From generation to generation at TSTI’s preschool

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Several young parents who grew up at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, the Reform synagogue in South Orange, have taken the Jewish trope “from generation to generation” to heart. Once students in TSTI’s religious school and Hebrew High, they have selected its Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education for their youngsters. Among them are Michael Rogoff, Jamie Silver and Julie Schwegman.

The three, who are all now raising their families in South Orange, also attended Columbia High School together, having grown up in South Orange and Maplewood at the same time.

Rogoff, who attended TSTI’s religious school and became a bar mitzvah there, has twin toddler sons and an infant daughter. He and his wife were not necessarily looking for a Jewish preschool, but he said, “It’s the best decision we ever could have made. The boys love it. For them, it’s where they go see friends.” Right now, they attend only on Friday but Rogoff and his wife plan to enroll them for the full five-day week next term.

Rogoff values TSTI’s openness and inclusiveness. His wife is not Jewish, so they sought a place where everyone could be comfortable. Having attended services and special occasions at other synagogues, he said, “You see the difference at TSTI, it’s a nice environment and there’s no pressure regarding your level of observance.”

Silver’s family joined TSTI upon moving to South Orange in 1990. She attended the religious school and Hebrew High, became a bat mitzvah soon after Rabbi Daniel Cohen had become the rabbi, and she was confirmed there. She was also active in STISY, the youth group, serving on the STISY board. Her daughter, Dylan, started in the toddler time program and is now in the 3s class. Silver is on the preschool board and will chair it next term.

“My husband Brian and I looked at other temples but there was really no question that we’d choose TSTI,” she said. “We are members, attend services and participate in many of the young family programs, which are great. It’s such a warm, nurturing environment and very inclusive, which we love. Our daughter is thriving there and we’re very happy.”

The Silvers recently celebrated their baby boy’s bris, or circumcision, there and, when he’s ready, he’ll go to toddler time, too.

As a special treat, her mother, Liz Rashbaum, who does pet therapy, brings her dog Ruby to the preschool once a week; everyone loves Ruby’s visits, from the children to Carol Paster, the director of early childhood education.

For Julie Schwegman, who grew up in Maplewood, there was also no question as to where to send her daughter, Sydney, to preschool. Schwegman attended TSTI’s religious school through confirmation and celebrated her bat mitzvah there. Like Rogoff’s spouse, her husband Beau is not Jewish but feels comfortable at TSTI. And, like Silver, she and Beau celebrated a milestone with Cohen, who married them. She serves on the preschool board and volunteers on many projects and community outreach programs.

Schwegman said that Sydney likes nature and music — two very big parts of the school day — and as a mother, she appreciates the play-based program.

“They go outside as much as they can, which is great, and the kids are encouraged to engage in lots of pretend play; it’s not about rigid activities — it’s about exploration and imagination,” she said. “At 4 and a half, Sydney’s learning life skills like how to play together and negotiate who gets to choose the games. She is involved and engaged, which is awesome for a 4-year-old.”

Schwegman hopes to enroll her toddler son, Joey, next year. “Even now when we drop off Sydney, Joey doesn’t want to leave,” she said.

  Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel