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CRASH COURSE ON THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL January 8 - February 12 Five online sessions providing history of Jews and Arabs in the land of Israel, and evolution of the current Israeli/Palestinian conflict. REGISTER HERE Interested in responding to anti-Israel comments on social media, in print, or in-person? Want to have intelligent conversations about Israel with family and friends? This engaging five-part Zoom course will provide you with an overview of the history of Israel that will help you understand the modern-day Israel/Palestinian conflict in addition to the complex history of Jewish and Arab connections to the land. Diving deep into Jewish history, our speaker, Charlotte Korchak, will cover Jewish “indigeneity,” historical presence in the land, and the roots of Zionism. She will also trace the rule of Judea/Palestine post-exile, the Islamic conquest, the Arab/Muslim connection to the land, and the evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Whether you are 13 or 120, this is a must-attend course! Each class will provide well-researched material, analysis, and relevant context to current concerns. Two of the presentations will be pre-recorded, but all five classes will have live Q&A. Recordings will be available for those who can’t attend a session. Charlotte Korchak is one of the foremost public speakers in her field, recognized for making complex content engaging, accessible, and meaningful for all ages. As the Senior Educator and Director of International Student Programs at StandWithUs Israel, she has worked with over 10,000 students of all ages. She received her BA in Middle Eastern History from USC. Admission for this course is free of charge as a community service. Registration is required and will remain open throughout the course. Sunday mornings, 10:00 to 11:30 AM PST, January 8 to February 12, 2023 (except January 15, MLK weekend) From Ancient to Modern Times (January 8) Zionism, Arab Nationalism, and Jewish Statehood (January 22) The Rise and Decline of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (January 29) The Evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Part 1 (February 5) The Evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Part 2 & Answering Difficult Questions about Israel (February 12 ) Once you register, you will receive a recurring Zoom meeting link to be used to join all five sessions. You will first receive two reminders, one on Thursday, and the other one, on Sunday morning, before the first session. After the first session, every Friday, we will email reminders that will include previous session recordings. If you do not see these emails, please check your spam/junk folder to retrieve them. We suggest you add notifications@wixevents.com and underonetent@ccjcc.org to your contacts list as well. This program is sponsored by Contra Costa JCC and Beth Am Jewish and Israel Advocacy Committee in partnership with Cong. Kol Emeth, Sonoma County Israel Committee, and Cong. Beth David (Saratoga).

Recipes for the High Holidays As with all Jewish holidays, food is a big part of the High Holidays. For Rosh HaShanah, we wish people a “Sweet New Year” and therefore it is traditional to add honey to vegetable dishes, desserts and even meat/chicken. Honey cake, sliced apples dipped in honey, honeyed carrots, and other delicacies are often enjoyed. THE NOSHER shares things to do and make (food-wise) before the High Holidays including tasty recipes that can be found here . Read a valuable article from MyJewishLearning.com on Rosh HaShanah foods! Foolproof recipe: Andrew Zimmern's Favorite Apple Cake A recipe to do with kids: Apple & Honey Hand Pie Pocket Best Rosh HaShanah Dinner Recipes from Kosher.com 55+ Ways to go gluten-free this Rosh Hashanah Apple Pie Kugel Recipe Cauliflower Kugel Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings Recipe from The Nosher A beautiful and innovative recipe: Japanese-style Apple & Honey Roll Cakes 9 Interesting Things about Pomegranates and Pomegranate Recipes for Rosh HaShanah Bring in the sweet with this pomegranate molasses chicken recipe Italian Sweet and Sour Fish Recipe A staple for Rosh HaShanah, honey cake recipe An easy-to-make (and quick to eat) apple cake recipe 5 Multicultural Recipes for Rosh HaShanah Schnitzel is a popular chicken dish in Israel and easy to make at home. Try out this recipe of Ethiopian Schnitzel with Hot Honey! 46 Celebratory Recipes for Rosh HaShanah (Warning: Not all of these recipes are Kosher!) Learn how to make braided challah for Rosh HaShanah and any other time! Bon Appetit's article on the spice fenugreek and making Yemenite fenugreek salsa (try it…you may like it) A Sephardic Rosh HaShanah Seder Making your simanim symbols Here are four elegant recipes for break-the-fast.

