New Pluralistic Preschools in Jerusalem and Holon

This coming school year, the IMPJ has secured the opening of more new preschools. After the success of last year’s preschools in Even Yehuda, and the controversial neighborhood of Kiryat HaYovel in Jerusalem, four new classes will open this year – three in Jerusalem and one in Holon.

On August 2, John Goldwyn (with his wife Vicky attending via Skype from abroad) and members of the Davidson family came to dedicate the newly built Sidney and Freda Davidson Educational and Cultural Center at Kehilat Mevakshei Derech. This new facility will house three new preschool classes – all of which are registered to capacity, and even have waiting lists.

Two of the classes are privately run, and the third is in cooperation with the Jerusalem Municipality and part of the IMPJ’s “Ganei Haim” pluralistic preschool network. The dedication ceremony was attended by parents and children of the new preschool and many members of Kehilat Mevakshei Derech. This joyous ceremony included singing led by Mevakshei Derech’s Community Director and Cantor, Iris Weiner, and heartfelt appreciation was given to all those who made this possible. The evening concluded with John Goldwyn affixing the Mezuzah to the entranceway and unveiling of the plaque, while participants joined in saying the “She’hechianu” prayer of thanks.

Last year, the Municipality of Holon awarded the tender for early childhood teacher training in Jewish enrichment to the IMPJ, and trained 20 educators. This year, the cooperation is expanding and the IMPJ is proud to announce that “Gan Ivri” will begin functioning this September. “Gan Ivri” will be the only pluralistic kindergarten for the city, which presently has no other specialized preschools. “Gan Ivir” is part of the initiative of the emerging reform Jewish community Kodesh V’Chol, and will be led by the HUC rabbinical student, Galit Cohen-Kedem, who is also the mother of one of the children.

This article was originally published in the latest edition of the IMPJ newsletter. We will be sharing more from the IMPJ later this week.