Early Childhood Center at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

09/08/2026

Values of progressive education, creative play-based experiences, and building a strong Jewish identity have always been central to the mission of Stephen Wise’s Early Childhood Center. We remain true to these core traditions, responsive to the changing needs of families, and committed to innovation and excellence.

Schedule a tour, explore our programs, or contact us at the link in comments!

04/10/2022

This May 17th, join us at our Spring Benefit as we express gratitude for Stephen Wise Free Synagogue's incredible staff and honor three deserving people with the Shem Tov Award. Learn more at swfs.org/spring

02/09/2022

Last week, Rabbi Rena Rifkin played Hebrew Twister with our littlest learners to give them a taste of our Religious School.

01/06/2022

Children who missed out on a year of schooling are at a disadvantage, writes our Early Childhood Center's director, Miriam Kalmar. "Your children’s futures — and our future as a society — depend on their developing healthy social emotional skills that will ensure their lifelong success."

When schools began to reopen following the closures from the pandemic, the media focused on the potential academic losses that would occur due to missed scho…

09/09/2021

At the ECC, children start learning as young as 3 months! “Study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better off they are later in life.”

A Blog About The Upper West Side

09/01/2021

02/23/2021

We’re proud to congratulate our assistant director, Melissa Hume, on receiving the Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneer Award!

We are thrilled to introduce the 2021 recipients of the Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award!

🔵 K.m. DiColandrea, Congregation Beth Elohim
🔵 Melissa Hume, Early Childhood Center at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
🔵 Dammara Kovnats Hall, Rodeph Sholom School
🔵 Pamela Schuller, HereNow/ The Jewish Board
🔵 Avi Siegel, Temple Israel of Great Neck

This year at our Virtual Benefit we are proud to celebrate our Young Pioneers Award recipients and all educators who are making heroic efforts during these challenging times. We hope you can join us on March 22 at 7:30 p.m.! The Benefit is free and open to all!

Learn more about this year's Young Pioneers Award recipients, register for the Benefit, and make a donation in honor of an educator at the link ➡️ bit.ly/tjepbenefit2021

09/08/2020

At the Early Childhood Center, play is at the heart of learning. Our programs for children 18 months–5 years provide a nurturing environment infused with Jewish values and rituals.

04/16/2020

Check out this new single from our very own Cantor Dan Singer inspired by all the virtual services he's been leading lately! Join him for ECC Shabbat tomorrow at 10 a.m. and for Kabbalat Shabbat services at 6 p.m.

"Shabbat Boxes"
To the tune of "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds
Lyrics by Cantor Dan Singer

Shabbat boxes on the Zoom call,
Shabbat boxes on computer screens,
Shabbat boxes with our teachers,
Shabbat boxes with our friends,
There's a rabbi and a cantor
And some teachers and some children
And they're all sitting in their boxes
And they all wave Shabbat Shalom!

[Wave up, down, left and right!]

And the people in the boxes
They all light their Shabbat candles
And they all say candle blessings
And they all sing their Shabbat prayers
And after all their praying
They eat challah and drink grape juice
And they all say "HaMotzi Lechem"
And they all say kiddush prayers

And they all make Shabbat boxes
And they all pack up their candles
And they all pack up their kiddush cups
And they pack up their challah bread,
And the children with Shabbat boxes
They all turn off their Zoom calls
Then they put away all their boxes
‘Til they come for Shabbat again.

Shabbat boxes on the Zoom call,
Shabbat boxes on computer screens,
Shabbat boxes with our teachers,
Shabbat boxes with our friends,
There's a rabbi and a cantor
And some teachers and some children
And they're all sitting in their boxes
And they all wave Shabbat Shalom!

[Wave up, down, left and right!]