The following is from Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI):
Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel (TSTI), a Reform synagogue in South Orange, has launched “Forkful of Judaism,” a four-pronged approach to young family outreach and engagement for TSTI’s early childhood center, religious school, and congregation-wide initiatives. The program is funded in part by a grant that TSTI was awarded this summer from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey.
TSTI hired its first-ever Young Family Engagement Coordinator, Alanna Carter, in September to spearhead the new initiative. Carter, a long-time South Orange resident, is busy planning innovative programming in four key areas that are significant for families with children from toddler through age eight: worship, social action, food and sports. Working with senior staff, board members and the Member Engagement, Member Attraction committee, she aims to help young synagogue families and prospective members, including interfaith families, connect more intimately with the TSTI community.
“I’m looking at programs that provide hands-on experiences and activities with social components that young kids can relate to and enjoy,” said Carter. “The idea is to provide different entry points to the TSTI community that have a Jewish context but that appeal to the various aspects of these families’ lives.” She noted that a Forkful of Judaism will bring Jewish values to children in nontraditional ways and give parents opportunities to share experiences with others who have similar issues or interests. Some activities will also be designed to foster intergenerational participation.
A recent example is a family nature hike in the wildflower preserve at South Mountain Reservation. Participants gathered to make trail mix, then learned about local plant life and the environment as they hiked on a beautiful, sunny afternoon. “About 50 people attended, including some grandparents, and everyone had a fantastic time,” said Carter. “Our overarching goal is to engage families, get them excited about the things we’re doing here and keep them coming back for more.”
Other ideas she is working on include social action programs that incorporate learning to benefit the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges (IFPO) and Habitat for Humanity Morris; monthly tot Shabbat programs for the youngest age group; family-friendly Shabbat dinners and social events; and “Food for Thought” holiday enrichment programs that combine food with experiential learning elements.
TSTI members are already embracing the new initiatives. During the temple’s “Food for Thought” event on November 14, preschoolers and their siblings learned the importance of feeding those in need as they prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving. In addition to enjoying crafts, storytelling and singing holiday songs, the children made applesauce and muffins to be donated to the local soup kitchen. Participating families were also asked to bring canned green beans, yams or cranberry sauce to donate to the IFPO.
TSTI Young Family Engagement Coordinator, Alanna Carter helps 8-year-old Jack from West Orange make applesauce during a recent “Food for Thought” event
Having grown up in an interfaith home, Carter understands firsthand some of the issues and concerns that intermarried families face. She noted that TSTI attracts many area families with parents of different backgrounds and beliefs, and, “We want to help them forge a more long-term, comfortable relationship by showing them that there are many ways to form connections, and different ways to be Jewish that can be fun and filled with meaning for them.”
Rabbi Cohen agrees, noting that Forkful of Judaism “is laying the foundation for TSTI to build a Jewish second home for families who are seeking fresh new ways to connect with Judaism, for themselves and for their children.”
Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel is a vibrant Reform congregation located at 432 Scotland Road in South Orange, N.J. In addition to innovative programming for families with young children, the synagogue offers Early Childhood Education, Religious school, teen programs, lifelong learning for adults, and a full complement of religious services and cultural programs each month. TSTI serves member families from Maplewood, the Oranges, Livingston, Millburn, Short Hills and surrounding areas. For more information, visit www.tsti.org.
