Rabbi Led Events
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. (please RSVP 48-hours in advance)
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 Hoshanah 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 Hoshanah, Rosh Hoshanah, Yom Kippur, Kol Nidre, Taschlich, and Break-Fast. Check our events calendar for details.
Interfaith
Thanksgiving
The Santa Ynez Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Gather with congragants and leaders of other faiths in diversity to pray in unity for our community, our country, and our world. Check our events calendar for details.
Kehillah (Commuinty-led Events)
What is Kehillah? Defined most simply, a Kehillah is a community, a group of people who have come together with shared purpose and in fellowship. Kehillah is a sacred gathering of community members who seek to offer and get support, to share celebrations, joy and sorrow, to learn and grow together, and to explore the meaning of their lives and the wisdom of their ancestors.
Our Kehillah (community led) Shabbatots occur once a month (check our events calendar for details). Kehillah Shabbat is potluck and we ask guests to RSVP 48-hours in advance. 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):
Community Hannukah
Celebration
Check out our events calendar for date and time.
Hannukah is possibly the most fun family oriented Jewish holiday. Activities include lighting candles each night. Singing special songs, such as Ma'oz Tzur. Dancing. Reciting the Hallel prayer. Eating foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods. Playing the dreidel game, and giving Hanukkah gelt. You don't want to miss it!
Bel Canto by Candlelight
at
Sunstone Winery
An annual fundraiser for the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community.
The soiree begins with an exceptional hors d’oeuvre reception featuring local renowned chefs, delectable Sunstone wine, an olive oil tasting, an art and wine silent auction followed by the exquisite voices of professional opera singers. Sunstone's La Cav will set the stage for an enchanted evening... Check our events calendar for date and time.
Tikkun Olam- Repairing the World
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.