Elevating the Everyday: A Conversation About Spiritual Parenting

Parenting is all about navigating transitions. Big ones, like the first day of school, and so many little ones: going to bed, getting dressed, and losing a tooth. Join Rabbi Allison Berry of Temple Shalom in Newton and Leeza Negelev, Associate Director of Education at Mayyim Hayyim, for a lively discussion with other parents about how Jewish tradition and ritual can infuse transitions with meaning, offer a moment to slow down, and support your family at many different stages. This program is free and open to the public.

*A tour of Mayyim Hayyim is included in the program.

This program is offered by Hebrew College’s Parenting Through a Jewish Lens and Mayyim Hayyim Community Mikveh and Education Center

About Rabbi Allison Berry

Rabbi Allison Berry leads the clergy and staff team at Temple Shalom in Newton, and is deeply committed to the fact that Temple Shalom is a diverse community, welcoming people of traditional and non-traditional backgrounds, interfaith families, Jewish-by-choice, non-Jewish partners, members of the LGBTQ community, people with physical, social or cognitive challenges and those searching for meaning. Rabbi Berry attended Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Ordained as a rabbi in 2007, Rabbi Berry has served congregations in Hickory, N.C., Leonia, N.J. and for three years was the rabbi and education director of Temple Beth David in Canton, Massachusetts. Rabbi Berry, her husband Mark, and children, Micah and Zachary love living in Newton and can often be found at the Cabot School playground.

About Leeza Negelev

Leeza Negelev joined Mayyim Hayyim in 2014. She brings with her 13 years of experience teaching and developing dynamic arts- and project-based education programs for people of all ages. In 2010, Leeza co-founded and taught at “Artrageous Storytellers,” an experiential arts summer camp for middle school students in Washington state. Before moving back home to Boston, Leeza was the Youth Educator at Kolot Chayeinu (a progressive synagogue known for its diversity), and an Arts Fellow at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education in New York. Leeza holds a Bachelor’s Degree from The Evergreen State College in Washington, with a concentration in education and non-profit business management. She is a Combined Jewish Philanthropies 2016 Chai in the Hub honoree.