Celebrate the holidays in a Secular Humanistic way that that’s authentic both to Jewish culture and to your own beliefs.

Sunday, September 14: Decorate plates for apples and honey (ages 5-13) and learn aboutthe history and customs of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. 10 a.m. at Aran’s Art in Castro Valley. $15/plate for kid’s activity. Reservations requested so we will have enough materials.
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ednesday, September 24: Rosh Hashanah celebrations. 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Livermore. One-hour program of music and readings. Kids welcome. Suggested donation $15/non-member adult.

Saturday, October 4: Yom Kippur observance. 2-5 p.m. at the Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore. Program of music and readings followed by guest speaker Amer Araim discussing the history and politics of the Middle East. A memorial ceremony follows the discussion. Suggested donation $15/non-member adult.

If you decide you belong with us and become a member, your donations will be applied to your membership fees.

For more information and reservations 925 485 1049 or reservations@tri-valleyculturaljews.org.

Come visit us at our booth at the Castro Valley Pride Festival on Saturday, July 12.  We’ll be there from 12 – 5, and would love to see you there!

Tired of Passover seders that last till midnight? We have got the one for you…lots of singing, humanistic text and nice company. Join us at the Bothwell Center on April 19 at 5 pm for a potluck seder.

Rosh Hashanah:  Wednesday evening, Sept. 4 at 7:00 p.m.  Program of music and readings in English followed by traditional apples & honey.  Child-friendly.  Suggested donation is $10 per adult for those who are not members of TVCJ.  (No charge for children.)  We are also collecting canned or boxed food for the food bank.

What’s a Secular Jew?  Sunday morning, Sept. 8 at 10:30 a.m.  Bagel brunch and introduction to Secular Jewish life and Jewish Culture School.   Are you uncomfortable in synagogue, but in your element at the deli, Mel Brooks movies and noisy political discussions?  Are you looking for a community where you fit in?  A way for your kids to learn about being Jewish without the demands of religious belief?     learn about the history and practices of Secular Jews, hear about Jewish Culture School for children and meet members of the organization.  There will be activities for children while the parents meet.  Please let us know you’re coming, so we can make sure we have plenty of food!

Yom Kippur:  Saturday, Sept. 14 from 2 – 5 p.m. (and we’ll go out for dinner together afterwards).The program consists of non-religious readings in English and music, followed by participatory workshops and a non-religious memorial ceremony.  Suggested donation is  $10 per adult for those who are not members of TVCJ.  (No charge for children.) There will also be an opportunity to make charitable contributions to various international, national and local agencies. We’re also collecting canned and boxed goods for the food bank.

Sukkah raising brunch!  Sunday, Sept. 22 at 1817 Sinclair Drive in Pleasanton.  Potluck brunch.  Bring a dish to share, a fruit or other decoration to hang in the sukkah and a branch for the roof (if you have one). Also collecting canned and boxed goods for food bank.

Holiday programs and informational meeting are held at the Bothwell Arts Center. 2466 8th St. in Livermore.  Please let us know you are coming.  Call us at 925 485 1049 or email reservations@Tri-ValleyCulturalJews.org.

You are cordially invited to J-West 2013 – Then, Now and Tomorrow: Reflections and Visions.

Kol Shalom is excited to be hosting this year’s conference in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1 in Portland, Oregon. The conference will be held at University Place Hotel in downtown Portland. Click here for further details, and to download the registration packet. We will continue to post updates at the J-West website http://j-west.net/.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please let your friends know!

Mary Raskin, Kol Shalom
on behalf of the J-West 2013 planning committee

For questions or more information, contact conference organizers at jwestmeetup@ymail.com.

This year’s conference will be Friday, May 24 (4:00 pm) – Monday, May 27 (10:00 am), at West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Please click here to view the conference brochure with much more information.

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews will host the first day of Jewish Culture School on September 9, 2012 from 10:30-12:30 at the Bothwell Center in Livermore. Our subsequent classes are held in Castro Valley.
Our Culture School offers a hands-on, engaging curriculum based on Jewish culture, history and ethics that is secular and humanistic. We offer classes Kindergarten through Bar/Bat Mitzah. The first day of class includes an informational meeting for interested parents and activities for children.

J-West is coming up and it looks like the best ever! This two-day conference for Secular, Humanistic and Cultural Jews is held annually on the west coast and this year it’ll be in our own back yard , at the La Quinta Inn and Suites in Hayward on August 4-5. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Bread and Roses strike, the conference is highlighting workshops on culture and social justice.

There are some fantastic workshops planned. Here’s a partial list:
• Yiddish Theater in the 1930s: A Participatory Workshop with Puppets
• Jews in the Movie Industry
• LGBT and Jewish Identity
• African Refugees in Israel
• What DO we Believe?
• Our Radical Jewish Heritage: The Lives and Work of Selina Solomons and Yetta Stromberg
• Jewish Women Writers
• Jews in the Comics and Superhero Business
• Yiddish Dance (who knew there was Klezmer HipHop?)
• How Ageism Affects Us All – No Matter Our Age
• Unions: Past, Present and Future
• Philosophers’ Café

In addition to the workshops, there’ll be the Famous All-Age Talent Show (no talent required), singing, lots of talking, and a chance to meet like-minded people.

The registration packet can be found at http://j-west.net/registration/. You’ll be surprised how affordable this amazingweekend (with meals and hotel) can be.

Saturday, April 7 – 5:00 p.m. at the Bothwell Center, 2466 8th St. in Livermore. We use our non-religious haggadah, sing a lot, and enjoy a potluck dinner. Child friendly. We will also be collecting non-perishable food for the food bank. Guests and non-members are $10/adult (over 13). Free to members. Please be sure you have made your reservation by April 5 for the seder! If you want to come and have not reserved your spot yet, please call Jamie at 510 888 1404 and let her know you’re coming and discuss what you’ll bring for the potluck.

This year we are “adopting” The Zila Family from Bosnia through the Jewish Family and Children’s Services holiday giving program. The Zilas lived through the war in Bosnia and lost many family members.  They left their country and lived as refugees in Germany until they were able to come to the U.S.  They wanted a better life for their children.  The father works, and the mother stays home with her children.   The children, a 12-year old boy and a 9-year old girl, are doing very well in school.

Some suggestions on the family wish list include:

Please let us know what you would like to provide and bring it to the Chanukah party on December 18 (or give gifts to someone who can bring it) by emailing CulturalJews@aol.com or calling 925-485-1049.  If you are not able to shop, please consider a donation with which we can buy Safeway gift cards or other things.