Connecting New Parents to Jewish Life
New parents prepare meals and explore Jewish ideas. Photo courtesy of Hazon
New parenthood is one of the most exhilarating and challenging of times. And often, new parents will show a fresh openness to bringing Jewish experiences into their lives.
That’s why UJA-Federation supports programs for families in Brownstone Brooklyn to help with their Jewish journey at this unique stage of life.
Because Brownstone Brooklyn has a growing number of Jewish families with children under 2, and limited services available for their needs, the projects focus on this neighborhood. Initiatives connect parents to Jewish life and reflect the diversity of the community, including programs for Russian-speaking and Israeli parents, and adoptive and lesbian and gay families.
One creative project, through Hazon, teaches parents who are expecting and parents with young children how to cook simple meals — including ways to freeze food for a comforting meal after the baby arrives or on hectic nights — and offers an exploration of Jewish texts about the experience of eating together.