Join Tri-Valley Cultural Jews in celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish New Year, on September 20 from 7:00 – 9:00pm at the Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore. TVCJ celebrates Jewish holidays with a Secular Humanistic perspective that is true to Jewish culture. Focusing on the Rosh Hashana traditions of self-reflection and tikkun olam, repair of the world, the program will include readings, music and sounding of the shofar. This will be followed by a reception with apples, honey and homemade challah. Kids are welcome. Suggested donation $20/ non-member adult. If you decide to become a member your donation will be applied to your membership fee. Donations will be collected for the local food bank, so please bring non-perishable food items to donate.

Join us on Sunday, September 10 from 10:30 – 12:30 at Alden Lane Nursery as we begin our Jewish Culture School year! We will learn about (and taste) apples and honey. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Tri-Valley Cultural Jews and our Jewish Culture School, which focuses on Jewish culture and history. Our curriculum provides a hands-on, fun learning experience featuring dancing, singing, and cooking.  We focus on Jewish culture and history. JCS is open to ages 6 through 14, leading to a Secular Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews will be hosting our annual Lag B’Omer picnic potluck on Saturday, May 13 from 10:30 – 12:30.  This event will take place at Athan Downs Park, which is at  2975 Montevideo Dr. in San Ramon.  Please bring:  a picnic dish to share, an outdoor toy (frisbee, ball, etc.), and be ready to participate in our fun and hilarious annual watermelon toss.

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews will hold our annual Community Potluck Seder on Saturday April 15, from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm. The seder will take place at the Bothwell Arts Center, which is located at 2466 8th St. in Livermore. Our kid-friendly (but not kid-centered) haggadah is secular and progressive with lots of singing. After the hour-long ceremony, we will share a potluck dinner. Please call Leah at 650-223-9073 to let us know you are coming and what you’d like to bring for the potluck. Vegetarian dishes are encouraged but not required. Invite a friend, too! We need to hear from you by April 11 so we can be sure to have enough eggs, charoset, celery, and wine. The suggested donation for non-member adults is $20 (and you can apply this towards membership). Kids and members are free. We are participating in a book drive to benefit the Jewish Coalition for Literacy. Please bring new or gently used books for ages 4-9 to donate if you are able. Thank you!

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews will be holding a secular Purim celebration on Sunday, March 12 from 10:30 – 12:30 at the Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore.  We will make hamantaschen, have crafts, games, and fun for all ages, and present our annual Purim skit.   Attendees are welcome to come dressed as their favorite Purim character.  This event is free for TVCJ members, and costs $10 for non-members (which can be applied to a membership if someone wishes to join).  The Bothwell Arts center is located at 2466 8th St. in Livermore.

Saturday, January 28th.  10:00 – 12:00.  We will leave by 10:15 am. If you are running late, please call Leah at 650-223-9073.

Dogs are welcome on leash. We will hike for approximately 3 miles. Moderate hike with some climbs, passing by several ponds. We will make a nice loop, starting out on Fossil Hill Loop. It’s called Fossil Hill for a good reason – everything you see was once under the sea!! Watch out for rocks with seashells still attached.

Directions:

Take I-680 N
Take exit 44, Rudgear Rd.
Turn right onto Rudgear Rd
Turn left onto San Miguel Dr
Turn right onto Mountain View Blvd
Turn left onto Bales Dr
Turn left onto Walnut Blvd
Turn right onto Sutherland Dr
Park in the parking lot at the end of Sutherland.

Join the Tri-Valley Cultural Jews on Friday, December 30 from 6:00 – 8:00pm for an evening of Latkes, Light, Music and yummy food. Our celebration this year will be at the Pepper home, 6448 Owl Way in Livermore.  Bring your menorah, and gather as we light our candles together, sing traditional holiday songs, and eat the freshly fried latkes pouring from the kitchen. We blend traditional celebrations with new.   This year, we are partnering with the Jewish Coalition for Literacy and are asking guests to bring either new or used (in excellent condition) children’s books for their book drive. They are collecting books for children aged 4-9 (grades pre K – 3rd grade).  Free tickets available at https://goo.gl/Ti4i6O.  RSVP to Amy at catandchickens@gmail.com.

The Tri-Valley Cultural Jews will hold a sukkah raising to celebrate Sukkot in a Secular Humanistic way. It will be at the Ireland house (19663 Fremery Court, Castro Valley) on October 16 from 10:30-12:30. We will be building a sukkah together, enjoying a meal and celebrating the harvest.Please bring a potluck brunch item, a branch for the roof and fruit to decorate the sukkah. $10 per non- member adult. We will have activities for children and adults.