Michelle was devastated to hear that another Jewish nursery was closing. “I just felt that this can't happen,” she said. “We need Jewish nursery schools. They can’t just die – we have to make sure they continue.”
Rachel Brahams, who is delighted that the nursery at Muswell Hill Synagogue will remain open for her son (Photo: Rachel Brahams)[Missing Credit]
Rachel, whose four-year-old son Rafi attended Yeladenu for two years, and whose three older stepchildren also attended, had planned for her 11-month-old baby to have the same experience as his big brother.
“I absolutely love it,” she said. “It's a really magical place that Helen created. When we found out it was closing, I and a number of parents were absolutely devastated. Yeladenu is a small piece of heaven for children.
"The staff are amazing and know and understand and love the children. They've got an incredible vision, are very child-centred, skilled and compassionate. They support children emotionally and academically. It’s very nurturing and creative and fosters independence. I feel very lucky we went there.”
Rachel, who has a background in PR and journalism, said that while her son attended another nursery before, at Yeladenu he “skips in every day”. “I feel really passionate about saving it. We appreciate all that management and staff have achieved and want to carry on their ideas and ethos but to modernise the nursery for the current working parent by offering longer hours and by taking babies from nine months.”
Michelle, from Borehamwood, who is a professional childminder with years of experience and has four children and grandchildren, called Yeladenu “your typical old-fashioned Jewish nursery – how I remember it 20 years ago when I sent my children. It has a lot of traditional aspects to it and embraces all the things that a Jewish nursery should embrace.”
Michelle Levene will be the head of the nursery, which will open as Gan on the Hill in September (Photoe: Michelle Levene)[Missing Credit]
She is working to ensure that they retain the qualities that made Yeladenu special, including activities such as weekly Shabbat parties and visits to a Jewish Care home.
“That's just gorgeous and that is what Judaism is all about, giving charity. What's really important when we move in is that we don't remove any of those traditions. Hopefully, we’re going to continue all the good that Yeladenu does.”
To accommodate families moving from Israel to the Muswell Hill neighbourhood, they are hoping to take on at least one Israeli teacher, to help them to integrate.
Michelle said: “The benchmarks that we're moving are the smaller practicalities – but without losing what they have, which is definitely very special. It should mean that Yeladenu will carry on as Gan on the Hill for many years to come and continue to support the community.”
