Kids and parents sing, schmooze, smile at JDS

By Crissy Toff Special to Hakol

The Jewish Day School was abuzz on Sunday, February 5, as more than 45 guests attended its PJ Library Engage program “Sing, Schmooze and Smile.”

The event was created to engage and educate young families and empower them to be connectors and leaders in their family’s Jewish life. And what brings the community together more than music and movement?

Since this event was free and open to the community at large, it offered an even greater opportunity to introduce people to Judaism, in a classroom filled with Hebrew.

The excitement was palpable as young children and their families filled the school’s Pre-K Plus room. Alli Lipson, a former educator, took on the role of song leader and master puppeteer as she entertained and engaged the room full of children. Throughout the morning, children interacted with one another, sang, danced and enjoyed puppet shows. They twirled wands and spun in circles. As the morning wound down, children enjoyed playing in the classroom and noshing on a kosher snack.

“What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning,” one parent said. “While my older child is at Hebrew school, my younger children get to enjoy their own activity and I have a place to spend time and meet new people.”

Alla Vigneri said, “This event was yet another example of how wonderful JDS events are. We enjoyed meeting some new friends and also seeing our classmates at a wonderful weekend program, where we sang and danced with one another.”

As Amy Oselkin put it, “It’s always nice to see the Jewish community come together.”