There’s a lot going on this April. The month begins with Passover followed by Israel’s 70th birthday, and Earth Day and there are lots of fun ways to celebrate. In addition to all of the holiday fun, there are also concerts, story times, museum programs, volunteer opportunities, and tot Shabbats to keep you having fun all month long.

Brought to you in partnership with PJ Library of New York

Brooklyn

Wee Jam
Drop-in class for babies and toddlers, with singing, dancing, stories, parachute, and bubbles. Choose from multiple times and locations. 
Busy Bodies Brooklyn, 1004 Fulton St
Mondays, April 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.
Edamama Cute Cuts & More, 568 Union Ave
Mondays, April 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 9:30 – 10:15 & 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
JCC Brooklyn Clinton Hill, 309 Grand Ave  
Tuesdays, April 3, 10, 17 & 24 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.

ShaJam Fridays
An interactive family Shabbat experience with singing, dancing, and stories. Best for ages 5 and under, drop-in. Free.
JCC Brooklyn Windsor Terrace – 1224 Prospect Ave
Fridays April 6, 13, 20 & 27, 11:10 – 11:45 a.m.
JCC Brooklyn – North Williamsburg, 14 Hope St
Fridays April 6, 13, 20 & 27, 8:50 – 9:20 a.m.
JCC Brooklyn – Clinton Hill, 309 Grand Ave  
Fridays April 6, 13, 20 & 27, 9:30 – 10:15 a.m.

ShaJam Singalong
An interactive family Shabbat experience with singing, dancing, stories, parachute play, and bubbles. Open to all. Free.
JCC Brooklyn – Clinton Hill, 309 Grand Ave
Saturdays, April 7 & 28, 4 – 5 p.m.
JCC Brooklyn – North Williamsburg, 14 Hope St.
Saturday, April 14, 4 – 5 p.m.

Fridays @ 4  
A tot Shabbat for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers led by guitarist and singer Ora Fruchter, with singing, dancing, and stories. Free and open to all.
Union Temple of Brooklyn, 17 Eastern Parkway
Fridays, April 13, 20 & 27, 4 – 5 p.m.

Sing-Along Shabbat  
Shabbat morning experience for families with children ages 5 and under including singing, guitar, puppets, and musical prayer followed by challah and grape juice. Free.
Bay Ridge Jewish Center, Fourth Ave & 81st St
Saturday, April 14, 10:45 – 11:45 a.m.

Out of the Shabbox
A drop-in, cross-cultural, interfaith, arts-based Shabbat experience with music, movement, storytelling, and snack. Free.
Union Temple of Brooklyn, 17 Eastern Pkwy, 4th floor
Saturdays, April 14, 21 & 28, 9:30 – 11 a.m.

Sunday Morning Songs, Play & Snacks   
A morning of songs, stories, open play, and snacks led by Tkiya: The Jewish Community Music Initiative. For neighborhood families with kids ages 5 and under, RSVP requested. Free.
Busy Bodies Brooklyn, 1004 Fulton St
Sunday, April 15, 10:30 a.m. – Noon

Tot Shabbat  
Celebrate Shabbat with songs, stories, instruments, dancing, challah and grape juice. Best for families with children ages 5 and under. Free. 
Bay Ridge Jewish Center, Fourth Ave & 81st St
Friday, April 27, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Long Island

Shababa Cooks
Create Passover treats, share stories and sing songs. 6 and under.Best for families with children ages. RSVP requested.
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Drive, East Hills
Thursday, April 5, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Pajamas, Pizza & Bingo Night 
Pizza and bingo for the whole family. Bring an extra pair of new PJs and/or a new book to donate to the Pajama Program, a national program serving kids in need. RSVP required.
Temple Avodah, 3050 Oceanside Rd
Saturday, April 7, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Bagels & Blox – Israel’s Birthday Celebration  
Celebrate Israel’s 70th Birthday with free play, crafts, food, music and movement, stories, and bagels. Best for ages 1 – 6 accompanied by an adult; siblings welcome. RSVP requested. Free.
Temple Judea of Manhasset, 333 Searingtown Rd, Manhasset
Sunday, April 8, 9:30 – 11 a.m.

