By Seth J. Katzen, President & CEO of Jewish Federation of Delaware
Einstein Academy (Einstein Day) serves K–five students, forging a solid foundation in Jewish education and culture. In addition, you can find BBYO on our campus weekly during the school year, providing a connection to our teens, as well as an active C-Teen program who meet weekly as well.
Federation’s successful PJ Library program provides free books and music of Jewish content every month to children ages six months to eight years. Our PJ Our Way extends the program to age 11, when subscribers get to choose which books they want to read each month. We now have more than 500 active subscriptions throughout Delaware and the Brandywine Valley.
College students attending the University of Delaware have access to UD Hillel or UD Chabad for making Jewish connections on campus, as well as enhancing their education through the Jewish Studies Program. Jewish fraternities and sororities, in addition to other Jewish student groups, provide opportunities to enhance undergraduate experiences.
There are also myriad adult educational opportunities available through the Siegel JCC and ongoing cultural programs. Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) provides our FED Talk series to stimulate Jewish hearts and minds. The Halina Wind Preston Holocaust Education Committee (HEC) coordinates interfaith, educators, and law enforcement trips to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, as well as our community Yom Hashoah program. Federation’s Israel & Overseas Committee hosts ongoing programs including those for Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
I would be remiss if we did not reference our award-winning monthly publication, Jewish Living Delaware, and our electronic supplement, JewishLivingDelaware.org. We also send weekly updates via Federation News & Notes and publish an annual community guide to Jewish life in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley, Shalom Delaware. These communication vehicles provide thought-provoking content in addition to relevant news and information to members of the community.
Federation has made a concerted effort to provide ongoing Jewish education opportunities by creating a portal for Jewish Education resources on our website at shalomdelaware.org/what-we-do/jewish-education/. We are also continuing our partnership with OpenDor Media to bring important content and programs to our community that nourish the mind.
Outside of Federation and our beneficiary agencies, Delaware has seven synagogues throughout the state and two Havurahs to enhance Jewish connections and educational opportunities. By working together, we ensure Jewish life survives and thrives throughout our community.
Please know that Federation is committed to providing Jewish educational opportunities throughout Delaware and the Brandywine Valley.
