JCC East Bay

Yiddish Conversation
2025-01-22 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-01-29 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-02-05 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-02-12 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-02-19 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-02-26 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-03-05 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Join us for Yiddish Conversation!
Participants will take turns reading various Yiddish passages aloud – laughing at the stories together, connecting with like-minded community members, and keeping the art of the Yiddish language alive!
Please email Gravity to RSVP: gravity.goldberg@jcceastbay.org

¡Cantamos!
2025-01-26 10:30 - 12:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Experience the rhythmic fusion of Jewish and Latin traditions with Verónica Freidkes, our creative musician, child educator, and Argentinian singer. Together, through joyful singing and movement, we’ll embrace our shared cultural bond in this lively musical rendezvous.
We will be getting ready for Tu B’Shvat with songs, crafts, and special snacks!
Tailored especially for families with children ages 0-8. All are welcome!
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Experimente la fusión rítmica de las tradiciones judía y latina con Verónica Freidkes, nuestra música creativa, educadora infantil y cantante argentina. Juntos, a través de cantos y movimientos alegres, abrazaremos nuestro vínculo cultural compartido en esta animada cita musical.
¡Nos estaremos preparando para Tu B’Shevat con canciones, manualidades, y refrigerios especiales!
Diseñado especialmente para familias con niños de 0 a 8 años. ¡Todos son bienvenidos!

Register here.

¡Cantamos! is a collaboration between JCC East Bay, Olamim, Jewtina y Co., and Tkiya.
¡Cantamos! es una colaboración entre JCC East Bay, Olamim, Jewtina y Co., and Tkiya.

The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance
2025-01-26 13:00 - 16:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Join our monthly series celebrating The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance! Great for musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts to meet, schmooze, or simply to take in the beauty of these rich traditions. Bring your instruments, voices, and dancing shoes.
This month is all about Klezmer! We will be joined by Mike Perlmutter and Jonathan Kipp of Saul Goodman’s Klezmer Band, and dance instructor, Bruce Bierman.
During the first 90 minutes, participants can choose between spaces to learn multi-ethnic music and dance technique and styles. Participants will all come together for a 30 minute dance party focusing on the dances and tunes taught in the prior hour. The remaining segment will be an informal music jam in one or more of the classroom spaces at the JCC East Bay.
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Meet our guest teachers:
Mike Perlmutter has been performing klezmer, Balkan, and ceremonial Jewish music on saxophone and clarinet for over twenty years with groups such as Saul Goodman’s Klezmer Band, Inspector Gadje, Zoyres Eastern European Wild Ferment, the Chochmat Halev Sacred Music Ensemble, and the Kehilla Klezmer Band. Mike has a long history of community music organizing, including serving four years on the Board of Directors for KlezCalifornia. Outside of music he’s an environmental conservation professional and activist, pickler, gardener, bicyclist, swimmer, husband, and father.
Jonathan Kipp is a percussionist, accordionist, singer, teacher, and accordion repairman based in Oakland. He plays a variety of styles including folk, jazz, classical, pop, electronic, and avant garde.
Bruce Bierman is a celebrated Jewish dance master, theater director, and arts educator. He is co-artistic director of the award-winning Yiddish Theatre Ensemble in Berkeley where he has directed and choreographed The Megilleh of Itzik Manger for the Berkeley Jewish Music Festival, Sholem Asch’s God of Vengeance, and most recently Between Worlds starring Naomi Newman. He served as Yiddish dance and theater dramaturg for Paula Vogel’s Tony Award winning play, Indecent at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arena Stage and the most recent production at the San Francisco Playhouse which YTE also co-produced. Bruce was also a lead dancer and teaching artist with the Los Angeles Aman Folk Ensemble bringing world music and dance to youth throughout the L.A. Unified School District.
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Single session tickets: Sliding scale $25-54
Full series ticket: $180
Full series tickets: Register here
Single session tickets:
January 26, 2025 – Mike Perlmutter, Jonathan Kipp, and Bruce Bierman
February 23, 2025 – Ilya Shneyveys and Sarah Myerson
March 23, 2025 – Peter Bonos and Bruce Bierman
April 27, 2025 – Dror Sinai, Rachel Valfer, and Bruce Bierman
May 18, 2025 – To be announced

Presented in partnership with KlezCalifornia’s Yiddish Culture Fund.

Canasta Group
2025-01-28 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-04 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-11 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-18 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-25 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-04 11:00 - 13:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Play Canasta at the JCC East Bay!
This group is intended for players experienced in classic Canasta, not modern Canasta. If you are a beginner looking to learn, please stay tuned for a beginners group!
This group will meet weekly, on Tuesdays, from 11am – 1pm.
RSVPs are requested, limited space each week.

Register here.