Jews Without Walls Kids Around Town Visits the Firehouse
Learn about pikuach nefesh, saving a life – one of the most important values in Judaism. We’ll talk to the firefighters, take a tour of the station, and check out the fire trucks. RSVP requested. Best for families with children ages 4-8 years.
Commack Fire Department, 6309 Jericho Turnpike, Commack
Sunday, April 8, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Mahjong Tournament
Play mahjong while raising funds to support the nursery school and children’s programming. RSVP requested.
Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, 295 Main St, East Rockaway
Tuesday, April 10, 7 – 9 p.m.

Tzedakah Sprouts
An eight-session program for families with children ages 2 – 4 years designed to instill values of diversity, compassion and justice through stories, songs, crafts, and service projects. RSVP requested.
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Drive, East Hills
Begins Saturday, April 14, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Shababa Saturday
Spend the afternoon having fun with culinary activities, games, face painting. Fun for all ages. Free. Sponsored by the Sid Jacobson JCC.
Bernice Jacobson Day School & Camp, 340 Wheatley Rd, Old Westbury
Saturday, April 14, 2:30 – 4 p.m.

Good Deeds Day
Participate in a variety of volunteer opportunities and help make the world a better place.
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Drive, East Hills
Sunday, April 15, 4 – 6 p.m.

Tot Shabbat 
A monthly Shabbat celebration for families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, with singing, dancing, a Torah parade, crafts, and dinner. RSVP requested. Free and open to all.
North Shore Synagogue, 83 Muttontown Eastwoods Rd, Syosset
Friday, April 20, 5:30 – 6:40 p.m.

Challah Making  
Braid challah and bring it home to bake in time for Shabbat. Snacks and a light dinner will be provided.  RSVP requested.
Merrick Jewish Center, 225 Fox Blvd, Merrick
Friday, April 20, 5:45 – 6:30 p.m.

Stay, Play & Pray   
Stories, crafts, music, snacks and fun for preschool children, with a parent or caregiver. RSVP requested, 516-367-6100 x 128.
Temple Chaverim, 1050 Washington Ave, Plainview
Sunday, April 22, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Mothers Day Vendor Night  
Join fellow PJ Library parents and shop for Mother’s Day.
Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, 295 Main St, East Rockaway
Tuesday, April 24, 7 – 9 p.m.

Manhattan – Downtown

Tot Shabbat 
A joyful and musical Shabbat morning experience for families with children ages 5 and under with song, dance, prayer, and stories, followed by grape juice and challah. RSVP requested. Free.
JCP Downtown, 146 Duane St
Saturday, April 7, 10 – 11 a.m.

Go Out and Play! Old-Time Games at Eldridge
Play the classic outdoor games of the old Lower East Side including stickball, stoopball, handball, hit the penny, jump rope, and jacks, followed by a trip to the local candy store. Advance registration requested.
Museum at Eldridge Street, 12 Eldridge Street
Sunday, April 8, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

IsraelFest: A Celebration of Israel’s 70th birthday  
A birthday party for Israel’s Independence Day featuring music, exploration, dancing, and art followed by a falafel dinner. Best for families with kids ages 10 & under. RSVP requested.
JCP Downtown, 146 Duane St
Thursday, April 19, 4:30 p.m – 8 p.m.

Manhattan – Midtown

Friday Shabbat Central
Welcome Shabbat with songs, prayer, movement, stories, and fun followed by a light meal. Best for families with kids ages 5 & under. Free
Central Synagogue Community House, 123 East 55 Street
Friday, April 13, 5 – 6 p.m.

Manhattan – Upper East Side

Vacation Week Art Workshop: Fantastical Storybook Collages
Explore works by artist Marc Camille Chaimowicz, and design a playful pop-up collage book that shares a family story or captures a favorite moment of the Passover story tale. Best for ages 3 – 10. Free with museum admission. RSVP requested.
The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave
Monday, April 2, Tuesday, April 3 & Thursday, April 4, 1 – 4 p.m.