JWalk Jun 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Lafayette Reservoir, Lafayette, CA 94549, USA More Info & Tickets

THE 2ND ANNUAL MENORAH COMPETITION On Monday, November 29 from 5:00 - 6:30 pm, please join us for our community-wide Menorah Making Competition . We will exhibit the entries of all participants in Congregation B'nai Shalom's sanctuary while our expert panel of judges will review the homemade menorot. Everyone's welcome! Competing not necessary, but registration required. 1st Prize: Oculus Quest 2 - Immersive All-In-One VR. Additional prizes will be handed out to other participants. Musical Entertainment plus complimentary latkes (with all of the trimmings) provided by the CBS Men's Club. Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) too! RULES Each family can submit only one original menorah. The menorah must be created by the family (not purchased) but can be made up of any materials. The judges will look for innovation and creativity. When writing up the description of your menorah, do describe its materials as well as its inspiration. Registration for attendance must be done no later than Sunday, November 28 at noon. Register here ! Each family can bring its menorah to the Cong. B'nai Shalom sanctuary as early as 9:00 am on Monday, November 29. All entries must be brought to the sanctuary by 4:00 pm. Tables will be set out inside the sanctuary where the entries should be placed. Contestants must fill out the Menorah Description Form and bring a copy of it along with their menorahs. The form should be placed next to the menorah so that it can be correctly identified. Vaccinations of everyone 12 and up required. Masking required indoors. WHAT IS A MENORAH? The menorah (called a hanukiah in Hebrew) is one of the most well-known Jewish ritual objects. It represents the eight days for which the oil in the 2nd Temple lamp lasted after the holy place was freed in the 2nd century BCE from the control of the Seleucid Greek Empire, the ruling power in the region. In 168 BCE, King Antiochus IV Epiphanes forbid Jewish practice and in addition his troops defiled the Temple by installing an altar to Zeus Olympios where pigs were sacrificed. As a result, a rebellion began by the Jewish family the Maccabees. Eventually, they were successful in removing the King's soldiers from the Temple and surrounding area. The Maccabees found insufficient oil to use for lighting the Temple's lamp; but according to legend, a miracle occurred and the oil lasted for eight days. Register here to attend Form to bring (if you are competing) This event is sponsored by CCJCC in partnership with Beth Chaim Cong., CCJDS, Chabad of CC, Cong. B'nai Shalom, Cong. B'nai Tikvah, PJ Library Bay Area, Shevet Egoz & Temple Isaiah.

VENUES Acalanes High School: 1200 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lafayette, CA, 94549 (925.280.3970) Beth Chaim Congregation: 1800 Holbrook Dr, Danville, CA 94506 (925.736.7146) - bethchaim.com Chabad of Contra Costa: 1671 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 (925.937.4101) - jewishcontracosta.com Chabad of the Tri-Valley: 3370 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588 (925.846.0700) - jewishtrivalley.com Congregation B'nai Shalom: 74 Eckley Ln, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925.934.9446) - bshalom.org Congregation B'nai Tikvah: 25 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 (925.933.5397) - tikvah.org Congregation Beth Emek : 3400 Nevada Ct, Pleasanton, CA 94566 (925.931.1055) - bethemek.org Contra Costa Jewish Day School: 955 Risa Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549 (925.284.8288) - ccjds.org Danville Village Theatre: 233 Front St, Danville, CA 94526 (925.314.3400) Gateway Clubhouse Rossmoor: 1001 Golden Rain Rd., Walnut Creek, CA 94595 - rosmoor.com Temple Isaiah: 945 Risa Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549 (925.283.8575) - temple-isaiah.org Vine Cinema & Alehouse: 1722 First St, Livermore, CA 94550 (925.447.2545) - vinecinema.com

Celebrate Israel's 75th Birthday at Sunday, April 30, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Stone Valley Middle School, Alamo Event Schedule Register here Donate for IsraFEST75 This festive, community-wide event is convened and underwritten by We wish to thank our co-sponsors and community partners for their generosity and support. Platinum Sponsor Co-sponsors Community Partners Admission is free. Pre-register by Friday, April 28, and save time on entry on Sunday, April 30. Before you check out, enter the number of adults and children tickets you need and fill the registration form once. You will immediately receive your order confirmation email, including your ticket(s), to scan on that day. Registrations that include multiple tickets will have a pdf attachment in the confirmation email. If you don't see this email, please check your spam/junk folder to retrieve it. We suggest adding sender notifications@wixevents.com to your contacts in advance. Directions to Stone Valley Middle School in Alamo: https://goo.gl/maps/FL5k6hUwpzATkfdf9 Important: There is parking in front of the school and along the adjacent streets (Ina Drive, David Drive, etc.) However, there is no parking on Miranda. We recommend carpooling with friends and family. All bags are subject to security checks. We also recommend bringing transparent bags if possible. For questions, email underonetent@ccjcc.org . There is something for everyone at IsraFEST75 . Here is the list of some of our activities. Check back by April 16 for our complete schedule. Visit our “Shuk HaCarmel” for Israeli food & snacks including borekas and hummus, plus Israel@75 souvenirs. Youth 3 – 13 will enjoy interactive activities: observing desert fauna; visiting a Bedouin tent for mint tea & a poetry reading; making a mezuzah; discover the wonders of Israeli innovation; journeying to Tel Aviv for a round of Matkot; visiting a replica of the Kotel, and much, much more. Enjoy live musical performances by Eric Schoen, "The Three Cantors" with Temple Isaiah Mizmor Band and Rabbi Larry Milder. At 1:15 PM, Israeli singer Noa Levy and her band will present a concluding concert! If movies are your thing, drop by for our Israeli short film series. Learn about the FIDF’s “Lone Soldier” program from a participant. Curious about your roots? Genealogist Margalit Ir will share her inside tips for discovering more about your ancestors. Rabbi Lawrence from Temple Isaiah will lead a discussion on Israeli music. Kick up your heels at our Israeli folk dancing classes. Take a group picture at our photo booth with beautiful backdrops of Israeli scenes. Food trucks will join us onsite: Kona Ice and StarChaat Indian vegetarian food. L ooking forward to celebrating Israel's 75th birthday with you!

