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Local nonprofit Yaysh is bringing mothers raising Jewish children together through a unique experience designed to inspire connection, friendship, and community.

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For many mothers, life revolves around raising children, managing busy schedules, and balancing the demands of family and work. Finding time to nurture their own friendships, explore their family’s Jewish identity, or connect with their community can easily fall to the bottom of the list.

For mothers raising Jewish children in Greater Hartford, a local nonprofit called Yaysh is offering an opportunity to do just that, beginning with an extraordinary journey to Israel.

Yaysh partners with Momentum, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering mothers to strengthen themselves, their families, and their communities through Jewish values.

At the heart of the partnership is the Momentum Journey of Growth, a highly subsidized, seven-day experience in Israel followed by a year of learning, friendship, and community engagement back home.

But according to Yaysh’s volunteer leadership, the trip is only the beginning.

Finding Connection and Community

Yaysh was created around a simple idea: When mothers feel more connected to Jewish life and to one another, the entire community benefits.

The organization welcomes women from a wide range of backgrounds, particularly those who may not already feel deeply connected to Jewish organizations, traditions, or communal life.

Participants do not need extensive Jewish knowledge or a particular level of religious observance. They also do not need to be Jewish themselves. The program welcomes mothers who are raising Jewish children and are interested in exploring and strengthening the role Judaism plays in their family’s life.

What matters most is curiosity, openness, and a willingness to grow.

Women begin their experience by getting to know a small group of fellow mothers from the Greater Hartford area. Together, they travel to Israel, joining women from around the world for a week filled with exploration, inspiring speakers, meaningful conversations, and opportunities for personal reflection.

Along the way, they develop friendships and discover new ways to connect Jewish values to their everyday lives.

The Journey Continues at Home

What makes the Yaysh experience particularly meaningful is what happens after the women return.

Throughout the following year, participants continue meeting locally to learn together, explore Jewish traditions and values, strengthen their friendships, and discover opportunities to become more involved in the community.

For some, that might mean celebrating Jewish holidays more meaningfully with their families. For others, it might mean attending community events, volunteering, or becoming involved in local Jewish organizations.

And for many, one of the most lasting gifts is simply finding a circle of women with whom they share a meaningful connection.

Yaysh’s mission is to “Bring Jewish Alive” by helping women discover what Jewish life and community can mean to them and their families, in ways that feel authentic and personally meaningful.

A New Opportunity for Local Moms

Yaysh is now recruiting its next group of mothers for a Momentum Journey of Growth to Israel, scheduled for July 5-11, 2027.

The program is open to mothers raising Jewish children under the age of 18 in their homes. Participants themselves do not need to be Jewish.

They also do not need to belong to a synagogue or have a strong background in Jewish education or observance. They simply need to be interested in exploring Jewish life, building relationships, and participating in the full Journey of Growth.

The experience is highly subsidized through the generosity of Momentum, Yaysh, and their supporters.

For mothers who have been looking for a way to connect more deeply with their family’s Jewish identity, make new friends, or become part of a welcoming local community, this may be an opportunity worth exploring.

To learn more about Yaysh and the July 2027 Momentum Journey of Growth, visit yayshorg.com or contact [email protected]. Applications due Dec. 1, 2026.

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