The sun came out for our Tu B’Shvat celebration! Thanks to everyone who joined us to sing in the Birthday of the Trees.

The Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Roe v. Wade this summer put access to abortion and birth control in jeopardy across America. Join us in person or on Zoom on February 18th at 5:30pm for the Shabbos we shouldn’t have to have–the one where we discuss the Jewish Secular Humanist values surrounding reproductive health, rights and justice. We’ll share our own personal stories around the Mogilefsky fire pit and have some pizza and s’mores. 
Email us at culturaljews@gmail.com or call (925) 399-8029 for an Evite. You can find us at https://www.trivalleyculturaljews.org. 

Over the past 72 hours, gun violence ripped through our communities in Monterey Park as the Asian American Pacific Islander community gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year, in Half Moon Bay as people worked to provide for their families, and in Oakland as young people gathered. 

We grieve for the lives lost and shattered. We stand with the families who lost loved ones and those facing the painful recovery ahead.  

The gun violence epidemic continues to devastate our communities. We all celebrate together, work together, and gather in our neighborhoods together. “We cannot treat gun violence like it is somebody else’s issue,” says SFF CEO Fred Blackwell.

Unless we act together, the gun violence epidemic will continue to rob our communities of the sense of safety that we need to thrive. And we know that we must change the systems and laws that make mass shootings like these not only possible, but far too common. Without transformative change, there will always be another tragedy coming. 

How to help: 
To help those affected by the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, we have made a contribution to Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund. This fund is working with local organizations in Half Moon Bay to provide support to those impacted and their communities.  

• Contribute to the SVCF Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund 

SFF grantee Puente de la Costa Sur is organizing support for the families affected in Half Moon Bay. As a community resource center for the South Coast, Puente is working with local partners that are providing direct assistance. 

• Contribute to Puente de la Costa Sur 

In addition, SFF’s philanthropic advisors curated this give guide of local and national organizations imagining and building safer communities. 
 
SFF donor advised fund holders can recommend a grant on Donor Center with the following information: 
Grantee Name: Silicon Valley Community Foundation 
Short Purpose: to support the Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund  

Grantee Name: Puente de la Costa Sur 
Short Purpose: to support direct relief for families impacted by the Jan. 23 shooting in Half Moon Bay 

Celebrate the birthday of the trees with us at our Tu B’shvat Seder and Pot Luck. Join us on February 5th at 10:30am at Creekside Park in Pleasanton for nature crafts and some schmoozing. Please bring a dish to share.

Masks are optional outdoors when social distancing is possible. Free to members, $15 per non-member adult if you are able.
You can make donations to TVCJ through Paypal or Venmo. Our handle is Tri-Valley Cultural Jews.

Email us at culturaljews@gmail.com or call (925) 399-8029 if you have questions. Find us at www.trivalleyculturaljews.org

Come celebrate the oil, the lights and the season at the TVCJ Hanukkah Celebration! We’re making latkes, having an upcycled Menorah competition, singing and playing games. Join us outside for a safe, festive Hanukkah celebration.

Cooks will be required to mask indoors. Masks are optional outdoors when social distancing is possible.

Email us at culturaljews@gmail.com or call (925) 399-8029 for location and further details. Free to members, suggested $15 donation per non-member adult if you are able.

Spinning Yarns, Stories, Stitching & Knitting

Join us for an outdoor afternoon of crafting with friends. Bring a project you’re working on and a story to share. 

Face masks optional outdoors when social distancing is possible. 

Email us at culturaljews@gmail.com or call (925) 399-8029 if you have questions. Free to members, suggested $10 donation per non-member adult if you are able.

You can make donations to TVCJ through Paypal or Venmo. Our handle is Tri-Valley Cultural Jews.

What a beautiful day to gather under the Sukkah! We built a beautiful one this year decorated with lanterns, pinecones and branches. We made an Ushpizin paper chain with all the people we want to invite under the Sukkah with us. Many thanks to Jesse, Minta and their family for being such wonderful hosts, to Sarah and Mark for the gorgeous Suminagashi activity, to Jazz for bringing fruit and organizing the lantern activity, Judy for bringing supplies, and to everyone who came and made our Sukkah beautiful!

It was a beautiful night to gather outside for poetry, introspection and music to honor our Yom Kippur traditions. Many thanks to everyone who joined, either in person or via zoom, and to Sophia for blowing the shofar, Judy for creating another amazing program, our readers: Jeff, Jesse, Solomon and Jazz, music by Judy and Jazz, and to Derek and Amy Greenberg for adding their moving song of remembrance.