The children came in one at a time on Feb. 12, the first day of school.
Some toddled in, clutching a parent’s hand. Some wore hats to protect themselves from the blazing summer sun. All told, the eight tots, ages 2 to 5, entered the strikingly modern building for the usual reasons—to play, socialize and learn.
But they were there for another purpose as well—to explore their Jewish identity as the inaugural class of Gan Yisroel Community & Childcare Centre.
The preschool is the first, full-time Jewish child-care center in the Australian capital of Canberra, located inland, almost halfway between the larger, seaside cities of Sydney and Melbourne. It follows the recent establishment of an afternoon Hebrew school for children ages 5 to 12 (with a concurrent program for younger kids ages 2 to 5), in addition to the opening three years ago of Mikvah Chaya Mushka, a ritual bath for women.
“We aim to impart strong Jewish values to our children; for them to grow with a healthy Jewish identity and solid knowledge about their religion, while situated in a conducive and beautifully crafted environment where they will lack for nothing,” explains Rabbi Shmueli Feldman, who directs the Chabad ACT (Australian Capital Territory) with his wife, Chasia, who is also an educator. “We wish for our children to continue the chain of our heritage and become stronger links to lead our future generations to an even brighter future.”
The Feldmans—the parents of four young children—made the move to Canberra in January 2013 after discussions with Rabbi Aharon Serebryanski of Melbourne, director of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch there.
Encouraging the Next Generation
Of the approximately 1,200 Jews living in Canberra, many are temporary residents, including foreign-embassy staffers and high-tech employees on multi-year postings to the region.
“Unfortunately, our biggest issue here is combating intermarriage, which has been endemic in this part of the world with the younger generation,” says the rabbi, “and this is where we are placing a lot of our efforts into preserving Jewish continuity.”
Given a lack of available and affordable properties in Melbourne and Sydney, coupled with the high cost of living there, Canberra has become an attractive alternative, especially for young families. And that makes Jewish educational programs a necessity.
“Since we arrived, we have seen more families moving to the capital, influenced by the fact that we are building a Jewish infrastructure,” says Feldman, who notes that the city now has more learning programs for adults and more regular Shabbat services. While there is no kosher butcher or deli, kosher chickens, pastries, Judaica and more are imported by the Chabad House and supplied to the community. Other smaller kosher items are available in certain local supermarkets and at the membership warehouse club Costco.
As another first, Chabad in Canberra now offers kosher catering services for local residents and visitors to the city.
Bringing the Outdoors In
For resident Ruth Blakely, originally from Melbourne, and her Israeli-born husband Aviel, the establishment of a Jewish preschool has been a joy. The parents of two young daughters, Maya, 5, and Ella, 2, moved to Canberra to run an IT business. They are among the first to enjoy the benefits of a Jewish preschool in their neighborhood.
“I am thrilled that now, whilst living in Canberra, my children will receive an authentic Jewish education in a warm and professional environment,” says Blakely.
That warm environment starts with the school’s stellar design, which won the Master Builders Association’s Commercial Conservation Award, for the building’s refurbishment. Originally an old preschool, it was purchased by Chabad when the government put it up for sale.
It has since been re-envisioned as a modern, state-of-the-art school with large airy, multipurpose rooms that are transformed for Shabbat services and more. The bright white walls and green accents—and perhaps most striking of all, the wooden beams that highlight the ceiling—give the building a fresh feeling, almost like bringing the outdoors in.
The building can hold up to 55 students, and the hope is that after this first year the number of youngsters enrolled will grow.
While in the United States much is made about different educational philosophies for early-childhood education (such as Montessori or Reggio-Emilia teaching styles), according to Feldman, educational preschool programs in Australia are “strictly regulated by the government.” As such, Gan Yisroel conforms with the national Early Years Learning Framework.
Still, the Jewish educational aspect is a key ingredient in the learning day.
“We meet our other learning objectives by implementing Jewish concepts and integrating them with the national, expected outcomes,” explains Feldman. “So, for example, when we need to give the children an appreciation for the environment, we may teach them where food comes from and which brachot [blessings] are said on them. This meets the required secular outcome for creating environmental respect.”
Also notable, he adds, is a dedicated staff of professionals who strive to meet the needs of each child.
“We are committed to providing the highest level of education,” stresses Chasia Feldman, and “care for the children who attend our school.”
Though the preschool may still be in its infancy, the Feldmans are already thinking ahead. “The vision is that the preschool and community grow to such a state where we have to build a Jewish day school as well,” says the rabbi.
“Canberra is a very secular place; there are very few observant Jews living here,” he continues. “We hope that through the connection with the children that we will help influence their parents to strengthen their connection to their heritage and culture, and build a strong Jewish community that will serve the population well into the future.”
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