Jewish Kids Groups Launches Accelerator Program

Atlanta-based Jewish Kids Groups (JKG) has selected seven North American synagogues to participate in the Jewish After School Accelerator (JASA) Cohort IV. With JKG’s support, these synagogues will launch new Jewish after school programs in fall 2026.

JKG began in Atlanta in 2012 and currently operates Jewish weekday afternoon programs in Brookhaven, Decatur, and Morningside for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. Following more than a decade of local success, JKG set out in 2023 to make Jewish after school programs accessible to modern families across North America through the Jewish After School Accelerator (JASA).

The newest accelerator cohort includes synagogues in Michigan, New York, Florida, California, and Toronto, reflecting growing demand for convenient, flexible options for Jewish learning.

With the addition of Cohort IV, 27 Jewish weekday afternoon programs for kids are now operating or are in development across North America thanks to JKG’s accelerator. Each program is open to the public and includes transportation from nearby schools, expanding access to Jewish education for busy families.

Throughout 2026, participating synagogues will receive expert guidance and collaborate with one another to recruit and train staff, structure transportation plans, and customize Jewish and Hebrew curriculum. Participants also receive matching grants of up to $100,000 over three years to offset start-up costs.