Children and youth in the Israelite community
Regular activities for children and young people are part of our community's everyday life: skating together, bowling, games in the city, visits to events and much more. On the Jewish holidays, the community's youth alliances organize special activities for all Jewish children and young people.
Are you interested in the youth activities or youth alliances? Our youth leader Raz Dagan is happy to help you.
Our youth alliances
Emuna
Emuna Basel is the successor of the liberal-Zionist youth association Blau-Weiss, which was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. Today it has about 30 active members. The Youth League organizes leisure activities and joint vacations for young people from the Basel area. An integral part of the program is Judaism and Jewish identity.
Emuna Basel holds a summer machane in the first week of summer vacation; and in winter – together with Hagoschrim Zurich and Dubim Bern – a winter machane. The fellowships that develop in these camps are nurtured throughout the year through regular meetings.
Bne Akiwa
The youth association Bne Akiwa is a religious-Zionist youth association with a variety of offers. The motto of the association is: “Tora WeAwoda” (Torah and work). This expresses the ideal of Bne Akiwa: Religiousness united with righteous work.
Every Shabbat afternoon, the children and youth (Chanichim) meet with their caregivers (Madrichim) and experience two entertaining hours dedicated to our Jewish values.
Together they also organize events for the entire community, such as learning the Ten Commandments on Sukkot or reading the weekly Torah passage (Divrei Torah) for Parshat HaShavua every Friday evening.
The Bne Akiwa Basel is part of the worldwide network, the Bne Akiwa Olami and together with the Zurich group forms the Bne Akiwa Switzerland.
Jewish religious education
The Israelite Community of Basel offers religious education, Bat/Bar Mitzvah classes, and Hebrew language classes to all children with a Jewish parent from the first year of kindergarten through twelfth grade.
By learning about history, the meaning of holidays, traditions and laws, children and teens strengthen their Jewish identity and their connection to Judaism and Israel. Holiday programs and other course-related events, as well as trips to centers of European Jewish history, foster a sense of belonging among students and allow them to actively experience Judaism.
Religious education classes are open to all children and teens with a Jewish parent. Children of parents who are not members of the congregation can also participate in the classes (1980 CHF/school year).
If you have any questions, please contact our Reli team at reli@igb.ch.
Care and educational facilities on our premises
From the 6th month until the completion of the 4th year of elementary school, children can be cared for and attend school on our premises.
Ganon "Steven Karger"
The Jewish day nursery Ganon Basel addresses all Jewish children in Basel and the surrounding area and cares for them from the age of 6 months until the age of 4 before they move on to kindergarten.
Further information can be found at www.ganon.ch.
Contact: ganon@ganon.ch
Jewish Kindergarten "Marcus Cohn"
The Marcus Cohn Jewish Kindergarten has been located on the premises of the IGB since 1959. It is based on the values of traditional Judaism and maintains a positive relationship with the State of Israel. There are two age groups and all children with at least one Jewish parent are welcome.
The kindergarten is state-approved and is open to children who have reached the age of four by July 31 of the school year in question. In addition to the state curriculum, the Marcus Cohn Kindergarten teaches Jewish curriculum, practiced Judaism and Jewish lifestyle.
The pre-kindergarten group accepts children from the age of three. Upon request, there may be an additional opportunity for admission in January of the current school year. In both groups, the children are supported and encouraged in all areas according to their level. Girls and boys have equal rights.
Contact: Patrick Businger, businger@hotmail.com
"Leo Adler" Jewish Primary School
The Jewish Primary School was founded in 1961 by the then Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Basel, Leo Adler, as a unified school. Its goal is to enable all children of the community to learn and deepen their Jewish knowledge in addition to a thorough secular education.
Instruction is provided across classes and incorporates current pedagogical findings. Thus, a daily structure was introduced that provides the children with a fulfilling framework in the community and creates space for joint activities and social experiences.
