After-school programming

For Bay Area families seeking a safe, welcoming and fun Jewish environment where their kids can spend time after the school day is done, there are a number of places excited to open their doors. These winners go above and beyond when it comes to taking care of your kids between the final school bell and the dinner bell.

Olam Yeladim, at the JCC of the East Bay in Oakland, offers everything from cooking classes to Whiffleball, in addition to regular homework help and supervised social time. “There are over 40 different choices,” says Director Josh Kramer. Fridays are set aside for special Jewish programming, including a Shabbat celebration.

Brandeis PM, Brandeis Hillel Day School’s on-site after-school program, won for its San Rafael location, which offers enrichment activities that include foreign languages, acting and music, in addition to basic childcare.

At Sherith Israel in San Francisco, “it’s the comfort that makes kids really like [our program] and parents feel good, ” says Education Director Nancy Sheftel-Gomes. The after-school group meets on the same days that children attend Hebrew school — Tuesdays and Fridays. Fridays are particularly special: “We have a Kabbalat Shabbat as the culmination of the week, and parents often join the kids,” says Sheftel-Gomes.

The Albert L. Schultz JCC’s after-school program offers classes for every interest — from the budding ballerina to the future sous chef. The facilities also offer an open lounge (“the lounJe”) with a pool table, Ping-Pong, new computers and games, where kids can just relax after a busy day.

Oakland Hebrew Day School’s after-school programs came in second.





1st Place




San Francisco

Congregation Sherith Israel

(415) 346-1720

http://www.sherithisrael.org




East Bay

Olam Yeladim

Oakland

(510)848-0237

http://www.jcceastbay.org




South Bay/Peninsula

Albert L. Schultz JCC

Palo Alto

(650) 493-9400

http://www.paloaltojcc.org




North Bay

Brandeis PM

San Rafael

(415) 472-1833

http://www.bhds.org







2nd Place




East Bay

Oakland Hebrew Day School

(510) 531-8600

http://www.ohds.org




College prep high schools

Facing life after high school graduation is no piece of rugelach for parents or teens, but when it comes to securing your child’s place in a great university or college, these high schools really know their stuff.

The College Preparatory School in Oakland brings together “talented, experienced and skilled teachers” with “bright and engaged students,” says Head of School Murray Cohen. “Results show up in the classroom, in performing arts, on teams — throughout the school’s many curricular and co-curricular programs,” he says.

Lick-Wilmerding in San Francisco really has it all for the ambitious student, no matter what his or her academic appetite. The campus features several art studios, an active civic engagement program and top-notch athletic facilities — including a rock-climbing wall.

If you’re based further south, j. readers say you can’t go wrong with either Crystal Springs Uplands School in Hillsborough or Gunn High School in Palo Alto, which tied in their region.

“We’re a small secondary school that really strives to instill in our students a spirit of inquiry,” says Crystal Springs’ Head of School Amy Richards. “That’s cultivated by relationships fostered between students and teachers. [There’s] a sense that anything is possible,” she adds.

Gunn is equally optimistic about the endless opportunities their students have after high school. All 1,900 students can receive individualized guidance in preparing for college, free tutoring in any subject and the chance to participate in all sorts of extra-curricular activities and Advanced Placement classes, which help pique interest in specialized fields before heading off to college.

In second place were the Drew School in San Francisco and Head-Royce School in Oakland.





1st Place




San Francisco

Lick-Wilmerding High School

(415) 333-4021

http://www.lwhs.org




East Bay

The College Preparatory School

Oakland

(510) 652-0111

http://www.college-prep.org




South Bay/Peninsula

Crystal Springs Uplands School

Hillsborough

(650) 342-4175

http://www.csus.org




Gunn High School

Palo Alto

(650) 354-8200

http://www.gunn.palo-alto.ca.us





2nd Place




San Francisco

Drew School

(415) 409-3739

http://www.drewschool.org




East Bay

Head-Royce School

Oakland

(510) 531-1300

http://www.headroyce.org




Jewish day school

Jewish day schools offer the ultimate fusion of Jewish life and learning — and families who choose from these winning schools are guaranteed that Jewish values hold an integral place in the school day — in addition to a well-rounded curriculum.

Bathea James, head of school for Tehiyah Day School in El Cerrito, says that Tehiyah is “a place where you have dedicated teachers, learning is contagious, kids have fun and you have the support of the community.” The word “tehiyah” means renewal, and the school has embraced that philosophy by constantly seeking new ways to renew students’ connection to Judaism through education.

At Brandeis Hillel, whose locations in San Rafael and San Francisco both ranked first this year, building a supportive community is just as important as developing each child’s individual growth. The day school’s philosophy of practicing “radical kindness” is built into a number of daily activities, including morning meetings between students and teachers, peer tutoring and social justice projects that take place throughout the school year.

