Mazel! New Birthing Class Offered for Expectant Jewish Parents

The Jewish Baby Network is offering a Jewish Birth Preparation Class for expectant parents -- with a focus on Jewish rituals and traditions around birth and babies. 

The $200 class will run for six consecutive Wednesday, beginning Jan. 8, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Parents Place in Palo Alto.

The class will cover lessons traditionally taught by local hospitals and birthing centers -- but with a Jewish twist.

To register, visit http://conta.cc/Hbt2bb. 

Speakers at the class will include:

• Stephanie Freeman, certified Birthing from Within instructor;
• Rabbi Janet Marder, senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills;
  
• Rabbi David Booth, senior Rabbi at Congregation Kol Emeth in Palo Alto;
  
• Dr. Debra Weiss-Ishai, Mohel and Board-Certified Pediatrician;
  
• Dr. Erica Rosen, Anesthesiologist
  
• Dr. Bruce Feldstein, Jewish Chaplain at Stanford Hospital;
  
• Elizabeth Eastman, LCSW
  
• Cherie Tannenbaum, Nurse Practitioner, Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, Parent Educator. 

Jewish Baby Network was launched three months ago to connect families to each other and the larger Jewish community, and to provide resources and education on how bringing Judaism into a new family’s life. To date, more 80 families have joined. 

“The response from the community has been overwhelming,” said program director Jen Wolosin. “With so many new parents in the area without extended family nearby, new moms and dad are craving a support system and the Jewish Baby Network is filling this need.”  

For families with children, the network offers playgroups and "Shalom Baby Bags" -- complimentary and filled with tools for families to use to help incorporate Jewish rituals and traditions into a baby's life. 

The Jewish Baby Network is funded through a grant from the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund awarded to Congregation Kol Emeth of Palo Alto and Congregation Beth Am of Los Altos Hills. 

For more information, contact Wolosin at jen@jewishbabynetwork.org, or visit www.jewishbabynetwork.org.