'Lilah Tov' Project Ensures Children Have 'Good Night'

Looking over some of the items donated to the Lilah Tov Project, left to right: Jake Lichten, Cyrus Hannalah, Olivia Beckman, Rachel Gordon Lichten and Sophie Lichten.

"At night, every child should have something to wear, something to snuggle under, something to read, and something to cuddle."

Who could argue with that? Unfortunately, these blessings that we sometimes take for granted are not guaranteed for many families.

The Early Childhood Parent Committee (ECPC) of the JCC College Avenue Preschool has teamed with the JCC Kaleidoscope program on a mitzvah project that should help ensure that children in central Ohio have a "Good Night" every night.

"Last year, the ECPC decided that every family party should have a mitzvah component of kids doing good deeds for kids," said Rachel Gordon Lichten, ECPC parent. "A parent approached us with the idea of donating pajamas and blankets to children who don't have them. We created Project Lilah Tov, which means 'good night' in Hebrew."

Items donated will be sent at the end of January to the YWCA Family Center in Columbus. "We think this is a great teachable moment," said Lichten. "Our children are blessed to have warm homes with pajamas, toys, books and blankets. Project Lilah Tov is a great way to show them that not every child is so lucky and give them a way to help those children."

Donation boxes have been set up in both the JCC College Avenue Preschool lobby and the Kaleidoscope hallway. The following items are being accepted: pajamas (all sizes); stuffed animals; blankets, and books. Gently used items are accepted, and new items are greatly appreciated.

New Family Parenting Program Opens With S'More Shabbat

The JCC College Avenue Preschool officially opens its new Family Parenting Program on Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. with the start of "S'more Shabbat."

"We have a new time and format for our Tot Shabbat, which we will be holding in the Family Parenting Center," said Nili Talis, JCC Infant/Toddler Director. "The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. with a Family Barefoot Story Time. Afterward, Marc 'The Marvelous Toy' Rossio will lead the group in songs and blessings, followed by a delicious Shabbat lunch."

The cost is $5 for members and $7 for nonmembers, and includes one child's lunch.

Talis said a new exercise program, Zumba for Kids, also will start in February. For more information, contact Talis at (614) 559-6289 or ntalis@columbusjcc.org.

Don't Try This At Home

Ah, the glories of childhood...being able to spend the entire day – work and play – in your pajamas, and getting to pull as much toilet paper off the roll as you need to play in. No, the children at the JCC College Avenue Preschool did not mount an insurrection at the preschool on Friday, Dec. 14, but they did have a whole lot of fun during their "PJ Day." The preschoolers were allowed to stay dressed in their warm jammies that day, and they were given rolls of toilet paper to unwind, shred, and well, roll around in. Taking advantage of the tactile – and fun – experience are Samara Kahan of Bexley (above) and Neko Robins of Bexley (below). The JCC Preschools soon will be enrolling students for the 2007-2008 school year. Additional information on early registration will appear in this newspaper and on the JCC website at www.columbusjcc.org within the coming weeks.

JCC College Avenue Welcomes Foster Grandparents

The JCC College Avenue Preschool has "adopted" foster grandparents Misha Dvorkin and Alla Motyler. Through the Foster Grandparent program, Misha and Alla each volunteer 20 hours per week in two classrooms.

"The Foster Grandparent program is open to adults age 60 or over who are asked to share their life experiences with our children," said Barbara Topolosky, JCC Early Childhood Program director.

"For instance, Misha, who speaks English and Russian, is enjoying working with children in the Dragonfly Room. Teacher Carol Highfield says that among the students, there are a couple of Russian speaking boys who especially enjoy Misha being there," she said. "Misha is a very kind and gentle man who wants to help as much as he can.

"Alla, who speaks English, Russian and Hebrew, volunteers in the Monkey Room, where she is able to speak Hebrew with one of the students who has limited knowledge of English," said Topolosky. Beth Vigil, a teacher in the room, said she "feels that having someone with the ability to speak Hebrew is a terrific asset to the classroom."

The Foster Grandparent program is directed and supervised through First Link, which is associated with the National Senior Service Corps. "Our grandparent volunteers are screened by First Link, interviewed by their placement director, and go through a records check by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services in order to work with the preschoolers," said Topolosky.

For more information on First Link, visit www.firstlink.org. For more information on the Foster Grandparent program at the JCC preschools, call (614) 559-6290.

Chanukah Cookies Are Just As Much Fun to Decorate as Eat

Naomi Adler (above, left) of Bexley, demonstrates why it's just as much fun to decorate Chanukah cookies as it is to eat them. In the adjacent photo, Mitchell Cohen, and his mother, Julie, work together on creating a Chanukiah for their home. The children (and their parents) participated in the Mini-Matisse session of Toddler Time, a program operated by the JCC College Avenue Preschool. "Toddler time is a great chance to socialize and make new friends during the cold months," said Nili Talis, director of the Infant/Toddler program at the JCC. For more information on Mini-Matisse, Toddler Time, or the JCC College Avenue Preschool, visit the JCC website at www.columbusjcc.org or contact Talis at (614) 559-6289 or ntalis@columbusjcc.org.

Future Thespians Visit Set of Mazel and Shlimazel

Members of Carol Highfield's Dragonfly Room at the JCC College Avenue Preschool visited the set of Mazel and Shlimazel while it was in production in the Roth-Resler Theater at the JCC last month. The children were given the "royal treatment," complete with a peek at the castle's throne room, by Jared Saltman, JCC Cultural Arts director. Awaiting their cues are, left to right, Ella, Tyler, Edward, Eva, Collin, and Jordan, while Isabella Vigil gets comfortable in the "Queen's chair."