Advanced Mah Jongg
2025-01-29 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-05 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-12 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-19 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-26 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-05 10:00 - 13:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
A JCC East Bay group that meets weekly on Wednesdays to play American Mah Jongg!
This group is for more experienced players or those wanting to sharpen their competitive edge. Join for good company, tea, and fierce games of Mah Jongg. Drop-ins are welcome.
For more information email Gravity (gravity.goldberg@jcceastbay.org).

Hebrew-Speaking Mom's Group
2025-01-30 10:00 - 12:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Hebrew speaking mothers are invited to join us for a morning gathering.
This new parenting group will be facilitated in Hebrew and dedicated to issues regarding parenting and living abroad. Our January session will focus on how to cultivate homey environments where we live.
These meetings are geared towards mothers of toddlers, babies, and expecting mothers. Little ones are more than welcome to attend! Light refreshments will be served.
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Register below:
Thursday, January 30 – How to create a homey environment in our houses.
Led by Sharon Grosbard – emotional therapist, parent counselor, and group facilitator.
Thursday, February 20 – The importance of our relationships with our children.
Led by Sharon Lebi – educator and parent counselor.
Thursday, May 15 – Our motherhood as Israelis in the USA.
Led by Zohar Keissar – social worker and parent counselor.
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Single-session cost: $10/person
Full series cost: $18/person

Family Tu B’Shvat
2025-02-09 14:00 - 16:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Let’s plant a tree…. It’s Tu B’Shvat!
Join us for an afternoon of celebration, exploration, and creativity as we celebrate the birthday of the trees with Camp Tawonga, Eden Village West, Jewish Gateways, and Berkeley Moshav.
Explore the Jewish value of Caring of the Earth – Shmirat ha-adamah with nature-based crafts, tree and seed planting, recycling projects, fruit sampling, a tree birthday party, and an optional multilingual (English/Spanish/Hebrew) nature walk to Live Oak Park.
This Tu B’Shvat event is geared for children ages 3 – 8 years. Everyone is welcome!

Register here.
Cost: $6/person (No cost for children under 2)

Older Adult Tu B'Shvat Seder
2025-02-13 11:30 - 13:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Join us for a celebration of our relationship with nature!
Tu B’Shvat (Birthday of the Trees), is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the beginning of spring. The Tu B’Shvat seder is a time to reflect and examine how we connect to the natural world around us, especially to fruit trees. This is an opportunity for us to envision – collectively and individually – how we can be partners in shaping and healing our natural world.
The Tu B’Shvat Seder consists of four sections, each marked by a different color of wine or grape juice, and a sampling of different types of fruits and nuts. Together, we will explore the symbolism of each of these sections while enjoying yummy treats!
Register here.
Registration required
Cost: $10/person

Nosh With Your Neighbors
2025-02-20 11:30 - 13:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Each month we invite you to join us at the JCC East Bay to enjoy lunch with your community! This is a BYOL (bring-your-own-lunch) with delicious dessert, coffee, and tea provided. RSVP is required.

Register here.

¡Cantamos!
2025-02-23 10:30 - 12:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Experience the rhythmic fusion of Jewish and Latin traditions with Verónica Freidkes, our creative musician, child educator, and Argentinian singer. Together, through joyful singing and movement, we’ll embrace our shared cultural bond in this lively musical rendezvous.
We will be getting ready for Purim with songs, games, crafts, and special snacks!
Tailored especially for families with children ages 0-8. All are welcome!
_________________________
Experimente la fusión rítmica de las tradiciones judía y latina con Verónica Freidkes, nuestra música creativa, educadora infantil y cantante argentina. Juntos, a través de cantos y movimientos alegres, abrazaremos nuestro vínculo cultural compartido en esta animada cita musical.
¡Nos estaremos preparando para Purim con canciones, manualidades, y refrigerios especiales!
Diseñado especialmente para familias con niños de 0 a 8 años. ¡Todos son bienvenidos!

Register here.

¡Cantamos! is a collaboration between JCC East Bay, Olamim, Jewtina y Co., and Tkiya.
¡Cantamos! es una colaboración entre JCC East Bay, Olamim, Jewtina y Co., and Tkiya.

