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 Director of Family Life & Learning and can be contacted at mhandelman@ansheemet.org / 773-868-5121.

Upcoming Series

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

Connecting the Expecting
Tuesdays, February 27 – March 19 • 6:30PM-8:30PM 

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. This cohort is perfect for those expecting in April-June.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.

Baby Jam

Select Sundays from 3:30PM-5PM

Families with children 2 years old and younger are invited to join Max Handelman and Miss Aimee for songs, stories, and schmoozing. This is a great way to connect with other families with kids the same age as yours! 

Remaining Date:

May 5 

$15 member family (per session)
$20 non-member family (per session)

If you need financial assistance, please reach out to Max Handelman.

Registration is closed.
If you are interested in future dates, contact Maxine Handelman at mhandelman@ansheemet.org.

Baby Beginnings

Thursdays 9:30AM-10:30AM

Baby Beginnings is a delightful gathering designed for babies 12 months and younger and their grown-ups. Join incredible community experts for music, yoga, Jewish life with baby and more! Sign up for one session or all 5!

$12 a classthanks to a generous jbaby grant

See class description and register here

February 15
Busy Babies with Buddha Belly Kids Yoga
February 22
Spring Holidays with Baby with Maxine Handelman
February 29
Sweet Piece Solutions “Sensory Stars: Unleashing Baby’s Five Superpowers”- Understanding how babies explore the world through their senses and fostering sensory development.
March 7
Stages – Broadway Music with Baby
March 14
Mr. Dave Music

Fabulous Fours  

Sundays from 9:15AM—10:45AM

If your child will be ready for JK in the Fall of 2024, then they are ready for Anshe Emet’s new family class: Fabulous Fours! Fabulous Fours engages 4 year olds and their grown-ups in Jewish values connected to Purim, Passover and the world around us.  

Fabulous Fours! is taught by Anshe Emet’s Director of Family Life & Learning, Maxine Handelman. 

Class dates are March 3, March 10, April 7 & April 14 

Registration is closed.
If you are interested in future dates, contact Maxine Handelman at mhandelman@ansheemet.org.

Back-In-Time Passover Adventure

Sunday, April 14
3PM—4PM 

Immerse yourself in the Passover story!

Inviting all 3-8 year olds and their grown ups to go back in time and join Moses on a thrilling ride from the banks of the Nile to the shores of the Red Sea. Rabbi Benjy and Max Handelman will be your guides for this not-to-be-missed adventure!  

Please note this program will take place at the Florence G. Heller JCC, 524 W Melrose St, Chicago. Limited parking is available in the lot behind Anshe Sholom (next to the JCC), or street parking.

Member adult $10; Member child $15
Non-member adult $15; Non-member child $20 

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

10AM-10:45AM
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.

11AM-12PM
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