Wendy and Daniel Lebovic with their children Josh, 6, and Noah, 3.
We spoke to Wendy and Daniel Lebovic about their favorite Jewish activities, their connection to Jewish community, and the ways jkidphilly has impacted their family.
What do you enjoy about jkidphilly?
We love jkidphilly because it allows us to connect to the Jewish community in the area. We love learning about the different holidays, meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends. The activities are always age-appropriate and provide a meaningful connection to Jewish holidays for our young family. The social action projects create fun and educational experiences about the ways we can help one another and the world around us. We always feel welcomed and enjoy every event!
What kind of Jewish activities do you enjoy at home?
Our children love receiving their PJ Library books each month, eagerly tearing open the mail to see what new stories we are going to read together. Every Friday, we enjoy a lovely Shabbat meal together while lighting the candles and saying the blessings over the wine and challah. Before bed each night, my boys both recite the Shema prayer. We try to celebrate all the Jewish holidays and festivals and make them a special and meaningful part of our lives. Each child also has their own tzedakah box and we talk about the importance of giving back and doing mitzvahs.
What are your favorite PJ Library books?
We definitely have a very special PJ Library book in our house. My boys really love Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher. They love the message of the story, that being Jewish isn’t about what you eat, but about the connection you feel when you embrace doing mitzvahs, follow customs and enjoy aspects of our tradition with joy.
Are you part of any other organized Jewish communities?
We are currently members of Shir Ami where my older son “graduated” from Kindergarten and my younger son attends preschool and camp. It is an amazing school where both my children have thrived and loved every minute. They are always eager to come home to show their newfound love of learning about Jewish culture and holidays. We also attend many Chabad of Yardley and Newtown community events in the area as well. My kids always receive a warm welcome as they learn more about what it means to be Jewish in a joyful and fun manner.
What do you think other parents should know about jkidphilly?
jkidphilly is truly a wonderful organization that does a great job bringing the community together to celebrate holidays and create meaningful ways to connect to our Jewish heritage. The books provide great stepping stones to important discussions in the home about mitzvahs and Jewish values. Every staff member that we’ve encountered truly cares about helping families connect with others and makes it easy and fun to celebrate our traditions.
