One of The Efshar Project’s core offerings this year has been a free, high-impact professional development series designed specifically for Jewish early childhood educators. The series, titled “Understanding the Jewish Holidays and Translating Them To Your Classroom” is grounded in the organization’s commitment to promoting high-quality Jewish early childhood education and making meaningful learning accessible to all educators. This series has become a beloved resource for teachers across the community.
Created and facilitated by Judi Morosohk, The Efshar Project’s Senior Pedagogical Coach and Trainer—and one of the nation’s foremost experts in Jewish Early Childhood Education—the series explores each Jewish holiday through the lens of early childhood, making the big ideas and values of each celebration come alive in ways that are developmentally appropriate and deeply resonant. We are thrilled to announce this impactful series isn’t over—Judi will continue offering new sessions next year, further supporting educators in bringing Jewish learning to life in their classrooms.
This series is offered live on Wednesday evenings from 6pm-7:15pm virtually, with an option to view a recording afterwards if you were unable to attend the live session.
A Thoughtful Approach to Jewish Holidays
Each session in the series explores a particular Jewish holiday, reviewing the basics and diving into the “big ideas” and core values embedded within its associated rituals and traditions. Judi skillfully bridges the gap between deep Jewish learning and the daily rhythm of early childhood classrooms. Her approach honors educators’ own learning journeys while providing concrete, classroom-ready strategies that respect both the developmental needs of young children and the sacredness of Jewish tradition.
A desired outcome is a community of educators who feel not only more knowledgeable, but also who make a personal connection to the underlying meaning of the holidays. This can support educators in becoming more confident in their ability to authentically translate the values and traditions into meaningful experiences for the young children and families they serve. The series is designed through the lens of early childhood, making the big ideas and values of each celebration come alive in ways that are developmentally appropriate and deeply resonant. Rather than relying on surface-level crafts, the focus is on moving beyond the typical activities and into more meaningful experiences that can help children internalize the core values of each holiday through play, exploration, and intentional practice.
Spotlight on Passover: A Session with Lasting Impact
The Passover session, now available as a recording, is a shining example of the series’ impact. In this workshop, Judi invited educators to move beyond the standard early childhood activities for Passover, and consider the big ideas that are below the surface of Passover, freedom, resilience, identity, and “dayenu moments” of gratitude. With warmth and wisdom, she offered fresh perspectives on how these themes can show up in the classroom through storytelling, sensory experiences, open-ended play, intentional provocations, and active engagement of families
One teacher who watched the Passover recording shared,
“I really liked the idea of “Dayenu”, saying it would have been enough. It’s such a powerful and simple way to teach kids and remind even ourselves that even small things matter, and we don’t always need more to feel happy. It’s a sweet way to slow down and notice the good things we already have”
Even the most experienced Jewish early childhood educators leave feeling inspired with new ideas. Bobbie Parris, Director Pedagogy at Rodef Shalom Early Childhood Education Center, stated:
“As a director of pedagogy, Judi’s holiday series has been invaluable in supporting our teachers in strengthening their own learning while inspiring them to find meaningful connections to the holidays for their students. Both our seasoned Jewish Early Childhood teachers and our newer staff are opening their minds to creating meaningful learning experiences that pair the interests of their children with the major themes of the holidays.”
Educators who attend these sessions live, or watch the recording and fill out a reflection form, receive a certificate for PDIS credit.
Jewish early childhood educators are not just teaching content—they’re shaping identity, building community, and laying the foundations for a lifetime of connection and belonging. This series recognizes the importance of that work and provides the support and inspiration educators need to do it well.
To access the Passover session and receive your certificate for PDIS credit, visit this link.
