Hard as it may seem to believe, there comes a time when your child is going to take that first step, roll, or crawl out of the nest and into an organized program with other children. Whether you are looking for daycare, full-day preschool, half-day preschool, or something in between, the choices can be downright dizzying. The JUF Right Start™ program was designed to lend a helping hand during this process.
JUF Right Start works to create awareness and access to Jewish preschools and day cares for Chicagoland families—including a financial incentive of up to $2,000 for the first child in a family to attend a qualifying Jewish program as well as a $500 voucher for Siblings their first time in a program. For further details and eligibility requirements, click here.
To help you get started on your search, we’ve rounded up a list of Jewish preschools and early childhood centers in the Chicagoland area.
Buffalo Grove
JCYS Northwest Family Center
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs.
Hours: 6:45 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available
Torah Academy of Buffalo Grove
Affliation: Orthodox
Ages: Toddlers – 7th grade
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available
Chicago – Hyde Park
Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Format: 5 days/week, half day & full day available
Chicago – Lakeview
JCYS Michael R. Lutz Family Center
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 15 mos. – 5 days/week, half day & full day available
Note: JCYS will be opening an additional location in Wicker Park in Fall 2016
Florence G. Heller JCC
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, full day available only for 5 days/week
Gan Shalom Early Childhood Education Center @ Temple Sholom
Affiliation: Reform
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 5 days/week, half day & full day available, extended day available
Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 3 yrs. – 8th grade
Hours: half day & full day options available for early childhood
Format: 5 days/week, half day
Chicago Jewish Day School
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 4 years
Hours: 8:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., extended day option available
Format: 5 days/week, half day
Note: CJDS will be moving to California and Irving Park in 2016
Chicago – Lincoln Park
Moadon Kol Chadash/Gan Gani
Affiliation: Community School/Hebrew Immersion
Ages: 18 mos.– 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day, early drop-off and extended day available
Chicago – West Rogers Park
Bernard Horwich JCC
Affiliation: Community School/Orthodox
Ages: 2 -5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., some extended care available
Format: 5 days/week, half day
Joan Dachs Bais Yacov
Affiliation: Community School/Orthodox
Ages 4 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. M-F, 8:30 a.m. – Noon
Format: 5 days/week
Yeshivas Ohr Boruch (no website)
Affiliation: Community School/Orthodox
Ages: 4 yrs.
Chicago – Gold Coast
Sinai Preschool
Affiliation: Community School/Reform
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9 – 11:45 a.m., 1:15 – 4 p.m. (4’s)
Format: 2 -5 days/week, half day
Deerfield
Moriah Congregation Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Conservative
Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs
Hours: 9 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. (half day), 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (full day)
Format: 2 – 5 days/week
Beth Tikvah Congregation Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Community/Conservative
Ages 2-4 yrs.
Hours 9:15 a.m. – Noon
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day
Congregation B’nai Joshua Beth Elohim Early Childhood Center at the Chava Center
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2-4 yrs.
Hours 9: a.m. – Noon
Format: 2 – 5 days, half day
BJE B’nai Tikvah Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Community School/Conservative
Ages: 2 -5 days
Hours: 9 a.m. – Noon, extended day option available
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available
Evanston
Beth Emet Synagogue Early Childhood Program
Affiliation: Reform
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Community School/Reconstructionist
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – Noon, early drop-off & extended care available
Format: 2 – 5 days/week
Glencoe
JCC Preschool at Congregation Am Shalom
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 20 mos. – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:15 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day
Highland Park
JCYS George W. Lutz Family Center
Affiliation: Community School
Ages:2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full-day available
Children’s Center Preschool at Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism
Affiliation: Community School/Reform
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day
Paul S. & Sylvia Steinberg Preschool at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El
Affiliation: Community School/Conservative
Ages: 17 mos.– 5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day
Hoffman Estates
Beth Tikvah Congregation Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Reform
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:15 a.m. – Noon, S,M,W & F lunch bunch and enrichment available until 1:30 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day
Lake Zurich
Lake County JCC Early Childhood
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 6 wks. – 6 yrs.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full-day & kindergarten available
Naperville
Congregation Beth Shalom Early Learning Center
Religious Affiliation:Reform
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day
Northbrook
Bernard Weinger JCC
Affiliation: Community
Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available
BJE Early Childhood Center at Temple Beth El
Affiliation: Community/Reform
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – Noon, extended care available
Format: 2 – 5 days week, half day
JCC Preschool at Z Frank Apachi
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2-5 yrs
Hours: 9:15 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day
Oak Park
Glasser Preschool at Oak Park Temple
Affiliation: Community/Reform
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. or Noon – 2:30 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day
River Forest
West Suburban Temple Har Zion Early Childhood Program
Affiliation: Community
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., early drop-off & extended day available until 6 p.m.
Format:2 -5 days/week, half day
Skokie
Mayer Kaplan JCC
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day & full-day available
Ginsburg Solomon Schechter Day School Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Conservative
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day& full-day available
Arie Crown Hebrew Day School
Affiliation: Community/Orthodox
Ages: 3 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., early drop-off & extended day available
Format: 5 days/week, half day
Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School
Affiliation: Community/Orthodox
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: Half-day, early drop-off & extended care available
Format: 5 days/week, half-day
Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School
Affiliation: Community/Orthodox
Ages: 3 -4 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., early drop-off & extended care available
Format: 5 days/week, half-day
Mrs. Posner’s Preschool
Affiliation: Community/Orthodox
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day, extended care available
Shaarei Chinuch Day School
Affiliation: Orthodox
Ages: 3 – 6 years
Hours: 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available
Wicker Park
JCYS Michael R. Lutz Family Center – Wicker Park
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 15 mos. – 5 yrs.
Hours: 6:45 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available
Wilmette
BJE Early Childhood Center at Congregation Beth Hill B’nai Emunah
Affiliation: Community/Conservative
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – Noon (half day), 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (full day)
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available, early drop-off & extended care available
Still wondering if Jewish preschool is the right fit for your family? Check out these perspectives from fellow Kveller parents:
What is it About Jewish Preschool?
Feeling at Home in Jewish Preschool
The Non-Jewish Mom Prepares for Jewish Preschool
Please note that this article was compiled with the most current information available. Please confirm hours, days, and format with each individual preschool. If you are a local preschool and would like to update your information, please contact chicago@kveller.com. Thank you!
