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Babies, bagels and budding friendships


by Deborah Silverthorn

Special to DJW

There's cooing, clapping and lots of crawling in the halls of Congregation Anshai Torah on the second Wednesday of each month.

That's meeting time for the Dallas Chapter of Hadassah-sponsored Babies and Bagels group -- nearly two dozen moms and their children, ages newborn to 3 years old.

"This group is a great chance for me to network with other Jewish mothers, and for me to participate in a Hadassah program, without having to leave my son at home," said Beth Kohn, who has attended regularly with her son Walker, 2, since the group began shortly after he was born.

"The social interaction is important for both of us and we've met a number of friends who we connect with outside of the scheduled events as well," she said. "Every speaker, every project, is really very apropos and relates directly to where I am as a mom and what Walker needs at this point."

The Babies and Bagels concept grew out of Hadassah's desire to bring in new members while meeting the need of young Jewish mothers in the Dallas community. Hosted by Congregation Anshai Torah, the program is unaffiliated with any synagogue or branch of Judaism.

"We wanted an opportunity for 'the community' of new and young mothers to have a place to come together, with their children, to play, visit, talk and learn," said Robin Bohbot, Hadassah's director of membership development.

Debby Romick, director of Congregation Anshai Torah's preschool, helps to coordinate the meetings. "There have been lots of friendships made through the group and while it's not a 'class' per se, the regular meetings and connecting between both the moms, and their children, provides for great interaction."

At each meeting there is an unorganized playtime, a speaker -- and, of course, bagels and coffee. Speaker topics have included storytelling, language development and parenting skills.

The next get-together, Dec. 10, will feature Robin Tieg, executive director of the local chapter and a former teacher, who will lead a hands-on crafting event with projects for Chanukah.

"These are projects for the littlest of hands, and regardless of the child's age they can participate," said Tieg. "In addition to the colorful projects they'll take home, I'll also be sharing information and ideas about how the mom's can incorporate their 1-, 2- and 3-year-old children into the holiday, beyond the gift opening."

Memories are formed at a very young age, said Tieg. "When kids are included, in almost every aspect of the preparations and the actual holiday itself, then it really becomes a family event."

Among the programs planned for the next year are a "baby boot camp," which offers exercise techniques for pre-natal and post-partum mothers and their children, a speaker on using sign language with young children and a presentation with the Music Together program.

"These classes provide moms with education and information without having to go out at night or find a babysitter," said Romick, who took on a leadership role and brought the program to Anshai this fall after completing Hadassah's Leadership Academy (HLA) last May. Previously, the group had met in individual homes.

HLA was established in 1998 to build new leaders both within Hadassah and within the larger Jewish community. Following a two-year program that culminates with a trip to Israel, each woman is responsible for taking on a leadership role in her individual community.

For Romick, Babies and Bagels is that effort.

There are no fees to attend Babies and Bagels; it is requested, but not required, that women join Hadassah's local chapter. Dues are $25 annually or $250 for a lifetime membership. The Bagels and Babies meeting on Dec. 10 at 10:30 a.m. will be at Congregation Anshai Torah, 5501 W. Parker Road in Plano. For more information, call (214) 691-1948.


This story was published in the DallasJewishWeek
on: Thursday, November 27, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Copyright 2003, Dallas Jewish Week