Becoming a parent automatically grants us membership to various communities – parenthood, motherhood, infant-survival-hood. And as our munchkins grow up, our communities tend to expand with them – we become part of a mommy & me community, a local park community, a nursery school community – and a Jewish parenting community. Each community has many shapes and forms, but is ultimately defined and nurtured by its members.
As our daughter turns two and our community web stretches to new limits, I’ve started to think about my role in the communities I belong to. Am I the active PTA mom? The super organized park mom? The on-the-ball mommy and-me-mom? One community I’ve been delighted to find myself a part of is the Jewish parenting community. Becoming a mother has strengthened my Jewish identity in surprising ways.
It’s supremely important to me that our daughters have a rich understanding of our Jewish heritage. So we do Seder collectively, even if it means eating yogurt from a highchair before we’ve blessed the matzah. And we visit tot Shabbat as regularly as possible, even if it’s just to hear the music. And we read Jewish books even if all our toddlers see is stars and candles.
And, perhaps most relevant today, we participate in as many Shalom Tots programs as possible. We’ve had opportunities to make challah, create Shema pillowcases, participate in Shabbat dinners and much more. Shalom Tots is a wonderfully easy and engaging way to tap into your Jewish community. For more info about the ongoing program (sessions resume in the fall) please click here or email info@theopentent.org; to see what experiences others are saying click here; and to catch up on previous tots posts click here.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