Tied for favorite Jewish day school in San Francisco is Jewish Community High School of the Bay, which boasts a rigorous academic setting guided by the Jewish calendar, celebrations of Jewish culture and tradition, and an emphasis on spiritual connection to Israel. These days, JCHS is excited about its new head of school, Rabbi Howard Ruben.

Eight-year-old Kehillah Jewish High School in Palo Alto offers an intimate setting of 110 students, and a host of wonderful programming. “We have a wide selection of academic classes, an expanding arts program, and also have a growing variety of Jewish studies courses,” says head of school Lillian Howard. The program is designed to “really meet the potential of each student,” she adds.

In second place were Oakland Hebrew Day School, Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School in Palo Alto and Lisa Kampner Hebrew Academy in San Francisco.





1st Place




San Francisco

Brandeis Hillel Day School

(415) 406-1035

http://www.bhds.org




Jewish Community High School of the Bay

(415) 345-9777

http://www.jchsofthebay.org




East Bay

Tehiyah Day School

El Cerrito

(510) 233.3013

http://www.tehiyah.org




South Bay/Peninsula

Kehillah Jewish High School

Palo Alto

(650) 213-9600

http://www.kehillah.org




North Bay

Brandeis Hillel Day School

San Rafael

(415) 472-1833

http://www.bhds.org





2nd Place




San Francisco

Lisa Kampner Hebrew Academy

(415) 752-9583

http://www.hebrewacademy.com




East Bay

Oakland Hebrew Day School

Oakland

(510) 531-8600

http://www.ohds.org




South Bay/Peninsula

Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School

Palo Alto

(650) 494-8200

http://www.hausner.com




Preschool

For Jewish families in the Bay Area, “early childhood education is about laying the foundations for a love of Jewish life,” says Gan Avraham Director Wendy Seever. Along with Gan Mah Tov, the Temple Beth Abraham preschool is a favorite place for East Bay parents to send their children — for good reason!

Rabbi Mark Bloom of Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland “knows each child by name,” Seever says, and is an integral part of the program: “Coming into class, singing with children in Shabbat, joining [the preschool group] in the chapel to tell Torah stories.”

At Gan Mah Tov, also in Oakland, a full music program teaching children rhythms with silly songs and American folk melodies is an added bonus to a nurturing preschool environment.

At Congregation Adath Israel in San Francisco, “we are constantly trying to find new and creative ways to educate the children in our shul, and engage them” says Rabbi Joshua Strulowitz. “We really want kids to feel comfortable in shul.” Programs for young kids include Mimi’s Baby Groups and Havdallah Sunday.

The Peninsula JCC Preschool in Foster City offers a curriculum for children of all faiths and backgrounds. Young creative minds are expanded weekly with the preschool’s special music program.

The Osher Marin JCC is proud to have just completed its three-year participation in the Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative — and is now considered a vanguard Jewish preschool. “This recognition confirms our commitment to being a community of learners” says Preschool Director Tamar Lai. “Children engage with teachers to help create the curriculum.”

In second place were the Marin Day School/Bright Horizons-Sherith Israel Campus in San Francisco, T’enna Preschool at the Albert L. Schultz JCC in Palo Alto and Temple Sinai Preschool in Oakland.





1st Place




San Francisco

Congregation Adath Israel

(415) 759-1195

http://www.adathisraelsf.org




East Bay

Gan Avraham

Temple Beth Abraham

Oakland

(510) 763-7528;

http://www.tbaoakland.org




Gan Mah Tov

Oakland

(510) 504-8073

http://www.thegan.net




South Bay/Peninsula

Peninsula JCC Preschool

Foster City

(650) 493-9400

http://www.pjcc.org/family/ece/ece-index.html




North Bay

Osher Marin JCC Preschool

San Rafael

(415) 444-8042

http://www.marinjcc.org/preschool.html





2nd Place




San Francisco

Marin Day School/Bright Horizons-Sherith Israel Campus

(415) 346-1720

http://www.sherithisrael.org




East Bay

Temple Sinai Preschool

Oakland

(510) 451-2821

http://www.templesinaipreschool.org




South Bay/Peninsula

T’enna Preschool

Albert L. Schultz JCC

Palo Alto

(650)-493-9400

http://www.paloaltojcc.org




Secular summer camp

Camp Galileo, an art, science and outdoors summer program with locations throughout the Bay Area, swept our Readers’ Choice poll across the region. Maybe it’s the excitement of the rotation of crafts, projects and running around that keeps kids enthralled with Galileo — or maybe it’s love for the camp’s mascot, the magical rubber chicken, that keeps them coming back. We think it’s both.

Camp Galileo has been offering one- to three-week camp sessions in the Bay Area since 2002. Each week, campers focus on science, art and outdoor activities related to a theme, such as amusement park science or the psychedelic ‘60s. “We combine the three educational areas with just fun!” says Marketing Director Jeremy Sampson.

