Yaldaynu Preschool

Established in 1982, Yaldaynu is one of the oldest Jewish preschools on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The school’s mission is to provide a warm, nurturing environment for children, which encourages intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth.  Parents are very involved in this process at Yaldaynu, a child and family-centered neighborhood school, where friendships between families continue long after children have moved on.

The choice of the Hebrew word ילדינו (“our children”) reflects the school’s philosophy: to cultivate a Jewish identity and Jewish values in a relaxed, developmentally appropriate way. Children are introduced to Shabbat and the Jewish holidays, and Israel through art, music, stories, and cooking.  They also gain a sense of community and Jewish heritage when the school brings families together to celebrate the holidays.

Religious practice among Yaldaynu families mirrors the pluralism of the Upper West Side’s Jewish community. Families of all levels of observance are welcome at Yaldaynu.