Fun Times at Jewish Culture School

Rainbow border. How we celebrate LGBTQ+ pride at Jewish Culture School. Photo of Pride, The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag. Photo of three children making a rainbow pizza together. Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, Secular + Humanist, www.trivalleyculturaljews.org, culturaljews@gmail.com,  (925) 399-8029

Last week at Jewish Cultural School our students explored the history of Jewish involvement in the fight for LBGTQ+ rights–learning how generations of Jews have spoken out for equality, dignity and a better world for us all.

We connected these stories to enduring Jewish values: standing up for justice, welcoming people who are different from us, and helping to make the world a kinder, more inclusive place.

And of course, we added our own colorful touch–making rainbow pizza together and singing songs that celebrate community and pride.

At Jewish Culture School, we bring Jewish culture and history to life! See what we’re cooking up next!

Still Looking for a Meaningful Jewish Experience for Your Kids This Fall?

Soothing background in blues and greens of distant mountains and a forest scene. Yellow wording of Jewish but not Religious? Jewish Culture School. Photos of children baking and sharing a large swing border on the left. Music, Cooking, Dance, Community. First Class Aug 24th. 10:30-12:30 2x/month, Castro Valley, CA. Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, Secular + Humanist, www.trivalleyculturaljews.org, culturaljews@gmail.com,  (925) 399-8029

Not religious? That’s okay.
Haven’t made High Holiday plans yet? Totally get it.
Searching for a school that aligns with your values? You just found it.

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews’ Jewish Culture School is enrolling now!

Classes start August 24th in Castro Valley

We offer a hands-on, welcoming Jewish education for kids ages 5 through Brit Mitzvah—no prior religious background needed. It’s all about culture, community, and connection.

This year’s theme: Social Action
Through the lens of Jewish history, kids will explore activism—learning about labor organizers, civil rights leaders, immigrants, and changemakers—while becoming changemakers themselves.

Our approach is humanistic, inclusive, and rooted in Jewish culture.
We meet 2x a month and welcome families of all identities and backgrounds.

Spots are limited—don’t miss the start of the school year.
Learn more or register: trivalleyculturaljews.org

Jewish Culture School starts August 24 in Castro Valley – Enroll now!T

Black panel on left side reading Jewish Culture School, Jewish History of Social Action, Ages 5 -Brit Mitzvah, 1st Class Aug 24th 10:30-12, Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, Secular + Humanist, culturaljews@gmail.com,  (925) 399-8029. A red ribbon bisects the image vertically. On the right side hands gently encircle a globe with multicolored dancing figures surrounding it.

Looking for a welcoming, hands-on way for your child to explore Jewish identity? Our Jewish Culture School is back—offering a creative, inclusive program for kids ages 5 through Brit Mitzvah.

This year’s theme: Social Action. Students will explore Jewish history and heritage through real-world topics like civil rights, immigrant justice, and the labor movement—all rooted in secular humanistic values.

Open to all family structures and backgrounds
No prior Jewish education needed
Meets twice a month in Castro Valley

Come be part of a vibrant, supportive community where kids learn through culture, creativity, and connection.

Register today: trivalleyculturaljews.org
Email: culturaljews@gmail.com
Call: (925) 399-8029

Jewish Culture School returns August 24 in Castro Valley!

Golden yellow background with TVCJ logo and Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, Secular + Humanist, culturaljews@gmail.com,  (925) 399-8029. Jewish Culture School, Music, History, Cooking, Dance. Photos of children tossing a melon, children dancing, and children on a swing are vertically along the right hand side of the image. Kindergarten - Brit Mitzvah. Starts August 24th.

Our hands-on, inclusive program for kids ages 5 through Brit Mitzvah is back for another year of exploring Jewish identity through culture, creativity, and community—rooted in secular humanistic values.

This year’s theme is Social Action: students will connect with Jewish heritage and history through real-world topics like civil rights, immigrant justice, and the labor movement.

Classes meet twice a month and are open to all family structures and backgrounds. No prior Jewish education needed—just curiosity and a willingness to engage.

Enrollment is now open.
Email: culturaljews@gmail.com | Call: (925) 399-8029

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews is a vibrant and inclusive community that embraces secular humanist principles while honoring Jewish culture, history, and traditions. We are committed to fostering a space where individuals of all backgrounds can explore Jewish identity, engage in meaningful conversations, and participate in community-building events without religious or dogmatic constraints.

Jewish Culture School 2024

Yellow background with sun and clouds. 3 photos of children playing on the right side: children tossing a watermelon, children dancing and children on a swing all together. Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, Secular, Humanist, Jewish Culture School, Music, History, Cooking, Dance. Starts August 25th. Kindergarten through Brit Mitzvah (5-14). Culturaljews@gmail.com, (925) 399-8029.

Jewish but not religious? Find out more about Tri-Valley Cultural Jews’ Jewish Culture School. We welcome those of diverse Jewish and multicultural backgrounds and people of all gender identities, orientations and presentations. Come explore Jewish traditions through history, music and, of course, food! Classes are 2x per month in Pleasanton. Our new year starts Sunday, August 25th with a journey through Jewish history using art, and an opportunity for our own Jewish Artists to explore different styles of expression.

Jewish Culture School

Blue background with cartoon children holiding up paint covered hands in different colors. Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, culturaljews@gmail.com, (925) 399-8029. Jewish Culture School Jewish History Through Art, 1st Class Aug. 25th 10:30am, ages Kinder-Brit Mitzvah, located in Pleasanton, CA.

Jewish History Through Art–our new year of Jewish Culture School starts Sunday, August 25th with a journey through Jewish history using art, and an opportunity for our own Jewish Artists to explore different styles of expression. Do you know someone who’s looking for a Jewish education for their children? We welcome those of diverse Jewish and multicultural backgrounds and people of all gender identities, orientations and presentations. Come explore Jewish traditions through history, music and, of course, food! Classes are 2x per month in Pleasanton.

Jewish Culture School Update

Music touches us in ways that words alone cannot. At our latest Jewish Cultural School we explored how the Jewish Labor Movement used music to help workers feel unified and empowered to fight for change, and then wrote our own songs, like the catchy “Wear a Mask You Fools” to the tune of Happy Birthday. We made our own pickles, a popular Jewish street food, and learned the Israeli Labor song Kadima Hapoel, Forward the Worker!

JCS Happenings

We cWe covered so much ground in JCS! We talked about the migration of Jews from Eastern Europe to the U.S. and what it was like to go through Ellis Island. The Jews leaving Eastern Europe were looking for a safe place to live. We tied that into our upcoming celebration of Purim—our yearly holiday reminding us that tyrants have always existed and that there is always a need to speak truth to power. We made food that immigrants might have enjoyed—soft pretzels with optional yellow mustard (yum!)–and played some games their kids probably knew: hopscotch and Shimon Zogt (Simmon Says in Yiddish). 

JCS Happenings

Our Jewish Culture School students wanted to share this blurb from their 2/13/22 class:

Jews might have fought on both sides of the Civil War, but one thing remained the same: hardtack is pretty terrible! While most Jews did not support the South, we talked about how some Jews were able to justify slavery (hint: just because people did it in the Torah, doesn’t make it a good idea), baked some hardtack that really lived up to its name, and sang some freedom songs.