Every fall, early childhood teachers and directors from across Metro Detroit close their classroom doors for one day and gather together to learn, recharge and reconnect at the Annual Early Childhood Education (ECE) Event, hosted by the Collective, part of the Jewish Federation of Detroit’s Planning and Agency Relations department. It’s one of the only times all centers come together under one roof, united as professionals with the critical role of not only shaping a child’s development but also supporting their entry to Jewish life.
This year’s conference on November 20 brought nearly 240 educators to Temple Israel for a full slate of learning. Teachers participated in a variety of workshops, from bringing Jewish rituals and traditions into the classroom to building relationships with parents and supporting inclusion strategies and hands-on nature learning. Local and national partners— including Adamah Detroit, Aish, Adat Shalom, American Jewish University, Jewish Family Service and Partners Detroit —led sessions grounded in the realities educators face every day. The keynote speaker, Jonathan Shmidt Chapman, invited educators to imagine their classrooms as spaces of wonder, weaving Jewish stories, storytelling and play into everyday learning—an invitation teachers carried into breakouts and conversations throughout the event.
A powerful moment of the day came during the closing session led by Opening the Doors, which for decades has helped ensure children with disabilities and diverse learning needs can fully participate in Jewish education. They shared tools, stories and a vision of what truly inclusive early childhood classrooms can look like. For many educators, it was a reminder that inclusion isn’t an add-on, it’s a core value of our community.
While the conference lasts only a day, the work behind it continues all year. Through The Collective, directors meet regularly to exchange ideas, troubleshoot challenges, explore trends in early childhood and dream about what Jewish ECE could look like in the years ahead. Teachers participate in workshops and learning communities that strengthen their practice and deepen relationships across centers. These connections matter: they create a shared standard of excellence across our schools and ensure educators are supported.
This focus on early childhood reflects a simple yet powerful belief: when we invest in young children, we’re investing in their families and in our mission to build a vibrant Jewish life across metro Detroit.
Jewish early childhood centers are often where parents first meet other families, where holidays become hands-on experiences, where children learn to love being part of a community. They are one of the most important entry points we have—and the educators who lead them shape far more than a school day.
The Annual ECE Conference, sponsored by the Hermelin Davidson Center for Congregational Excellence, is a celebration of that work. It honors the teachers and directors who nurture our youngest learners and reminds us how essential they are to the strength and vibrancy of Jewish Detroit.
