Families

Anshe Emet is blessed with a strong, vibrant community of young families.

Families with children ages 8 and under are full participants in the life of Anshe Emet, and have a number of opportunities to socialize and engage in fun activities throughout the year. The Anshe Emet Young Families list serv is a tremendous resource for finding out what is going on at Anshe Emet and in the community, and to use as a great source of free baby stuff and babysitters and nannies and home repair recommendations.


Maxine Handelman 
is our Young Family Education Manager and can be contacted at mhandelman@ansheemet.org / 773-868-5121.

Upcoming Programs

Our  programming is open to members and non-members of Anshe Emet—ALL are welcome!

Baby Beginnings

January – May Classes 
Join our joyful jbaby class for babies 12 months and younger and their adults. Different instructors delight each Thursday at 10AM.

Classes fill up fast so register today!

Register Here

Little Builders

Winter Sessions 
Little Builders is Anshe Emet’s amazing class for families with 2-3 year-olds! The Winter class will dive into Shabbat and the Jewish values of caring for the world around us.

Register Here

Fabulous Fours

If your child will be ready for JK in the Fall of 2025, then they are ready for Anshe Emet’s new family class: Fabulous Fours! In its second year, Fabulous Fours engages 4 year-olds and their grown-ups in Jewish values connected to Purim, Passover and the world around us.

Register Here

Connecting the Expecting 

Cohort 42
Expectant parents at similar stages of life will gather to socialize, share resources and discuss issues pertaining to being pregnant and preparing for parenthood. This group is open to expectant single moms and couples (LGBTQ couples welcome) who are expecting the birth or adoption of their first baby, in which at least one member of the couple is Jewish. Each session will include a guest speaker and topics will include newborn basics, adjusting to new roles as parents, Jewish baby rituals and creating a Jewish home.

Register Here

Cohort 42.5 
Thursdays (mostly) March 6, March 11 (Tuesday), March 20, March 27, shabbat dinner March 28, for people expecting in April, May and June.

Register Here

Cohort 43
Tuesdays June 10, 17, 24, July 1, Shabbat dinner June 13 2025 for people expecting July, August and September. 

Register Here

Membership

Anshe Emet Synagogue is committed to creating and nurturing pathways to Jewish life and community for families with young children.

We invite your family to invest in your values and in your journey towards creating a strong Jewish community together.

Memberships for families with children 5 and under who have never been Anshe Emet Members is only $360 and is only applicable for one year at this introductory price.

    • Access to all the Young Family High Holiday Services
    • Clergy for lifecycle events
    • Member discounts on all dinners, classes and holiday events
    • Eligibility to enroll in Religious School
    • Eligibility to attend the Community Retreat
    • A secure and beautifully maintained Jewish home-away-from home

Contact Hannah Jarvis, Director of Development and Advancement, at 773.868.5143 / hjarvis@ansheemet.org.

Saturday Family Shabbat Musical Services

9:30AM-10:15AM
Shalom Shabbat

Families with children 4 and under are invited to join this interactive Shabbat worship experience with Max Handelman every Shabbat morning. Sing, dance, and hear stories as you celebrate Shabbat with your children. We will meet in Rose Crown.

10:15AM-11AM
Shachar

Families with kids in K-2nd grade 
are invited to join us for this service which incorporates tefillah, stories and music. Children are invited to participate in the service in many ways, including reading Torah in English or Hebrew, and parents and children learn together. We will meet in Rose Crown.

11AM-12PM
Shabbat HaNoar
Families with kids in 3rd-5th grade immerse in this musical service filled with traditional tefillah, music, discussion and learning. We will meet in Reich Room.

Shabbat Morning Babysitting!

Two babysitting rooms are available for children 18 months and up from 10AM-Noon each Saturday.

An ECE classroom will be open for 18 month-5 year olds, and the youth lounge will be open for kindergarteners and older. There is no fee or registration required for this service. Come enjoy our Shabbat services for families, and grab a little adult time in the Main Sanctuary or Rose Crown Minyan as well!

Virtual Story-time 

All of our stories can be found below, or at the Anshe Emet Religious School YouTube Channel.

Hannah the Joyful told by Max Segal Handelman from Anshe Emet’s Community Chanukah Celebration
(based on versions of an ancient tale by Nina Jaffe and Barbara Diamond Goldin)

Jewish stories told by your favorite storytellers:

Why the Rosh Hashanah Challah is Round

The Announcing Tool

The Apple Tree’s Discovery

Ella’s Trip to Israel

Could Anything Be worse

Mr. Tempkin climbs a Tree

Tea with Zayde

The Shmutzy Family

Maddi’s Fridge

Something from Nothing told by Alicia Frajman