Eat, Pray, Play: Free Children's Services, Bagels, at Temple Sholom

On Sept. 11, Temple Sholom of Fanwood-Scotch Plains invites families with children ages 4 and under to a "Shabbat Pray 'N Play," which will feature music, maracas, puppets and parachutes, the synagogue announced in an August press release. The 30-minute interactive service, led by Student Cantor Vicky Glikin, begins at 10 a.m., and it will be followed by a free bagel brunch in the temple's playroom. Older siblings are welcome.

"This isn't your ordinary children's service," Temple Sholom Director of Education Michelle Shapiro Abraham said in the press release. She came up with the idea for an interactive Shabbat program, she added, when her own, very active children were in pre-school. "It's like where Shabbat meets Gymboree. The kids are encouraged to jump up, dance, sing and play along. Afterwards, everyone gets a chance to nosh and get to know one another over bagels."

The temple will also host family-oriented religious services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, taking place Thursday, Sept. 9, and Saturday, Sept. 18, respectively.  Members and non-members may attend.

Temple Sholom is located in the Fanwood Presbyterian Church at the corner of Martine and LaGrande Avenues in Fanwood, NJ. The chapel is around the corner from Marian Avenue, and can be entered through a door on Marian Avenue marked "Temple Sholom." For more information, call 908-889-4900, e-mail sholom@sholomnj.org or visit www.sholomnj.org.

Editor's Note: I am a member of Temple Sholom.