Congregation Beth Israel, through its Jewish Early Childhood Education Programs in Small Town America, created a successful coalition of Jewish early childhood education programs in communities with small Jewish populations.

Ignition Grantee Reflections: Impacts and Learnings:
“Where are we now, what did we accomplish, and what have we learned?”

“I appreciated being part of a larger effort to improve Jewish education and the resources made available. Being plugged into a national organization was a key benefit. As a very small town congregation, the grant allowed us (both professionals and lay leadership) to see ourselves in a new light, as more connected into the Jewish world as a whole. We learned about other initiatives in Jewish education, and were exposed to new people, new ideas, and new projects. The project opened my eyes to see that there is a lot to be learned from people in different kinds of settings.”

—Ellen Dietrick, Former Director CBI Pre-School