As ECE-RJ, the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism, reaches a significant milestone—its 25th anniversary—I find myself reflecting on our journey with the pride and awe of a parent watching their child grow into a remarkable young adult. The past quarter-century has flown by in what feels like the blink of an eye, and the transformation of our organization is nothing short of extraordinary.
A Year-Long Celebration
We are thrilled to commemorate this silver anniversary with festivities throughout the year, with a special in-person celebration as part of our Yom Chadash 2025 conference in Chicago in January. This event promises to be a significant highlight of our anniversary year, bringing together founding, current and past members from across the country to celebrate our shared journey.
Reliving the Journey
In the spirit of celebration, our monthly UNITE newsletter will feature a special ‘Remember When’ section. This will be a chance to reminisce about the milestones, memorable events, and transformative moments that have defined our organization. Each edition will provide a window into our history and showcase the impact ECE-RJ has had on early childhood education within the Jewish community.
If you have a cherished memory or significant moment related to ECE-RJ that you would like to share, please let us know about it by filling out THIS FORM. Your contributions will be a valuable part of our anniversary celebrations and will help us honor the legacy of our organization.
Our Mission and Vision
At ECE-RJ, our mission remains steadfast: to support early childhood educators and leaders in congregational settings. We are dedicated to elevating the professional self of our members through education, networking, and collaboration. By doing so, we enhance the status and visibility of our profession and ensure the continuity of thriving, high-quality Jewish early childhood programs.
ECE-RJ and its members will continue to be seen as experts, leaders, and advocates for change. We are committed to maintaining financial stability, fostering an ongoing leadership pipeline, engaging our membership, and ensuring clear and effective communication both internally and externally.
As we celebrate our 25 years of impact and progress, let us look forward to continuing our mission and vision with renewed energy and dedication. Here’s to a bright future and many more years of advancing Jewish early childhood education together!
How YOU can help celebrate ECE-RJ at 25:
- Join us in Chicago! We would love to see you for the full conference or be a part of the ECE-RJ 25th anniversary celebration on Thursday, January 23, 2025. More information is coming soon!
- Share your favorite memories, shared experiences, and meaningful connections with other members of ECE-RJ. Please use THIS FORM to submit your personal anecdotes, cherished moments, and stories of learning and growth within our community.
- Become a member ECE-RJ (if you aren’t already) as a Director, Assistant Director, Teacher, Retired Director or supporter of ECE-RJ)
Warm regards,
Heidi Baker
Founding Member and Past President, ECE-RJ