The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance
2025-02-23 13:00 - 16:00 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Join our monthly series celebrating The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance! Great for musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts to meet, schmooze, or simply to take in the beauty of these rich traditions. Bring your instruments and dancing shoes.
This month is all about Klezmer music and dance traditions. We are thrilled to be joined by Ilya Shneyveys and Sarah Myerson, two experts in the genre!
During the first 90 minutes, participants can choose between spaces to learn multi-ethnic music and dance technique and styles. Participants will all come together for a 30 minute dance party focusing on the dances and tunes taught in the prior hour. The remaining segment will be an informal music jam in one or more of the classroom spaces at the JCC East Bay.
______________
Meet our guest teachers:
Originally from Riga, Latvia, now based in Brooklyn, NY, Ilya Shneyveys is a accordionist and multi-instrumentalist, educator, composer, arranger, and producer of Yiddish music. With expertise spanning from traditional klezmer accordion to experimental and fusion projects, Ilya performs and teaches at Jewish festivals around the world, in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to your local synagogue catering hall. Ilya is a founding member of Berlin’s Neukölln Klezmer Sessions and Shtetl Berlin, and a long-time faculty member of Yiddish Summer Weimar. His notable projects and collaborations include Forshpil, Alpen Klezmer, KaraYam, Caravan Orchestra, Dobranotch, Shekedina, Black Rooster Kapelye, Michael Winograd and The Klezmatics.
Sarah Myerson is an ordained cantor actively working to connect egalitarian Jewish religious with secular/cultural Yiddish communities. She serves as the Kol Bo Spiritual Leader of Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation and lives in Brooklyn, New York. She teaches Yiddish song workshops and Yiddish dance workshops in person worldwide, hybrid, and fully remotely online. She writes and performs new compositions, for example with Jewish spiritual music duo Shekedina. Sarah has a Master of Sacred Music and Diploma of Hazzan from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and a Bachelor of Music (Composition Honors) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
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Single session tickets: Sliding scale $25-54
Full series ticket: $180
Full series tickets: Register here
Single session tickets:
February 23, 2025 – Ilya Shneyveys and Sarah Myerson
March 23, 2025 – Peter Bonos and Bruce Bierman
April 27, 2025 – Dror Sinai, Rachel Valfer, and Bruce Bierman
May 18, 2025 – To be announced

The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance is co-presented by JCC East Bay and KlezCalifornia, and funded in part by a generous grant from the KlezCalifornia Yiddish Culture Fund.

Hebrew Sing-Along
2025-02-25 19:00 - 20:30 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
It’s a JCC East Bay sing-along!
Join us for an evening of Hebrew singing with Asaf Ophir. Bring your friends and family for a night of music, laughter, and community. No need to be a professional singer, just come with a smile and a love for Hebrew music! This event is geared towards Hebrew speakers, but all are welcome.
ג’ייסיסי ברקלי מזמין את כולכם להצטרף לערב שירה בציבור בעברית בהובלת אסף אופיר.
חברים ובני משפחה מוזמנים להצטרף לערב של מוזיקה, צחוק וקהילה. אין צורך בניסיון קודם בשירה, מספיקה רהבת מוזיקה ושירים בעברית.
בין אם אתם דוברי עברית או לא, אתם מוזמנים! מוסיקה ומילים תמיד מגשרים.

Register here.
Cost:
$8/adult
No cost for children under 12

Book Launch: Connecting Dots
2025-03-04 19:00 - 20:30 | JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Welcome to the Berkeley Book Launch for Connecting Dots by Dr. Joshua A. Miele!
Join us for an evening of celebration and connection. Meet the author, Dr. Joshua A. Miele, as he shares insights and stories from his latest book in conversation with journalist Alix Wall.
Connecting Dots chronicles Dr. Miele’s experience learning how to navigate the world as a blind person and using his intellect and creativity to help make the world a better place for others like him. This captivating memoir offers a powerful, humorous, and triumphant perspective on living with blindness, highlighting his achievements and the impact he’s had on the disability community.
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Dr. Josh A. Miele: Dr. Miele is a Macarthur Genius Grant winner, scientist, and disability rights activist. He is known for inventing inclusive technologies which help people with disabilities navigate the world. He works with companies and organizations, including Amazon, on non-visual customer experiences, accessible designs, and disability inclusion. Josh lives with his wife right here in Berkeley, California.
Alix Wall: As a regular contributor to Berkeleyside, Alix Wall wrote the first profile about Josh immediately after his MacArthur Fellowship was announced in 2021. She is also a regular contributor to the Vows section of The New York Times and is a contributing editor of J., The Jewish News of Northern California. Alix is also writer/producer of the forthcoming documentary, The Lonely Child.

Register here.

Israel One2One
2025-03-09 09:00 - 11:00 | CA
Israel One2One is an exciting opportunity for East Bay high schoolers (grades 9-12) to connect with their peers in Israel. This virtual mifgash (exchange) program pairs Israeli and American teens together for a series of virtual conversations.
One2One is an opportunity for teens from across the world to form bonds and connect with each other. Participants meet over Zoom to connect with their Israeli counterpart. The program provides helpful conversation starters, but teens are welcome to take their calls in any direction they wish. Learn more here about Israel One2One here.
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One2One connections will meet on Sundays in March-April:
March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6

Conversation slots are available at 9am and 10am.
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Register here.
This program is run in partnership with EnterPeoplehood.
