About Us

We partner with educators and organizations to bring Jewish tradition to life through theater and play.

Our programs transform Jewish discovery into joyful theatrical adventures for children and their grownups. Our ready-to-go products and experiences are designed for immediate use in your classroom and family programming. Through our professional development workshops, your team will gain practical tools and creative approaches to infuse Jewish learning with creativity, joy, and wonder.

Our Story

K’ilu Founder Jonathan Shmidt Chapman brings an extensive background in sensory theater for children and arts-based family engagement to the world of Jewish education. When he became a parent, a big “lightbulb moment” happened as he started introducing his son to Jewish tradition: What would happen if we connected the dots between the worlds of sensory theater and Jewish early childhood education? That curiosity became a calling, leading to the creation of several projects that have reached thousands of families, synagogues, and schools across the country.

Jonathan founded The K’ilu Company to bring Jewish education and family engagement to life at-home, in school, and live in community. We collaborate with a team of incredible artists, educators, and designers to create transformative tools and experiences that can be used by educators nationwide.

Our Vision

The Passover tradition teaches us to experience the holiday "...k'ilu hu yatza mimitzrayim"—as if we personally went out from Egypt. This powerful approach of not just telling, but fully experiencing Jewish stories and traditions, forms the foundation of our work with your community.

Our methodology is built on three key principles that support your educational mission:

  • Jewish early childhood education creates lasting impact. Research confirms that meaningful early childhood Jewish experiences provide children and their families with a vital foundation for ongoing Jewish engagement. Your investment in early childhood programming shapes Jewish journeys.

  • Theater-based learning delivers proven educational outcomes. When you incorporate theatrical play into early childhood programs, you cultivate essential developmental skills: empathy, curiosity, self-expression, memory-making, and social bonding.

  • Immersive experiences make tradition relevant and memorable. By enabling children to imagine themselves within Jewish stories and experience them through multiple senses, you help them develop personal connections to tradition that last a lifetime.