A new Jewish Sunday school is taking shape in St. Louis, and it may be exactly what many families have been looking for without knowing it, especially the ones who never saw themselves in a synagogue or Hebrew school setting. The Jewish Family Experience, or JFE, launches in January as a program of the Jewish Student Union in St. Louis that works with teens across public and private schools. It was created for families who want a Jewish connection but have not found a comfortable way in.
Rabbi Mike Rovinsky, JSU’s executive director, said the need has been clear for years.
“Families are actively seeking welcoming, engaging and accessible Jewish pathways that spark curiosity, joy and lifelong commitment,” said Rovinsky. “If you want to help kids build a real connection to Jewish life, you have to start when they are young. The earlier that connection forms, the deeper it becomes.”
According to the 2024 Greater St. Louis Jewish Community Study, conducted by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 50% of local Jewish youth receive no Jewish education, 54% have not had a bar or bat mitzvah and 64% of families are not affiliated with a congregation. JFE is meant to meet those families where they are and offer Jewish learning that feels accessible rather than intimidating.
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How the J fits in
The J has joined JSU as a community collaborator on the new program, helping JFE connect with families who engage with Jewish life in different ways but do not have a synagogue home. Rabbi Brad Horwitz, director of Jewish engagement at the J, said the partnership reflects a shared mission. “At the J, we see it as our mission to reach and engage Jews of all backgrounds and levels of connection. The Jewish Student Union’s new Jewish Family Experience beautifully aligns with that vision. It creates a welcoming and accessible space for families who may not yet have found their place in the Jewish community.”
Jennifer Baer, MSW, director of PJ Library and another collaborator on the project, echoed that message. “Rooted in the same values as PJ Library, the Jewish Family Experience opens its doors wide to families of all backgrounds, creating a meaningful, whole-family journey grounded in the diversity of Jewish life in our community,” said Baer.
Educational director Zelda Tendler oversees JFE’s curriculum and instructional approach, bringing a deep background in Jewish experiential education to the program.
JFE is modeled after a long-running program in Chicago, where parents and kids learn in the same building on Sunday mornings. Kids go to class. Parents stay for breakfast, adult learning and conversation. A parent from the Chicago program said, “My kids come home every week excited to share what they have learned. And I get to learn too. It makes Judaism something our whole family looks forward to together.”
The program is independent and movement neutral. Tuition covers school itself. There are no membership fees. Lessons blend Hebrew and Jewish studies and rely on hands-on learning that aims to feel relevant and welcoming to children and adults.
Why now?
The findings of the 2024 community study made the timing hard to ignore. Families want opportunities for Jewish learning but run into barriers that include cost, scheduling and negative associations from their own childhood Hebrew school experiences.
“Parents told us they were looking for something accessible that inspires their kids and gives them something meaningful too. They want experiential learning and they want to learn alongside their children,” said Rovinsky.
That structure became a defining feature of JFE. Children have their own classes while parents gather for breakfast and learning down the hall, modeling the idea that Jewish learning is something families do together rather than something kids are sent to alone.
Support for JFE has come from multiple parts of the community. Conservative rabbis have endorsed the new program, and several Reform leaders have expressed support as well. Rovinsky said the collaboration speaks to a shared priority. “We are not trying to take anyone away from anything. We are about Jewish engagement. Rabbis across the community recognize the need for families to have more than one way into Jewish life.”
A different bar and bat mitzvah path
For families without a congregational home, a bar or bat mitzvah can feel out of reach. JFE offers individualized tutoring and ceremony design that reflects each child’s interests and comfort level. Families can include Torah reading, Jewish texts, music or blessings that feel personal. Rovinsky said the goal is to make the experience feel like a beginning rather than an endpoint. “We want every child to feel that their bar or bat mitzvah is the start of their Jewish journey, not the end of it,” he said.
He said the program also reflects a broader commitment to access. “Every Jewish child deserves a meaningful bar or bat mitzvah,” Rovinsky said. “It should not depend on where their family belongs or what their background is.” He added that the flexible structure helps families create a milestone that is both traditional and personal. “We guide them, but we also give them room to create a ceremony that feels authentic for their family.”
A long runway
Once students finish eighth grade, it’s hoped they move naturally into the world JSU already knows well. JSU clubs, holiday programs and Israel experiences reach hundreds of teens each year across public and private schools. Rovinsky said JFE is designed to build that bridge. “When kids start young and feel connected, they are much more likely to stay engaged through their teen years,” he said.
Chicago has seen this pattern for years, with many JFE graduates joining JSU clubs and taking on leadership roles. St. Louis expects the same.
“When a child feels proud of being Jewish, when they feel part of something bigger, they carry that into high school, into Israel trips, into youth groups and leadership programs. It changes the trajectory of their Jewish life,” said Rovinsky.
A quick note on the JSU Gala
JFE’s launch will be highlighted at the JSU Gala on Dec. 7 at The Factory. The event will honor Lauren and Kyle Kerner, Stephanie and Geoff Gross and Maurie and Rich Axelbaum. The evening will also pay tribute to the memory of Selina Rovinsky and mark the beginning of this new chapter in JSU’s work with families. For more information about JSU, visit them online or for more information about the Gala or the JFE program.
