By Ellen Lefkowitz, Jewish LearningWorks Senior Educator
Jewish LearningWorks has been “on the road” visiting preschools across the Bay Area. During these visits, it has been a joy and privilege to see so many different, wonderful spaces, and hear from the directors the pride in the spaces and communities they have built. We have learned so much about each school’s unique qualities through these firsthand observations and conversations. It feels important to share them with the broader community.
Fall 2025 Visits to Bay Area Jewish Preschool
Gan Preschool in San Rafael is a certified Outdoor Classroom Demonstration Site through the Outdoor Classroom Project. Check out their mud kitchen! This outdoor space has many different and inviting spaces for individuals or small groups.
Chai Preschool in San Mateo moved into a new building three years ago. I want to share with you their beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces designed with great intention.
Congregation Emanu-El’s preschool in San Francisco just moved into a new space on their original site. Check out their amazing sensory play space!
The Helen Diller Family Preschool at JCCSF features a wonderful loose parts library at their entrance! In addition, they recently have done a lot of work on supporting healthy, cohesive teaching teams, which they have documented in the hallway of the school.
Each of these photos at four of our local schools illustrates the core Jewish value of B'tzelem Elohim put to practice in early childhood spaces.
Jewish early childhood education is not only about the celebration of Jewish holidays, it is about the embodiment of core Jewish values in the daily life of the classroom. The value of B’tzelem Elohim, that every person carries a unique spark of divinity and is deserving of respect, care, and the opportunity to thrive, is deeply embedded in the curriculum of these schools. A materials library, an open-ended wall of art supplies, a sensory motor space, and a mud kitchen honors a child’s individuality, creativity, and unique way of learning and processing. Each child comes to school with unique gifts, experiences, and potential. It is the educator’s role to nurture their growth, and create an environment where they feel valued and empowered to explore who they are and who they can become. Spaces such as these spark a child’s curiosity and wonder – they not only honor each child, they model for children what it means to be human, to live in community, and to celebrate our divine uniqueness.
Other school visits included Beth El Nursery School (BENS) in Berkeley, Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool, Gan Mah Tov in Oakland, and the Marin JCC. Temple Sinai has a new parenting center and along with Beth El have new toddler classrooms. Gan Mah Tov was the pioneer in having infants and that program continues to thrive! Finally, at the Marin JCC, Tamar Lai is thinking a lot about professional development, and helped to create their North Bay roundtable that brings together the North Bay Jewish ECE schools.
Would you like us to visit your school?
Please contact Ellen Lefkowitz, Senior Educator, at ellen@jewishlearning.works.
