EarlyJ, a program that strengthens Jewish early childhood education by investing in innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and community-wide initiatives that help Jewish preschools, has invested more than $510,000 into Jewish parenting centers in California. These grants are going towards launching four new Jewish Parenting Centers in Los Angeles, two in the Bay Area, and a second year of funding for the inaugural cohort of nine Bay Area centers. In LA, they include the Early Childhood Center at the J Los Angeles, Kehillat Israel Early Childhood Center, Temple Isaiah Preschool, and The Rose Engel ECC at Adat Ari El.
“Building the future of our community begins at the very start of life,” said Sharona Israeli-Roth, founding president and executive director of EarlyJ. “By investing in Parenting Centers within Jewish preschools now, we can build relationships with families earlier, introduce them to the value of Jewish early childhood education, and create a natural pathway into Jewish preschool enrollment.”
“Building the future of our community begins at the very start of life.” – Sharona Israeli-Roth
Over the last 18 months, EarlyJ has invested nearly $1 million to open and expand on existing centers. Their goal? To ensure Jewish preschools become community hubs for families, starting in the earliest stages of parenthood.
In 2025, grants helped to engage more than 800 families, supported more than 60 enrollments in preschools, and led to over 360 families who did not affiliate with Jewish organizations attending programming.
“Rather than waiting for families to come to us when their children reach preschool age, we want to meet them where they are, when they are beginning to shape their family’s identity, relationships, and sense of belonging,” said Israeli-Roth.
The centers offer parenting workshops, family programming, baby playgroups, Shabbat celebrations, music classes, expert speakers, and peer support. Along with the locations in Los Angeles, EarlyJ is investing in advancing centers in the Bay Area, JCC East Bay Preschool (Oakland), and Gan Israel Preschool (Petaluma). The first round of centers that are now receiving renewed funding include Addison-Penzak JCC Preschool and Shir Hadash Early Childhood Center (Los Gatos), South Peninsula Hebrew Day School (Sunnyvale), and Leslie Family Preschool (Palo Alto), among others.
A survey of EarlyJ’s participating families revealed that 95% said the Parenting Centers helped them feel more connected to a Jewish community; 93% said participation made them more likely to engage in other Jewish programs and opportunities; and 91% said participation strengthened their family’s Jewish identity.
“Jewish Parenting Centers offer an accessible, welcoming entry point, creating opportunities for families to experience Jewish community in a way that is relevant to their everyday lives,” said Israeli-Roth. “Through classes, gatherings, Jewish experiences, and opportunities to build relationships with other families, Parenting Centers help families find community and develop a sense of belonging, often before they are even thinking about preschool enrollment. By bringing these programs into the preschools themselves, we are also giving families the opportunity to become familiar with the preschool environment, build relationships with educators and other families, and experience the value of Jewish early childhood education firsthand.”
Ultimately, Israeli-Roth said, investing in these centers is about, “reaching more families, strengthening Jewish communities, and creating a natural pipeline into Jewish preschools by building meaningful connections with families from the very beginning of their parenting journey.”
