Sha’boker: A Romemu Tot Shabbat
Sha’boker is Romemu’s joyful Tot Shabbat experience for children ages 5 and under and their grownups, led by Hazzan Shimon Smith, Romemu’s Music Director and Youth and Family Director.
Rooted in Romemu’s open-hearted, musical, and deeply embodied approach to Jewish life, Sha’boker invites our youngest community members into Shabbat through singing, movement, prayer, storytelling, and play.
It’s a warm, welcoming space where little ones can wiggle, dance, explore, and begin building a relationship with Jewish ritual and community, while their grownups connect with one another and experience Shabbat alongside them.
No prior experience is needed. Just come as you are and join us for a lively, meaningful Shabbat morning together.
2026–27 Dates & Registration
Saturdays at 11 AM
October 17 – REGISTER HERE
October 31 – Registration link available soon
November 7 – Registration link available soon
November 21 – Registration link available soon
December 5 – Chanukah Party – Registration link available soon
December 19 – Registration link available soon
January 2 – Registration link available soon
January 16 – Registration link available soon
January 30 – Registration link available soon
February 13 – Registration link available soon
February 20 – Registration link available soon
March 6 – Registration link available soon
March 20 – Purim Celebration – Registration link available soon
April 3 – Registration link available soon
April 24 – Registration link available soon
May 8 – Registration link available soon
May 29 – Registration link available soon
June 5 – Registration link available soon
June 26 – Registration link available soon
Schedule
11:00 – Arrival and schmooze
11:15 – Sha’boker: singing, blessings, stories, movement and a Torah reading
12:15 – Family blessing in the sanctuary, and a light kiddush (bagels, fruit and more)
What to Bring
You don’t have to bring anything – we ask that you try not to snack during the service itself.
What to Expect
Sha’boker is meant to be participatory, joyful, and relaxed. Expect music, movement, dancing, blessings, stories, snacks, and a Torah moment, all designed with little ones in mind.
We encourage grownups to join in, sing, move, and participate alongside their children. The more the adults engage, the more fun and meaningful the experience becomes for everyone.
We do use musical instruments as part of our Shabbat celebration, but we encourage families to put phones and other personal electronics away during Sha’boker whenever possible. We hope this can be a small pocket of the week to be fully present with one another.
And when it comes to what to wear, nothing fancy is required. We simply encourage families to dress intentionally for Shabbat, in whatever way feels meaningful and comfortable for your family.
Cost
Sha’boker is completely free, and you do not need to be a Romemu member to participate!
We do encourage families who enjoy our services at Romemu to consider joining as family members and becoming part of the broader community. And if you’d like to help us keep joyful, accessible Youth and Family programming like Sha’boker going, donations are always deeply appreciated.
Where
HI NYC Hostel, 891 Amsterdam Ave, unless otherwise noted.
We will be in the Yoga Room – stroller accessible – and clear signage will be there.
Join the WhatsApp Group
Updates, reminders and any location changes go out in the Romemu Early Childhood / Sha’boker WhatsApp group. Please email youthandfamily@romemu.org to join our group.
Our Hopes
We know families on the Upper West Side have many wonderful choices for Jewish life, and we’re grateful whenever a family chooses to spend Shabbat with us.
We believe Shabbat can be such a special time in the week: a chance to slow down, be together, sing, connect, and experience something different from the rhythm of the rest of our days.
Our hope is that, over time, children and grownups will come to see what makes Romemu special: the music, the openness, the joy, the depth, and the sense of community. We hope Sha’boker can be one doorway into a Jewish life that feels meaningful, alive, and welcoming, and that families will keep finding reasons to return and grow with us.
Questions?
Please email youthandfamily@romemu.org