Shabbat ShaMorning with Shira Kline and Ellen Allard, followed by An ECE Shabbat Experience Conversation
Join ShirLaLa and Ellen Allard, in the Shabbat ShaMorning Garden for the best wiggle giggle love fest in town. With a Storahtelling specially designed for the ECE-RJ, in this week’s Torah portion B’Shalach, the Children of Israel cross the Sea of Reeds for the original listening, learning, and action toward the collective liberation of all. Described by parents as “human, touching, magical, kind and loving,” this Covid relief program for homebound families has been unexpectedly nourishing for everyone involved. The Shabbat ShaMorning model is aptly a practice for both our very youngest and for ourselves. It is a practice of rest and renewal, safety and tender care. Come for the imaginative prayerful play, stay for the Sabbath bliss. As featured on NPR.
**All are invited for a short talk-back with Ellen and Shira after Shabbat ShaMorning, to unpack ideas, ask questions and share wisdoms of the ins and outs of the early childhood Shabbat experience.
Speakers
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Shira KlineArtist in ResidenceShira Kline is an internationally acclaimed queer performance and ritual artist, recognized as a revolutionary educator and named one of the new re-engineers of Jewish life today. Known on the kiddie-rock stage as ShirLaLa and in the sanctuary as a spiritual adventurist, she is a weaver of sacred story and song. She tours extensively locally and globally with a vibrant invitation to audiences of all ages to connect for a new and realized-conscious world. As a consultant and educator, she offers a range of professional development courses in creative spirituality. Shira received the 2024 Covenant Foundation Award for her profound impact on the field of Jewish Education. She is co-founder and Spiritual Leader of Lab/Shul NYC and she grew up right here in the ECE-RJ.
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Ellen Allard (she/her)
Ellen Allard, multi-award-winning Recording Artist, Performer, Music Educator, Composer, and Success Coach, is one of the most sought after performers in Jewish music. With a strong commitment to nurturing community through music, Ellen has a unique, charismatic, charming, and heartwarming way of inviting audiences to join in playful singing, whether she is performing a concert, presenting a workshop, or conducting her interactive, engaging worship services for young children through senior citizens.
Traveling throughout the US and abroad, Ellen has been performing and teaching music to young children, adults and families for over 40 years. Her catalog includes 14 CDs and 7 songbooks; her repertoire of over 350 songs are considered the gold standard when it comes to engaging and empowering people to strengthen their Jewish identities and have been published by fellow singer-songwriters on 31 recordings and 11 songbooks. Ellen’s songs are sung in schools, synagogues and summer camps worldwide, and are part of the curriculum at Hebrew Union College, Hebrew College, Jewish Theological Seminary and Aleph. In addition to teaching music classes and presenting workshops and keynotes on the importance of music in the lives of young children, Ellen is a regular faculty member and presenter at Hava Nashira, Song Leader Boot Camp, NewCAJE, and the Hebrew College Early Childhood Conference; she has been privileged to regularly present workshops, lead family worship, and perform on the Jewish Rock Radio stage at the URJ Biennial. She is a cantorial soloist at Mishkan Tefila in Brookline, MA.
Ellen holds a BA in music from Boston University and a master’s degree in early childhood education from Arcadia University. Ellen is also certified as a holistic health coach, baby/toddler yoga teacher, Kidding Around Yoga and Yoga Yeladim teacher and Rhythm ’n’ Ruach teacher. She lives in Boston, MA and has two daughters and sons-in-law who have blessed her with six grandchildren and two rambunctious grand-dogs. If asked, she will extoll the virtues of eating dark chocolate daily.
