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 Cultural and Secular Jewish Organizations. Please view the Upcoming Events link for a look at future activities. We look forward to seeing you!
Philosopher’s Cafe
We are excited to bring this new event to our group.
Here’s how it will work….Each month we will rotate hosts who will choose a topic for us to talk about (keeping everything civil of course). The host will introduce the topic and come up with a few prompts/ questions to keep the conversation going if needed. And everyone shares their ideas about the topic to have a nice discussion. The thing is, the host doesn’t announce the topic until the meeting so we aren’t researching before the event…this should be fun…we hope many of you will join us!
Judy will be our first host. Please let Jamie Ireland know if you’d like to host future dates or if you have questions.
Our first Philosopher’s Cafe will be:
When: Aug 6, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlc-iqrjwtGdERa8Sz8DpYlXvAKOhKE-Db
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Jewish Celebration Phrases
August Havdalah
Shalom TVCJ, Join us for Virtual Havdalah! Bring a braided candle, juice/wine, spice box to participate…or just watch our short secular, humanistic ceremony. Afterward we will have an online game night.
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Aug 15, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkfuyorz4rHNfGmcWoyc1_tOchyR3FqzRm
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Virtual Upcoming July Havdalah
Date: Saturday, July 18th
Time: 7:00p.m.
Place: This year the TVCJ Havdalah celebrations will be held over zoom video conferencing.
Cost: FREE
Sophia will present one of her Brit Mitzvah projects during our Havdalah. We will celebrate the end of Shabbes with a short Havdalah observance and shmooze afterward. If you’d like to participate from your home, then have a braided candle to light, wine or juice to drink (to put the candle flame out) and a spice box.
Reservations are required. To make a reservation please Click Here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Once you receive your confirmation, then please add the zoom meeting link to your calendar.
TVCJ Speaks Out for Black Lives
Our country has a history of systematic racial inequality, oppression, and forced subjugation. That history plagues us today in the horrific acts of the police, in economic inequality, and in extrajudicial acts of racist aggression by everyday individuals. The dehumanization, hatred and state violence perpetrated against Black Americans is an affront to their dignity and a threat to their lives. In just the past few months, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless others have been added to the long list of Black Americans killed because of the color of their skin.
As a Jewish organization and as individuals, we are committed to the inclusion of all people from diverse backgrounds and held identities. Our own oppressions and liberations have been historical turning points, as we believe today is a turning point for the Black community in America. As Jews, we hold a special responsibility to raise our voices to condemn the violence and systematic racism against people of color.
This is not just a statement of solidarity; it is a pledge to take action. As Secular Humanistic Jews, we commit ourselves to show up and to speak up. We will work together with other organizations who share our values of supporting the Black community and ending systemic racism in our society and institutions. We will support Black-led organizing. We will follow Black leadership. We will listen to Black voices.
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Members Virtual Annual Meeting
Date: Sunday, June 7th, 2020
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Place: The TVCJ annual meeting will be held virtually using the Zoom video-conferencing service. TVCJ members will participate in the comfort of their own home.
Cost: FREE
We’ll also be electing a new TVCJ board for the 2020-21 membership year! The Board of Directors for TVCJ consists of at least 5 directors who are elected at the annual membership meeting for a one-year term. Board members are vital for the organization to make important decisions about events, activities, financial decisions as well as planning for the future of the organization.
There will be at least two board positions open for the fiscal year 2020-21. We need your creativity and vision! Members interested in serving on the board can nominate themselves via email to culturaljews@gmail.com. Additionally, any member can also self-identify as a candidate during the annual membership meeting prior to the vote. Teens (13-17 years old) may also join the board as teen representatives.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the meeting!
— The TVCJ Board
Reservations are required. To make a reservation please Click Here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Once you receive your confirmation, then please add the zoom meeting link to your calendar.
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Virtual Shavuot Celebration
We can’t be together in person, but we can be together online.
This is traditionally a holiday about books and learning. So we traditionally come together and share our favorite book we read this past year. (Adults and kids are welcome to share)
This year we will also be hosting a guest speaker, Rabbi Denise Handlarski, a Humanist Rabbi who wrote the A-Z of Intermarriage. She will be talking a little about her new book and we will have a short Q&A before we share our books.
Date: Sunday, May 31st, 2020
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Place: The TVCJ annual Shavuot celebration will be held virtually using the Zoom video-conferencing service. Everyone will participate in the comfort of their own home.
Cost: FREE
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Place: The TVCJ annual Shavuot celebration will be held virtually using the Zoom video-conferencing service. Everyone will participate in the comfort of their own home.
Cost: FREE
Reservations are required. To make a reservation please Click Here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Once you receive your confirmation, then please add the zoom meeting link to your calendar.
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Virtual Lag B’Omer
We can’t be together in person, but we can be together online.
During this event we will talk about the Lag B’Omer holiday, replace our traditional watermelon toss with an online game, and eat together.
Date: Sunday, May 17th, 2020
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Place: This year the TVCJ annual Lag B’Omer celebration will be held virtually using the Zoom video-conferencing service. Everyone will participate in the comfort of their own home.
Cost: FREE
Reservations are required. To make a reservation please click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpd–urjkjEtC7rj8E5bz5Y5y84jVS4P7_
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Once you receive your confirmation, then please add the zoom meeting link to your calendar.
Condolences
The community extends condolences to Amy, Derek and Emma Greenberg on the death of Amy’s aunt, Helen Bloom, on April 24,2020.
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Virtual Community Passover Seder
We can’t be together in person, but we can be together online.
This year the TVCJ annual community Seder will be held virtually on Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 5 p.m using the Zoom video-conferencing service. Everyone will participate in the comfort of their own home.
Our secular Seder includes English-language readings highlighting the power of community and the value of freedom, and songs in English, Yiddish and Hebrew. The hour-long ceremony is followed by optional schmoozing time while your family eats the dinner that you’ve prepared in your home. The event is family-friendly.
Other than what you spend on food for your family’s seder, there is no cost to attend this event. We will provide a shopping list for your seder plate, suggested recipes, and the Passover Haggadah.
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED:
To make a reservation please go to https://bit.ly/tvcjseder. The event is limited to no more than 100 reservations.
