Gan Eden LLC

I am really obsessed about this school and cannot believe my ears about previous posts: like this person who squized our children in the elevator with her stroller and then complains how bad She treated them.
There is definitely one thing to do about this: IT says clearly not to take the elevator with strollers and security guards remind it to all at all times. So please do not take the elevator with your stroller again.
Now I am a mother of a child at Gan eden, i have done due diligence to compare all schools on the upper west side and this is the best jewish school I have found.
The food is amazing and way better than at other schools, the teachers are experienced and have diplomas. Not the same thing at all schools. The teachers are warm and the fact that the owner is the director is amazing since she is always available when we need her.
I cannot tell you how much I am happy about the education they give to my child. She has become a listener, sits when she eats, eats alone and started speaking hebrew and english when we speak only french at home. She is caring and way more gentle than she used to be when at home.
Thank you Avishag and the team at Gan eden

THIS PLACE IS A TOTAL NIGHTMARE!!!! This preschool has got to be a parent's worst nightmare. My child doesn't even go here, but he attends classes in this building and we have encountered the children going up and down in the elevator on numerous occasions. I felt it my civic duty to post after what happened this morning. First of all, they always transport the entire elevator of children on one elevator (which only holds them all if they are completely squished together with barely room to breathe) -- even though there are 2 teachers with them. And they come into the elevator even if there are other people already on. The teachers always have a bad attitude and are yelling at the children. This morning, I was in the elevator with my child in a stroller, we stopped on another floor and they came on. The elevator was WAY too small for all of us. I'm quite sure this was a code violation. The children pushed and shoved -- as children will understandably do -- especially when they are packed in tight like sardines. The teachers were yelling at them the whole time. Some of the children were shoving my 1 year old baby in the stroller. It was making me extremely uncomfortable. I was going to the first floor and couldn't wait to get off! They were going to the basement. When I arrived at the 1st floor I started to get off and they asked me if I would wait on the elevator and have it go to the basement first so they could get off first. When I told the teacher no, this elevator was unsafe and I really wanted to get off, she proceeded to tell me I was being rude and unreasonable. When I asked her the name of her school, she refused to tell me. I asked her three times and she got in my face and yelled (in front of all the children) I'M NOT TELLING YOU! Unbelievable! After I was finally able to get off the elevator, in the lobby, I informed the security guard there about what happened and he told me it was Gan Eden Preschool in the basement. I then picked up my cell phone and called the school. I felt I had to let them know how their teachers were treating their children. I was happy the Director answered the phone and I shared the story with her. TO MY HORROR, her response was that's how they always transport the children and the teacher did nothing wrong and she was fine with all of it. Furthermore, she went on to say that it was I who was in the wrong because when we got to the floor with all the children, she felt I should have gotten off the elevator so that the children could have fit in there more comfortably!!!!!! SERIOUSLY??! The previous review on this site with the specifics of why the school is so bad is not at all surprising to me. You can really sense it in the attitude and disposition of everyone involved with the place. They are all like disgruntled postal workers. How sad for these kids. I hope this places closes down soon. Spread the word!

If all you care about in a pre-school is the fact that the staff speaks Hebrew, then Gan Eden is the perfect place for your child.

On the other hand, if you care about the following things, you might want to reconsider:

High staff turnover: In the middle class, no less than five teaching assistants changed during the school year. The one member that was constant (the teacher) won't be returning next year.

Low teacher/child ratio: It is not uncommon that the whole class is left with a single teacher (that's 12-15 children with only one supervisor that is sometimes the only adult present in the school).

Inexperienced, unqualified staff: Forget all the promises you heard during touring the school (two qualified teachers + one assistant per class, for example).The school employs young, temporary staff that often does not have any teaching experience nor first-aid certification. Add this to the fact that the children are often left with only one adult and you get a recipe for disaster.

Low-quality food: Again, no sign to the promised diverse nutritious menu given during the tour. The food that is actually served is bland and repetitive (imagine eating white bread with butter substitute every morning).

Arrogant, abusive management: The school is run with an iron fist by someone who is not open to parental feedback, let alone criticism. One parent complained about the food and her child wasn't allowed to eat at the school for the remainder of the year. My child was actually expelled from school (she was 2.5 at the time) because I dared complain.

Since the school is run by the owner, when she's away (and she is) the school is left in disarray with no one "running the show." If that sounds like a scary environment to entrust your little ones, you're right.

Why are there still parents who send their children to Gan Eden? Simple - there aren't any preschools in NYC that teach in Hebrew, accept children in the middle of the year and have no waiting list.