Tot Shabbat

(ages 18 months to 5 years old)

Nechama Retting and Elizabeth Weiner, our Tot Shabbat teachers.

Mitzvah Mania! Tot Shabbat held a special program in January to learn about various mitzvot through creative movement, stories, songs, crafts and, of course, a nosh! We made a nosh for other people, too, preparing casseroles to send to a food bank.

Olam Tikvah provides high-quality Tot Shabbat and babysitting every Shabbat morning during the year, in the lower level preschool area, from 10:30am until the end of services in the main sanctuary.

The Tot Shabbat Services, which begin at 11:00, are led by two wonderful teachers, Morah Nechama Retting and Morah Elizabeth Weiner, who help our Tot Shabbat children celebrate Shabbat and holidays together. Besides its regular staff, Tot Shabbat is supported by a wonderful group of responsible teenagers who help to take care of the children.

Tot Shabbat allows the parents the opportunity to daven at regular adult services while their children are also engaged, learning about Shabbat services at their own level. As soon as the little ones are able to take their first steps, they are welcome to come downstairs and participate in learning from our Tot Siddur, listening to Torah stories, singing prayers, taking part in Kiddush and much more. Parents and guests are always welcome to attend and observe as our children participate play, and experience our Shabbat traditions.

Babysitting and Tot Shabbat join the congregation in the main sanctuary for Adon Olam every week. The children are taken to the bimah so they can enjoy participating with everyone else.

Tot Shavuot Program, Friday, May 29, 11:00am. Want to find out about Shavuot in a fun, child-friendly way? We are happy to announce that Tot Shabbat will once again offer a children’s Shavuot service. Please mark your calendars and join us for our Shavuot program, ending with an ice cream treat (pareve alternatives will be available too)!

Babysitting & Tot Shabbat Schedule

Babysitting: 10:30am-end of adult services

Babysitting is provided every Shabbat.

Children have supervised free play from 10:30am until 11:00am on Tot Shabbat mornings. When there is no Tot Shabbat, children will have supervised free play from 10:30am until the end of services. Snack is provided.

Tot Shabbat Service: 11:00am-end of adult services

From September through June, Tot Shabbat is held every week except for a few holiday weekends.

Summer Tot Shabbat
July 11 & 25
August 8 & 22

Watch for these special Tot programs:

High Holy Day Preschool Services

Tot Sukkot

Tot Day

Tot Shavuot

3800 Glenbrook Road · Fairfax, Virginia 22031 · phone 703-425-1880 · fax 703-425-0835 · info@olamtikvah.org