Olam Tikvah 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 Shabbat News

By Morah Nechama Retting & Morah Elizabeth A. Weiner

Spring is in the air, and that means Pesach is around the corner! Have you started to clean yet?

It is amazing how fast this year is going! We have seen so much growth and development right before our eyes! The “little ones” are acclimating so nicely to our program, and we love having some of our Tot Shabbat “graduates” join us before heading off to Shoreshim (the Kindergarten through second grade program). Please know that although your child is in Kindergarten, or older, he or she is always welcome to “help” us in Tot Shabbat on Shabbat when there is no Shoreshim. Not only do the children help, but they are then in a safe, supervised environment. We have had issues with unsupervised children being in the Preschool area and destroying property. Please help us by keeping an eye on your children when they are not in a program. Todah rabbah!

We are pleased to once again to offer a Tot Shabbat program on Shavuot, so mark your calendars for Monday, June 9, 10:30am! We will have a fun, informative Shavuot service for children (age 18 months and up) and enjoy some delicious ice cream as well (pareve alternatives will also be available)!

It is our honor and privilege to celebrate Shabbat each week with your children. We invite and encourage everyone to attend our preschool-friendly Shabbat services, complete with parsha stories, songs, and a Kiddush snack. Babysitting begins at 10:30am and services begin at 11:00am.

We look forward to seeing you each week as we celebrate Shabbat together! Join us: babysitting starts at 10:30am, and Tot Shabbat services begin at 11:00am. After our service and snack, we join the congregation for Adon Olam in the sanctuary.

Babysitting & Tot Shabbat Schedule

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

2007
September 8, 15 & 29	October 6, 13, 20 & 27
November 3, 10, & 17	December 1, 8, 15 & 22
2008
January 5, 12, 19 & 26	February 2, 9 & 23
March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29	April 5 & 12
May 3, 10, 17 & 31	June 7, 14, 21 & 28

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 have supervised free play from 10:30am until the end of services.