Art Explorers: Gallery & Studio Activities
Explore the museum galleries with themed tours and activities, and then experiment with sculpture, painting, collage, and other media. For families with preschoolers ages 3 -4 years. $10/pp
The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave
Tuesday, April 10, 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Access Family Workshop for Visitors with Learning/Developmental Disabilities
A program for children and teens with learning or developmental disabilities and their families.
Explore the work of artist Marc Camille Chaimowicz and create art inspired by Chaimowicz’s playful style in painting, sculpture, and installation. Advance registration required. Free
The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave
Sunday, April 15, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Tot Shabbat Service & Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration
Celebrate Shabbat with music and stories and decorate your own Israeli flag in honor of Israel Independence Day. Best for families with children ages 6 and under.
Temple Shaaray Tefila, 250 East 79 St
Saturday, April 21, 9:30 – 11 a.m.

Picture This!  
A gallery program with activities, art, and a PJ Library story followed by creating original art in the art studio and a snack. The program concludes with a concert featuring The Hopalong Andrew Band. Best for children ages 4 – 10 years accompanied by an adult. $25/pp. RSVP requested. 
The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave
Sunday, April 22, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Concert: Hopalong Andrew Band
Celebrate Earth Day with Hopalong Andrew and his Americana band with their adaptations of traditional folk songs and classic country songs.
The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave
Sunday, April 22, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Manhattan – Upper West Side

Welcome Shabbat With Sha’Baby & Sha’Boker Tov
Welcome Shabbat with guitars, drums, singing, and dancing. Best for ages 4 and under and their grown-ups. Free.
Romemu, 165 West 105th St
Fridays April 6, 13, 20 & 27, 5 – 5:45 p.m.
Saturdays April 7, 14, 21 & 28, 11:15 a.m. – Noon

Passover 8th Night Celebration
A musical Kabbalat Shabbat service followed by a Passover dinner, a participatory Exodus experience presented by In[heir]itance Project, and dessert. Services are free, RSVP and payment required for dinner and the show.
The Shul of New York, 2628 Broadway
Friday, April 6, 6:30 p.m.

Pela Storytime, Songs, & Movement  
Parents and children explore Shabbat, Jewish, and American holidays and values through storytelling, song, dance, movement, and creative play. Best for ages 4 and under, drop-in. Choose from multiple days and locations. Sponsored by SAJ – Society for the Advancement of Judaism. Free.
Society for the Advancement of Judaism, 15 W 86th St
Saturday, April 7, 14, 21 & 28
Book Culture, 450 Columbus Ave
Tuesday, April 10, 17 & 24, 11 – 11:30 a.m.
St Agnes Library, 444 Amsterdam Ave
Friday, April 20, 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

PJ Challah for Hunger Community Baking Experience  
A monthly challah baking experience designed to provide a social action opportunity for the littlest of volunteers. Families braid two challahs – one to keep, and one to give away to someone in need, followed by stories and snacks. RSVP requested.
Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 7 West 83rd St
Saturday, April 14th 10 – 11 a.m.

Shabbat Family Service
Singing, dancing, and storytelling followed by an intergenerational sing-along and kiddush. Best for families with babies and school-age children. Free.
Society for the Advancement of Judaism, 15 West 86th St
Saturday, April 21, 11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Westchester

Coffee and Conversation  
Meet other parents, trade tips and ask your burning parenting questions facilitated by a social worker from Project SEED.
JCC Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Rd, Scarsdale
Thursday, April 12, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.

Bim Bam Shabbat
A monthly pre-Shabbat education and music program for toddlers, preschool-aged children, and their grownups led by the staff of Ramah Day Camp In Nyack. Singing, stories, challah, and ice cream. RSVP requested.
Penny Lick Ice Cream Company, 580 Warburton Ave, Hastings on Hudson
Friday, April 20, 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.

Unplugged Family Friday Nights  
Unplug with games, free play, pool time, live music, a PJ Library reading corner, dinner, and more. Fun for all ages. Advance registration requested.
JCC Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Rd, Scarsdale
Friday, April 27, 5 – 7 p.m.