Today was our Purim Party…. so much fun! Games, crafts, hamantaschen, and a play!
Annual Purim Party
Solidarity and Support
The Tri-Valley Cultural Jewish Community extends love to and stands with our Muslim friends at this time of grief and mourning in the wake of the terrorist attacks on New Zealand mosques. No matter how far away a tragedy like this happens, we are all one human body, and this injury has been inflicted on us all. The wound is fresh now, and scars will remain, but we seek to help with treatment. Not only in healing but in continuing to campaign against hate and violence and show love to all.
Reach out to Muslim friends and neighbors now and show them they have your support. And consider donating to one of the organizations designed to help the families of the victims of this terrorism.
A body that hurts itself is one that does not function for long. A body in harmony is healthy. Caring for others is to care for oneself. This is how we, humanity, survive.
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Passover Seder
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
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 – Day 2
The second day of our World of Jewish Music conference brought more presenters, new sessions, and (of course) a talent show! Here are some pics showing a few of the highlights of Sunday at J-West.
Laura Rosenberg singing for the talent show
Andy Muchin delivering a presentation called American Groove
Did we mention there was a lot of singing this weekend?
Lee Jacobi singing a silly Chanukah song for talent show
Cantor Deborah Davis’s session on Molly Picon and the Jewish Music Theater
Rebecca Ireland rapping in the talent show
J-West Conference Finally Arrives!
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. =)
Daniel Cainer at J-West
Come and see Daniel Cainer live at J-West! Free if you have registered for Saturday or the full weekend, and only $20 to attend as a standalone event. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-world-of-jewish-music-tickets-50672074539
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Tu’Bshvat
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
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!
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Hanukkah Party
Join the Tri-Valley Cultural Jews to celebrate Hanukkah on Saturday, December 8, 2018 from 6:00 – 8:00pm, with an evening of latkes, lights, music and yummy food. Bring your menorah and food to share as we gather to light our candles together, sing traditional holiday songs, and eat the freshly fried latkes pouring from the kitchen. We blend traditional celebrations with new.
Our celebration this year will be at a member’s house in Castro Valley. To RSVP and get directions call (510) 282-4261.
Cost – $10 per adult non-member.