By Susie Davidson

Special to the Advocate

Most parents, if asked, would far rather have their children share the joys and solemnity of the High Holidays right along with them. But that’s a tall order, as any mom who has spent the greater part of a service calming down or entertaining her offspring out in the hallway can attest. Maybe the solution is a kid-oriented service that they can bring their parents to instead.

They can do just that on the campus of Brandeis, where a music-based, non-reading service that features storytelling and a craft project will be held for children ages 0-7, and another with Jewish prayers, songs and Torah readings will be close by for the older set, ages 7 and up. Parents are also invited, and families of all backgrounds are welcomed, as well as the public. As the services run for about an hour and are close together, families can choose to split up or stay together.

On Rosh HaShanah, a combined Kiddush for both services will follow the service.

The services are an adjunct of the Boston-area Jewish Education Program (BJEP), an independent Jewish Sunday School / Hebrew School taught by Brandeis students for grades K-7 on the Brandeis campus. Grades 1-7 meet weekly, and kindergarten, new for the 2010-2011 school year, meets monthly, on Sunday mornings.

“Sitting through services at a Temple is always a challenge with young kids, and we'd end up out in the hallway as often as not,” said Jennifer Goebel, a parent from Arlington. “These BJEP services are just the right length, and offer a great mix of songs, stories and activities that bring home the meaning of the holidays."

Putting kids in the spotlight can deepen the religious experience. During the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, 10 to 12 older students read a short section in English. “It adds a lot to the service, and I am always very proud of our students for choosing to participate in this way,” said parent Suzanne Freudberg of Newton. Freudberg’s youngest child attended his first BJEP family service at only a few months old. “He sat in his baby seat while his older brother and sister sang songs, listened to a story, and ate cake to celebrate the birthday of the world,” she said. “Now, 10 years later, he is looking forward to participating as a reader.”

Laurie McDonald, a co-Chair of BJEP, has two children enrolled in the program. “We came from a traditional synagogue Hebrew school where my kids were bored and not really engaged,” she said. “Since BJEP is taught by Brandeis students, they really connect with them, and have fun!” And with their own readings, they pay attention, she said.

The services also help to bring in the unaffiliated, according to BJEP Education Director Dena Glasgow. “We　attract families who are looking for ways to get connected to the Jewish community but often aren't members of synagogues,” she said. The services are actually organized by the parents, with Glasgow’s input and assistance.

“One of the concerns about joining an independent Sunday school with no temple affiliation is figuring out where to go for High Holiday services,” said McDonald. “I used to go with my parents back to my childhood synagogue.” She said the BJEP services are informal and low-key. And with the pint-sized participants, it can only be more uplifting and entertaining as well. “I remember dreading the high holidays because the service was so boring, and I did not understand what was going on,” said McDonald.　“I remember standing up and sitting down constantly and not understanding why.” But the BJEP service, she said, does a great job of explaining the meaning behind the holidays.

BJEP’s philosophy, according to their Web site, is a “commitment to developing positive feelings in the children about Jewish identity, teaching Torah stories and values, teaching about Israel, Jewish history and contemporary Judaism, providing learning and celebration of Jewish holidays, and building a feeling of community with the Jewish people.”

Glasgow said that the program, which enrolls approximately 170 students, was founded in 1967 by Brandeis faculty, and that it attracts families from over 20 neighboring towns. “The key to our success is that we offer small classes and two teachers in every classroom,” she said.　 The services have been held for many years, but this year, they are putting greater effort into the itinerary, which will include a craft project in the younger, non-reader family services, and the combined Kiddush.

BJEP’s curriculum includes Jewish stories and culture, and the children begin learning to read Hebrew in second grade. “By the time they graduate in 7th grade, they are well-prepared to become bar/bat mitzvah, and they know a bit of modern Hebrew as well,” said Glasgow, who explained that the younger grades focus more on holidays and Bible stories, while the older learn about Israel, Jewish lifecycle events, current Jewish heroes, and the Holocaust.　 “We have a strong ‘tikkun olam’ emphasis,” she said. “Our sixth graders run a Mitzvah Fair, where they teach about a non-profit organization.” Last year, they raised hundreds of dollars for the victims of the Haiti earthquake, and this year, two family excursions with social action components are being planned. This fall, pickups for a shelter will be coordinated, and in the spring, the school will be conducting a clean-up at the Charles River.　

The staff is comprised of 30 to 40 Brandeis students, she said.　“I joke that BJEP is the ‘alternative’ Hillel on campus. They are very devoted to their students and work tirelessly to making their classes as good as they can be.”　Both students and teachers feed off of each other, she said.

“Teaching at BJEP has been a tremendously gratifying experience,” said Shani Rosenbaum, who will be a junior this fall. “So many Jewish religious schools are plagued with a dual problem: uncommitted, disinterested families on the one hand, and teachers who are not knowledgeable　or enthusiastic enough about Judaism and Jewish life to get the kids interested and excited.” She said that the BJEP experience is a unique model. “While this may be one of the only connections to Judaism the families involved maintain, perhaps because of that they are often extremely involved and interested in participating in their children's ‘Jewish journey’ here,” she said.　

The staff are young, energetic people from across the Jewish spectrum who are super involved in their respective Jewish communities, who are living Judaism and excited to share that experience with these kids,” said Rosenbaum. “That excitement is contagious, and many of the kids choose on their own to continue with Jewish learning because of their time here.”

Allison Pollock, who has led nursery school services, is one of the two leaders of BJEP’s High Holiday services, and will be incorporating song and movement, storytelling, and an art peoject. The other leader will be Arielle Kaplan, a Brandeis graduate who has led the service for four years, and also specializes in music and storytelling. “We're adding in several new songs, including the niggun-story ‘The Tale of Moishe’ and holiday-themed stories instead of a sermon,” said Kaplan. “I encourage families with children of all ages to attend, as this will be unlike services of previous years and something to spark the family discussions around Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for the better.” One or two BJEP graduates will help out as teen aides, said Glasgow.

Freudberg says her other son's favorite part of the service is the cake. “For our younger children, we have traditionally served birthday cake on Rosh Hashanah, in honor of the birthday of the world, complete with singing Happy Birthday,” she said. “He was very excited to hear that this year we are having a combined kiddush for both services, and ALL of the children will get to eat cake!”

“The BJEP service for younger kids is a great mix of songs, stories, and a few prayers that keep everyone engaged,” said Goebel.