Our Traditional Community Gatherings
Shabbat
We welcome you to join us for potluck community Shabbat. Once a month (check events calendar for dates) Rabbi Debi Lewis will lead us in a beautiful and enriching Shabbat. We welcome you to light the candles, say the motzi, and enjoy wines from our SYVJC winemakers while we reflect on Torah. Our Shabbats are the perfect door to discover the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community and who we are. These are community potluck events.
Interested in hosting a Shabbat in your home?
Contact Shoshanah Schwartz email
Join our email list to find out about our upcoming Shabbats and events.
Attending our community Shabbat is a wonderful way to get to know the friendly people in our community, whether or not you are an SYVJC member. We welcome Jews and non-Jews from all backgrounds and degrees of religious practice.
We invite you to take a moment to listen to our Kehilah Shabbat Song Selection so that you may join in the singing with others when you attend one of our community-led Shabbats.
Here is our list of songs:
(click on the song to listen to the tune on YouTube):
Contemporary Conversations
Our Contemporary Conversations in Jewish Thought events will be held throughout the year. Check the events calendar for dates. We will keep you updated in our newsletters. If you are not a member but are interested in more information about our community, please contact the president of the SYVJC.
Passover
Our Seder led by Rabbi Debi Lewis takes place the second night of Passover. Join the SYVJC for an enjoyable seder full of lively discussion, delicious food catered by the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe, and enough local wine to make Elijah very happy. Watch out for those plagues!
Enjoy breaking matzah with friends, new and old. We’ll read from the Haggadah (the book which tells us the order of prayers, rituals, readings, songs and more) for the Passover seder.
Come celebrate this holiday of freedom, family, and friends with us!!! Membership in SYVJC is not necessary to attend; we welcome all.
High Holy Days
SYVJC provides beautiful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Along with Rabbi Debi Lewis, a cantorial soloist brings a beautiful and soulful complement to our services.
Services include: Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Kol Nidre, Taschlich, and Break-Fast. Download the 2025 schedule.
Interfaith
Thanksgiving
The Santa Ynez Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Gather with congregants and leaders of other faiths in diversity to pray in unity for our community, our country, and our world.
The Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community has been a proud supporter and contributor to the vibrant art and music scene in our area for many years. Our events, open to the entire community, have become cherished traditions that bring people together for unforgettable experiences.
For nine wonderful years, our annual Farm Dinner delighted guests with its unique charm and sense of community. Building on that success, we introduced the enchanting Bel Canto by Candlelight, an evening filled with the lovely sounds of opera in a mesmerizing setting. Most recently, our Bluegrass in the Vineyard event has quickly become a beloved tradition, offering a fantastic gathering featuring world-class entertainment in a stunning vineyard backdrop. And this year we are thrilled to welcome Liz Callaway for our Broadway at the Vineyard event in October.
We invite you to join our email list to stay informed about our upcoming events. Don't miss out on the opportunity to be a part of these truly special occasions that celebrate art, music, and the spirit of togetherness.
We look forward to sharing more unforgettable moments with you and the entire Santa Ynez Valley community!
In the spirit of "Tikkun Olam," repairing the world, SYVJC members have answered the call of our Social Justice committee with plentiful amounts of non-perishable food. The food collected so far this year was donated in our name to the Buellton Senior Center, most recently recognized by the Santa Barbara County Food Bank as the largest food distributor in the Santa Ynez Valley. They are grateful for the support received from our community.
We invite you to bring non-perishable canned goods when you attend Shabbat to help contribute to this cause.