In second place was Sarah’s Science in Oakland.





1st Place




Bay Area

Camp Galileo

Various locations

(510) 595-7293

http://www.campgalileo.com





2nd Place




East Bay

Sarah’s Science

Oakland

(510) 581-3739

http://www.sarahscience.com




Jewish summer camp

The dog days of summer are upon us — even if we can barely see them through the fog. Despite the sometimes chilly weather, Bay Area Jewish day camps offer some of the warmest environments for kids to take a break from school and enjoy summer’s freedom.

Adam Ganes, director of Camp Kee Tov at Congregation Beth El in Berkeley, notes that “most of our staff came [to Kee Tov] as campers, and they keep camp traditions alive.” Music is an integral part of the Kee Tov experience, and song leader Eric Shoen leads campers in a special community sing-along every Friday of the month-long sessions.

In Foster City, the Peninsula JCC Summer Camps incorporate a wide range of Jewish traditions — including playing Olympic-style Maccabiah games, singing favorite Jewish camp songs and even hosting young Israeli visitors from the Schlichim program to teach kids about Israeli life and culture.

At the Osher Marin JCC’s Camp Kehillah in San Rafael, the theme for the summer is “Shlimut,” or wholeness. “We try to have really fun summer activities and add Jewish content to make it special,” says Camp Director Debbie Tuttle. Campers recently gathered leaves on a nature walk around Marin to make family trees, incorporating nature into the urban camp setting.

In San Francisco, Camp Kochav at the JCCSF won reader’s hearts for its K-9 program that keeps kids healthy, active and spirited all summer. The days at Kochav are filled with sports and swimming, field trips, skits and even overnight camping.

Keeping kids happy and busy in second place were the JCC of the East Bay’s Camp Tzofim in Oakland and the Albert L. Schultz JCC’s J-Camp in Palo Alto.





1st Place




San Francisco

Camp Kochav

JCC of San Francisco

(415) 292-1250

http://www.jccsf.org




East Bay

Camp Kee Tov

Congregation Beth El

Berkeley

(510) 848-2372

http://www.campkeetov.org




South Bay/Peninsula

Peninsula JCC Summer Camps

Foster City

(650) 378-2799

http://www.pjcc.org/family/camps/camps-index.html




North Bay

Camp Kehillah

Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael

(415) 444-8055

http://www.marinjcc.org/youth_family_camps.html





2nd Place




East Bay

Camp Tzofim

JCC of the East Bay. Oakland

(510) 530-9222

http://www.jcceastbay.org




South Bay/Peninsula

J-Camp

Albert L. Schultz JCC, Palo Alto

(650) 493-9400

http://www.paloaltojcc.org




Jewish youth program

A new generation of Jewish community leaders is coming into its own, and Jewish youth programs are here to help. These programs emphasize community-building activities, lasting friendships and a chance to discuss Jewish life. And did we mention they are loads of fun, too?

It’s 11 p.m. for Nicole Miller of the Diller Teen Initiative, but, she says, “the night is still young.” She’s accompanying the Diller Teen group on their annual three-week trip to Israel funded by the Helen Diller Foundation; they meet with Israeli teens they’ve kept contact with all year on their trip. The Diller Teen Initiative was founded in San Francisco, but became so popular that it now has branches in 10 cities across the country, soon to be expanded to 14.

Orthodox-affiliated NCSY got its start in 1954, and is still one of the largest organizations in the country dedicated to helping youth develop their Jewish identity. The Northern California chapters have a busy year ahead, filled with “Latte & Learn” Torah studies, “Shabbas Shakers” and plenty of teen-led celebrations of Jewish festivals and holidays.

Over in the South Bay, BBYO Program Director Jill Pottel is already excited about this year’s Sept. 6 kickoff. Last year’s opening in Los Gatos drew a crowd of 400 kids — and this year should be no different. The appeal of the program is easy to see: “BBYO is youth-led, ” Pottel says. “The goal is to give kids the experience they want to have.”

In second place were New Frontier USY in the South Bay/Peninsula, NCSY in San Francisco and BBYO in the East Bay.







1st Place




San Francisco

Diller Teen Initiative

(415) 777-0411

http://www.sfjcf.org/diller




East Bay

NCSY, NorCal East

(917) 575-5683

http://www.westcoastncsy.org




South Bay/Peninsula

BBYO, Central Region West

Los Gatos

(650) 627-8560

http://www.crwbbyo.org





2nd Place




San Francisco

NCSY, NorCal East

http://www.westcoastncsy.org




East Bay

BBYO, Central Region West

http://www.crwbbyo.org




South Bay/Peninsula

New Frontier USY

San Francisco

(415) 661-8156

http://www.usy.org/newfrontier




Readers Choice Awards 2008