish history.
To see past musicals from 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 please go to kanestreet.org/BYOJM.
A Friend-raiser & a Fun-raiser
Since 2016 each February people of all ages flock to the synagogue for the best event all year—Trivia Night!There is something for all ages. Great food, fun times, prizes, and friends!
February Break Day Camp
at The Senesh School
Tuesday, February 20 to Friday, February 23
(The week of Presidents' Day)
9:00am–4:00pmCamp with Jewish themes and Jewish diversity held at Hannah Senesh Community Day School. Open to all kids in K–Grade 3. Register at hannahsenesh.org/camp-kulam
For more information about the value of camping and about specific camps please click here.
Over the years with even the youngest kids we have volunteered at the Gowanus Canal Conservancy; collected and sorted baby clothes for new mothers lacking the resources to purchase them; created bike-a-thons to send bicycles to girls in East Africa; did bake-sales for new refugees; walked to support research for Juvenile Diabetes and Juvenile Myositis; filled and mailed backpacks full of daily necessities for children in Texas who had just crossed the border; and many more.
We often work together with Repair The World Brooklyn whose family service program is terrific.
Communication with Parents
- Calendar of upcoming events
- Shabbat service schedule
- Websites to visit for books to read
- Fun family activities
- Explanations of upcoming events, fundraisers and other things happening in and around Kane Street
- Photos of families having a great time.
If you would like to receive the weekly newsletter about all of the Synagogue programs, please keep scrolling down just a bit and fill out the form at the bottom of this page to be added to “Kane Street Connections.” mailing list.
About Our Director
Contact
For further information about our family Programming, please contact: Hebrew-School@kanestreet.org or at 718-875-1550.
