Quantum Growth in School & Family Programming

The inspiring learning environment of our landmark site as well as the hard work and personal rapport of our Education Director Miriam Bader have made our education programs the fastest growing sector of our public offerings. In 2009, we had a quantum increase in school and family visitors: We served 151 school groups, a 104% increase from 2008; and 4,077 K-12 students, an 81% increase in 2008. 496 teachers from around the country participated in our teacher professional development workshops. According to Bader, “We work closely with teachers to understand the needs and focus of their class and provide a welcoming, multi-sensory, supportive environment. Each visit is totally customized.” Another new development of which she is proud: Our becoming a Cool Culture Partner, an organization dedicated to making NYC cultural organizations accessible to low-income families.

2009 funds for Education and Family Programming have been provided by Bloomberg, Goldfarb Family Foundation, The Marc Haas Foundation, Eugene M. Lang Foundation, The Liman Foundation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, The Leo Rosner Foundation, Joseph and Sylvia Slifka Foundation, Jerry and Emily Spiegel Family Foundation, and the Michael Tuch Foundation.

Celebrate With Us

Out historic sacred site provides a welcoming, hands-on site for students of all faiths to explore Jewish faith and culture. For our Celebrate With Us Passover program, staff members brought in their own seder plates and haggadahs to help create an authentic festive environment. The result was magical. Students came into the main sanctuary and saw a table laid out just for them with lace cloth, silver goblets, and traditional foods related to the holiday. According to Education Director Miriam Bader, “There was a “wow” moment, when they realized this was just for them.” This thoughtful preparation, multi-sensory engagement (food, objects, songs and more) make Celebrate With Us one of our most popular programs. In 2009, the Museum offered Passover & Hanukkah programming with more than 500 students participating, and we plan to introduce a Simchat Torah event in 2010.

Turn-of-the-Century Bar Mitzvah

With families and synagogues agonizing over how to meaningfully mark a son or daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony, our Turn of the Century Bar Mitzvah program provides important context. How did our first American ancestors celebrate? What does it mean to be a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, both historically and today? Students read popular speeches and hear recordings that recount the experience of early 20th-century parishioners at Eldridge Street. They also learn about the creation of the bat mitzvah, a 20th-century innovation introduced by Mordecai Kaplan. (Little known fact: Kaplan celebrated his bar mitzvah at Eldridge Street in 1894 before going on to found the Reconstructionist movement.) Participants discuss how immigrant children balanced the traditions of their parents and grandparents with new American sensibilities, and learn about ways they might incorporate historical perspective into their own ceremony.

Preservation Detectives

Children raised on Dora the Explorer, Little Einstein, and Blues Clues took naturally to our Preservation Detectives family program offered every Sunday at 1 pm. Equipped with magnifying glass, binoculars, and notepad children investigated our stained-glass windows, painted patterns, ritual furniture and more, all the while learning about history and architecture. Each month featured a different theme and artmaking activity. In 2009, we served 228 children and their adult friends and families, a 200% increase from 2008.

Special thanks to the Jewish Community Youth Foundation for its support of this program in 2009.