Category: Events

Jewish Culture School

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JCS

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.

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Passover Seder

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TVCJ Passover Seder April 20, 2019
Seder plate

TVCJ’s annual community seder will be held at the Bothwell Arts Center, 2466 8th Street in Livermore on Saturday, April 20 at 5 p.m. Reservations are required. To reserve a space and receive a potluck assignment, please call (510) 888-1404 or e-mail Reservations@EastBayCulturalJews.org by April 15. Food need not be kosher for Passover. There is a requested donation of $25/adult non-member of TVCJ. Children are welcome. Our secular seder, replete with songs of resistance and hope, uses an English-language progressive Secular haggadah highlighting the power of community and the value of freedom. The hour-long ceremony, followed by a potluck dinner, is family-friendly (but not child-centered).

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Purim Celebration

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purim

Please join the Tri-Valley Cultural Jews on Sunday, March 24 from 10:30 – 12:30 for our annual secular Purim celebration. We will make hamantaschen, have crafts, games, and fun for all ages, and present our annual Purim skit. Bring your favorite hamantaschen filling. Attendees are also encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Purim character. The celebration will take place at the Bothwell Arts Center, 2466 8th Street, Livermore. This event is free for TVCJ members; $10 for non-member adults (which can be applied to a membership if someone wishes to join).

J-West Conference Finally Arrives!

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This weekend, secular humanist jews from all over joined us for our west coast conference, “A World of Jewish Music”. Talented speakers, excellent food, interesting company, and fabulous entertainment were all part of the fun. Here are several photos from the first day of the conference.

Cantor Dr. Jonathan Friedmann delivers his keynote On Beyond Klezmer.

The J-West audience enjoying Dr. Friedmann’s talk.

Schmoozing between sessions

Dr. Ezra Donner delivering his session on Jewish Composers

Audience during the Q&A portion of Dr. Donner’s presentation

Dr. Friedmann chipping in during Dr. Donner’s Q&A session. It was fun to see the two have a bit of a back and forth on a topic they were both quite knowledgeable about.

Our own Judy Seid presenting “Songs for Holidays and Shabbes” There was also a whole-group singalong at the end of the day. Click these links to see some video from the singalong: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mx0Aa5KjqmYZAY2sFC_aBy8BDMRjrDsu/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XJsr73hiMcfRCYwyzHz9VPK5sPtZygZR/view?usp=sharing

Lunch!

Dr. Andrea Fishman delivered a very interesting and informative talk on Sephardic music of Spain and the Balkans. Click this link to see some video from this session: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pn4Bg7dY06CssfCnhYfDv8AaGV-8Lfch/view?usp=sharing

Our youngest presenter (and our own member) Rebecca Ireland presented on The Newest Jewish Song. Click this link to see some video from this session: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yHEn2x1rQCajmqePeco8b3oC6xxE93Og/view?usp=sharing

Jerry Zwick gave a very interesting presentation about Jews in the rock and roll genre.

As a last minute replacement (because one of our presenters had bronchitis and couldn’t attend), Lee Jacobi led an impromptu session on jewish folk dancing. Click this link to see some video from this session: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fYo6PKu7FVdt5POvLc1RWXozceeCWOC5/view?usp=sharing

Our evening entertainment was provided by Daniel Cainer… it was a delightful evening of music, stories, humor, and technical difficulties. =)

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Tu’Bshvat

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Tu B'Shvat

LARPD Ranger Amy will lead the group on a hike along the Arroyo del Valle. We will look for the plants and animals that call this area home. We are sure to find lots of cool bugs and other creatures along the way! We plan to walk rain or shine so please dress appropriately and wear comfortable shoes. Please bring a potluck dish to share. We have members that are dairy-free and gluten-free so please indicate on an index card your ingredients. Potluck at Noon.

When: Sunday, January 27th, 2019, 10:30am – 12:30pmWhere: Sycamore Grove Park Parking Lot, 1051 Wetmore Rd, Livermore, CA 94550
Cost: FREE for members and children, $10.00 per non-member adult

Our Hanukkah Party

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Our members gathered together to celebrate Hanukkah with an evening of lights, food, and music. The Culture School students lit our community menorah, and we enjoyed delicious treats including latkes and sufganiyot. Thank you to Bret & Kelly for hosting, to Solomon and Noah for frying the latkes, and to everyone who helped make this event a success!

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