Esther Elfenbaum, M.A.
Director of Early Childhood Education Services

eelfenbaum@bjela.org
(323) 761-8617

Esther Elfenbaum has been at the BJE for 30 years, having previously served as an ECE Director and Founder of the first Jewish preschool in Sacramento, elementary school teacher and researcher for the Department of Education.

Esther Elfenbaum, a specialist in curriculum instruction, obtained a certificate of Endorsement from the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation and has visited Reggio Emilia, Italy thrice to study their unique approach to early childhood education.

Over the past 20 years, Esther has taught Curriculum Development and Classroom Management at Hebrew Union College and UCLA.

For the last 8 years, she has also taught a class for the BJE on “Bringing the Reggio-Inspired Approach into the Jewish ECE Classroom.”

Other activities include Past President of the National Jewish Early Childhood Network, a member of the Curriculum Committee for First 5 L.A. in planning of L.A. Universal Pre-School. Presently, a curriculum booklet on teaching “Israel Through the Seven Species” is being developed with a colleague from Israel and a group of teachers who went on a study tour.

As the Director of ECE Services, Esther plans and coordinates an annual conference for over 900 early childhood educators.