About the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community...
Reach Out to Us:
805-693-4243
thesyvjc@gmail.com
The Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community offers a broad variety of activities to serve the Jewish families in the Valley. We are affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism and have been a continuing Jewish presence here in the central part of Santa Barbara County for more than 40 years.
Our Mission Statement
SYVJC views its mission to offer religious services, religious education, Jewish-oriented social events and lifestyle event support to all members of our Community.
More than 40 years ago (already, this sounds Biblical!), a group of about 10 Jewish families living in the Santa Ynez Valley determined that its ranks were likely to grow. Those families organized a socially-oriented group in order to offer selected Jewish holiday events, such as Hanukkah and Passover, to Santa Ynez Valley people with one or more family members of the Jewish faith.
In the 1990s, the ranks of that group HAD grown to about 50 member families and the first High Holy Days services were held in the Valley. In 2003, The Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community was incorporated as a tax exempt 501c3 non-profit religious corporation and formally affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the predecessor organization of URJ.
Membership has continued to grow to 60 member families. Services have similarly expanded. In 2003, SYVJC was the very proud recipient of a donation of an historical Torah, thanks to the auspices and the efforts of URJ. In 2008, SYVJC hired its first part-time Rabbi. Our current Rabbi is Pearl Barlev. Read more about Rabbi Barlev on our Home page.
Currently, SYVJC offers a full range of religious services, religious schooling, adult education, Bar/Bat Mitzvah training, High Holy Days services, a community Passover Seder, a Hanukkah Party, a Sukkot party, a weekly bulletin to members, social action and charitable activities both within and outside the community, and participates in a variety of social and community events. For more information, please email.
Who Are We?
Among our nearly 60 member families, you will meet doctors, lawyers, business men and women, artists, wine makers, judges, engineers, civil servants, architects, restaurateurs, educators, therapists, retirees, students, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren.
We are children of Orthodox, Reform and Conservative parents. Some of us have embraced our "Jewishness" late in life, some of us have always held it dear; all of us are exploring what it means to be a Jew, NOW.
Among our members you will find an outpouring of opinion, affection, and above all, support for one another.
In 2003 the SYVJC was created as a non-profit corporation and was formally affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ). Our community is engaged in many activities, from our monthly Shabbat and Torah study to our annual community Passover, Hanukkah, Sukkoth festivities. Over the last few years The Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community has also celebrated seven Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. We have also sponsored numerous social and educational activities, including field trips, films and lectures. Our new Hebrew School aims to feed the minds and souls of its young charges.We are deeply connected and involved in the local, larger community and participate in significant community charitable events.
We sponsor a full complement of High Holy Day Services, with our Rabbi and Cantor.
We invite you to contact us for more information about our congregation.
Donations to the The Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community are deductible from Federal and State income taxes. The SYVJC is a member of UAHC, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
What is Reform?
What is Reform Judaism?
Throughout history, Jews have remained firmly rooted in Jewish tradition, even as we learned much from our encounters with other cultures. Nevertheless, since its earliest days, Reform Judaism has asserted that a Judaism frozen in time is an heirloom, not a living fountain.
Resolutions
The positions of the Reform Movement are based primarily in two sources: Resolutions adopted by the Union for Reform Judaism, and resolutions adopted by the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Contact Us
We want to hear from you! We want to know what you are thinking, what you hope for from the SYVJC, how we can serve you better, when you have problems with the site, and any suggestions, questions, compliments or complaints you have. Click here to email the Board or call and leave a message at (805) 693-4243. We will respond as soon as possible.
Member of the Union for Reform Judaism
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