Three blasts of the Shofar sounded through a remote speaker as three- and four-year-olds stood silent and mesmerized in a circle. Music began to play, and our Artist-in-Residence, Jonathan Shmidt Chapman, invited them to open their imaginary ark and take out the Torah. Within moments, the children became the Torah—removing crowns and belts, twirling it open, and on the count of three… one, two, three… jumping inside the story.
Jonathan, founder of The K’ilu Company and a nationally recognized Jewish educator and theater artist, brought something truly special to our community: an invitation to rethink what Jewish early childhood education can look and feel like.
Over three days, Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ hosted more than 200 educators from 14 early childhood centers*, along with nearly 200 children, parents, and grandparents. Together, they stepped into stories of welcoming Shabbat, Noah’s Ark, the building of the Mishkan (tabernacle), and Passover.
Using theater, movement, sound, and sensory storytelling, participants didn’t just hear these stories—they embodied them, played with them, and discovered new ways to bring them to life for young children.
Our educators left with practical tools for infant through preschool classrooms, along with renewed creativity and confidence.
“Jonathan’s overview gave me a theoretical framework, and his walking us through two versions of Passover was so helpful—and so much fun! I appreciated the idea of having all children contribute together rather than assigning individual roles.”
—Michael Luft, Associate Director of Early Childhood Education, JCC MetroWest
In partnership with Next Chapter, our 55+ community, 30 grandparents were captivated by Jonathan’s approach and left excited with holiday materials and to bring new ideas into their own seders.
In a moment that can feel heavy, Jonathan reminded us that when children engage their bodies, senses, and imaginations, Jewish learning becomes more accessible, memorable, and meaningful.
Jewish joy is essential to impactful Jewish education—especially now, and especially for our youngest learners. We are grateful for the sense of wonder and energy Jonathan brought to our community, and to our educators who will carry these playful, meaningful experiences into their classrooms. This kind of investment ripples outward—from educator to child, from classroom to family—and strengthens the vibrancy of Jewish life in our community.
A special thank you to the Aidekman Family Foundation, the Cooperman Family Fund for a Jewish Future, the generous donors to the UJA Annual Campaign, and PJ Library in Greater MetroWest NJ, made possible through the Ted z”l and Maxine Murnick PJ Library Endowment Fund.