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EarlyJ Press Release

Los Angeles-Area Jewish Early Childhood Education Gets a Big Boost with New Grants from EarlyJ

Support will launch new Jewish infant and toddler centers, expansion of existing preschools.

December 2, 2025 -- EarlyJ, which makes investments to advance the reach, quality, and impact of Jewish early childhood education (ECE), today announced new grants totaling $1 million to 13 Los-Angeles area Jewish preschools and early childhood centers. These grants will support new infant and toddler centers, and will expand programs with new classrooms.

“Investing in Jewish ECE, which supports young families at such a formative moment in their lives, is an investment in the Jewish future,” said Sharona Israeli-Roth, founding president and executive director of EarlyJ. “As young families begin to build their life routines, we want the Jewish community to welcome them in and offer the support, rituals, and friendships that add meaning for the rest of their lives.”

Research shows that Jewish ECE strengthens children’s Jewish identity and values. Involvement in a Jewish preschool is often the starting point for parents and children to become leaders and active members of the Jewish community as they get older. Jewish ECE also fosters deep communal bonds for children and parents, strong reinforcements to navigate life’s challenges–more important than ever with increased antisemitism.

“With EarlyJ’s support, we will open an additional toddler classroom and redesign our outdoor spaces to reflect the joyful, inquiry-based Jewish learning that anchors our program,” said Floryn Rosenberg, Director, Erika J Glazer Early Childhood Center. “Our toddler program is often a family’s first step into Jewish communal life. It serves as a gateway into lifelong Jewish connection and belonging. This investment expands access for families, strengthens our educators, and creates meaningful spaces where our youngest children can explore, wonder, and thrive.”

The new EarlyJ grants support Temple Beth Hillel ECE, Valley Village; Tuvia School of Temple Menorah, Redondo Beach; Temple Isaiah Preschool, Los Angeles; Beth Shir Shalom Early Childhood Center, Santa Monica; IKAR Early Childhood Center, Los Angeles; Erika J Glazer Early Childhood Center, Los Angeles; Levy Family ECC of Sephardic Temple, Los Angeles; Hillel Hebrew Academy, Beverly Hills; Tashbar Sephardic Yeshiva Ketana, Los Angeles; J Los Angeles Early Childhood Center, Los Angeles; Zlata's Little Lights, Los Angeles; Temple Akiba Early Childhood Center, Culver City; Temple Judea Early Childhood Center, Tarzana.

EarlyJ investments in Jewish ECE are driven by data and research, understanding the needs of a community, its current Jewish ECE offerings, and the number of Jewish families. Since its founding in the Bay Area, EarlyJ investments in that region have led to a nearly eight percent Jewish ECE enrollment increase, six new preschools in the Bay Area and nine parenting centers, among other investments. In both the Bay Area and Los Angeles, EarlyJ grants also support numerous professional development opportunities for educators, including seminars in Israel. Bay Area Jewish ECE educators also have access to a Master’s Degree program supported by EarlyJ at American Jewish University.

“We’re excited to deepen our support and partnerships in Los Angeles,” added Israeli-Roth. “If Jewish infant and toddler centers are not easily accessible, parents simply turn to closer non-Jewish options. Once parents start their routine and build friendships at a non-Jewish infant center, it’s very difficult to get them into a Jewish preschool later.”

The Rodan Family Foundation, Koum Family Foundation, Weingarten Foundation, and numerous other American Jewish funders, along with UnitEd/Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, support EarlyJ. Following its launch in the Bay Area and now its growth into Los Angeles, EarlyJ welcomes other philanthropies to join its mission in advancing Jewish ECE and planting the seeds for the next generation of the Jewish people.