Ziva R. Hassenfeld and Amy Newman

Stop Kicking Kids Out Of Shul. Research Says Early Ritual Experience Is Essential.

It’s a typical winter Shabbat morning in Massachusetts. The temperatures have plummeted outside, and we are all gathered together for the morning service in our sanctuary. As soon as services end and the adults leave the room, the children take over. After services, our shul’s sanctuary often becomes a playground. Children run up and down…