Welcome Parents!
Netivot Shalom is a congregation that truly welcomes all ages with great excitement and delight! We offer special programs during Shabbat, holidays, and throughout the year for families with youth of all ages.
Our new series of MISHPACHA programs provides opportunities to connect families with young children to each other and to the larger Netivot Shalom community.
MISHPACHA KABBALAT SHABBAT
Families with children ages 0-5 are invited to an early evening Shabbat-themed play experience on the preschool yard, followed by a child-friendly Shabbat dinner.
Schedule
4:30pm Shabbat-themed play and activities for children 0-5
5:15pm Child-friendly dinner
The child-friendly dinner is $5/plate. RSVP for dinner by 9 am the morning of each Mishpacha Kabbalat Shabbat Program.
🌟 Dates for the 2025-26 year will be published soon.
Morning MISHPACHA SHABBAT
Families with children ages 0-5 are invited to a child-focused Shabbat service held in either the preschool yard or classroom. Special guest service leaders alternate leading prayers, singing songs, telling stories, and exploring Judaism twice a month. We’ll enjoy grape juice, challah and a small kiddish. Adults can stay and schmooze or check their child(ren) into supervised childcare with a teacher on the preschool playground until services end.
Schedule
11am-12pm Guest Service Leader
11:30am Kiddush & Snack
Supervised childcare available before and after on the preschool playground.
🌟 Check the CNS calendar for our next session – all are welcome!.
Rimmonim
Families with children ages 5-8 are invited to a monthly continuation of Morning Mishpacha Shabbat. This program takes place outside (weather permitting) and usually takes place the second Shabbat of the month.
Schedule
11am-12pm Mini-service for young elementary aged children with movement and stories.
11.:30am Kiddush and snack
🌟 Check the CNS calendar for our next session – all are welcome!.
Youth Minyan
A monthly Junior Congregation led by teens where peers meet for a shortened Torah service in the CNS Library. All 3rd-12th graders are encouraged to participate. Youth Minyan usually takes place the fourth Shabbat of the month.
Schedule
11am-12pm Library
🌟 Check the CNS calendar for our next session – all are welcome!.
Guidelines
Children are an essential part of our thriving community and are encouraged to attend Shabbat services and programs. Parents and adult caregivers are expected to supervise their children unless they are signed into a Youth and Family Education Program. Our community values kavod (behaving with respect) for our sacred space and for our neighbors by walking, using inside voices, and using The Berkeley Schoolyard and Preschool playground only during authorized times of supervised play. Thank you to our youth and families!
Please follow these guidelines to ensure that we protect the safety of each child and allow all of us to share the joy of Shabbat:
🌟 Children under bar mitzvah age should either be with their parents or at one of the above programs or childcare locations.
🌟 No children are allowed in the next-door Berkeley School playground without being supervised by youth engagement staff or a designated adult.
🌟 All areas must be cleaned up, and all games and toys returned to their proper locations.
For more information about Mishpacha Programs, please contact Hillary Fox at youth@netivotshalom.org.