We are a Secular Humanistic community serving those who identify with the Jewish People through family, culture and history, rather than through religion. Serving the Greater East Bay with holiday celebrations, opportunities to express your progressive social values, and education for children, adults and families. We are affiliated with the Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations. Please view the Upcoming Events link for a look at future activities. We look forward to seeing you!
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Tu B’Shevat
A Livermore Area Recreation and Parks District Ranger will join us again this year for an exciting program about native trees and the animals that depend on them. In addition, to honor greening efforts in the Bay Area, children will take home pre-planted native oak tree seedlings, and receive instruction on their care and feeding and when and where to plant them. Following these activities will be a yummy pot-luck lunch, accompanied by music and singing. Please bring a dish to share. Since we have members who are dairy- and/or gluten-free, please bring a card with your dish that lists the ingredients. In keeping with this holiday tradition, you are encouraged to include one or more of the following ingredients: Dates, Figs, Oranges, Almonds,Raisins, Olives, Carob.
Date: February 9
Time: 10:15 – 1:00
Venue: Bothwell Arts Center. 2466 8th Street, Livermore
Cost: $10 per non-member adult
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews @ Light Up the Season Sing-Along
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Sukkot
Please join us for our annual Sukkot celebration. We will build a sukkah and enjoy a potluck brunch to celebrate our harvest holiday. We will have activities for children and adults. Please bring a dish to share (we have members with allergies, so please label ingredients), a branch for the roof of the sukkah, and a piece of fruit or gourd to hang. If you have one, also bring your hammer and/or power drill so you can pitch in and help build our sukkah!
Date: October 13th, 2019
Time: 10:30a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Place: Poxon-Hudson Home, 2383 Lancaster Court, Hayward, CA 94542
Cost: FREE for all members. $10.00 for each non member adult (13 and over)
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Yom Kippur
Join Tri-Valley Cultural Jews for a secular, humanistic observance of Yom Kippur. We will be holding a Kol Nidre service on Tues October 8, 2019 from 7:00 to 8:30pm at the Bothwell Arts Center, 2466 8th Street, Livermore CA. This will be a program of readings in English, with discussion and music. It is a child friendly, but not child-centered, event. Free to members; $20 for non-member adults. To RSVP and for more information: (925) 485-1049
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Rosh Hashanah
Join Tri-Valley Cultural Jews for Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish New Year, on September 29, 2019 from 4:30 – 8:00pm at the Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore (2466 8th Street, Livermore CA). We will start with Tashlich (4:30pm), a walk to the nearby creek to symbolically wash away our misdeeds of the past year. Then we will have a potluck dinner (5:30pm) followed by a secular humanistic Rosh Hashanah observance (7:00-8:00pm). This is a child friendly, but not child-centered, event. Free to members; $20 per non-member adult. To RSVP and for more information: (925) 485-1049
Jewish Culture School video by Rebecca
Jewish Culture School
The school-wide curriculum for the 2019-2020 (Jewish year 5780) will be “Jewish Ideas.” We’ll cover topics like Jewish views of Justice, Learning, Family, Being a Mensch, Israel or Diaspora and the Jewish Community. Our first session will be on September 8th from 10:30-12:30 at Aran’s Art Studio in Castro Valley.
Come learn about the fun ways we teach Jewish Culture in a hands-on and engaging way! We enjoy singing, dancing, and cooking in a Secular Humanistic Jewish environment. Students who attend this first day will paint mezuzahs and hear stories. Enrolled students paint for free; others pay $10 per mezuzah. Space is limited… make your reservations now! RSVP to culturaljews@gmail.com, or call 510-384-8756 with any questions.
Throughout this school year, students will be encouraged to discuss among themselves and with their parents topics related to these themes. The younger children will enjoy crafts related to the concepts; older children will learn the history and literature surrounding these Jewish ideas. Both classes will learn songs on these themes. And, of course, we’ll still be cooking, dancing, and hearing Jewish folktales.
Jewish Culture School is open to children aged 5-14 and culminates in a Brit Mitzvah ceremony.