HOW TO WATCH YOUR ONLINE EVENT You may watch the movies on your tablet, computer, or phone in addition to your TV . For all devices except TV, streaming the movies should be as simple as clicking the link you receive in the confirmation email (after you complete registration and during the period of time that streaming will be available). You may also open your preferred browser (Safari, Chrome, Edge, etc.) and copy and paste the same link to your browser. Note: For online film screenings co-sponsored with EBIJFF and presented on Eventive's platform, you will need to log in to your Eventive account that you created when you first signed in and/or purchased a ticket, paid or free. Once you are logged in, you have full access to your content library, you can watch the programs in there and for support, you may use their need help link. Please pay attention to the movie unlock periods and watch periods as these may differ depending on the platforms or streaming providers. For Zoom presentations, you would also use the link in the confirmation and/or reminder email you receive before the event begins. You may either directly click the link provided that will prompt Zoom and ask you to allow downloads and then launch meeting, or join in the meeting with the meeting ID and password provided. Watching the Event on Your TV There are two methods for watching the event on your television: Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay. Chromecast: If you have an external Google Chromecast set up with your TV or a TV with built-in Google Chromecast (TV’s listed here ) , open the online event link in Chrome and follow these steps to cast the webpage’s video experience to your TV. Apple AirPlay: If you have an external Apple TV or a TV with built-in Apple Airplay (TV’s listed here ) , open the online event link in Safari and follow these Play a web video on your HDTV steps. To watch movies streamed on Vimeo's platform (such as online screenings co-sponsored with EBIJFF) using the Vimeo App on a smart TV (Android) or Roku, follow the steps listed here . Watch here how to connect an android phone to a TV for screen mirroring (or screen casting). Compatible Browsers for Online Viewing Chrome 77+ Edge 17+ Firefox 71+ Safari 12.1+ Chrome for android 78+ Firefox for android 78+ iOS safari 12+ If you have a Mac device that you use, but an Android Smart TV (ex: Sony Bravia that has chromecast), follow these steps: Download the Google Chrome app onto your Mac device , if you don’t already have it. Once you are in Google Chrome, copy the movie link to the Chrome browser and start your video. On the top right of your screen, above the video playing, you will see 3 vertical dots, Click the 3 dots. There will be a list of options opening up. Find and click “Cast” and choose the tv name you want to cast the movie to. Make sure the TV you choose is in the same WI-FI network and it is ON. You should be able to continue watching the movie immediately where you left off. If you encounter other playback issues while watching your movie on Vimeo , here are some troubleshooting tips . Important Tip: If you are connecting your IPad or IPhone to your TV with a lightning and an HDMI cable, to view the film fullscreen on TV, please make sure your phone or tablet is in horizontal position. Otherwise, the image will be smaller, in portrait mode, and will not fill the TV screen.

With the Under One Tent program Contra Costa JCC is partnering with synagogues, schools and Jewish organizations to bring the Jewish community together. UNDER ONE TENT The One Stop for Jewish Culture & Community in Contra Costa & Tri Valley JoAnn Jacobson, Chair, Under One Tent Larry Jacobs, President, Contra Costa JCC The Contra Costa JCC is proud to bring Under One Tent to the community. This innovative program is more than a listing of events. We reflect the renaissance of Judaism and Jewish life in Central Contra Costa and Pleasanton and showcase the dynamic partnerships between synagogues, schools, and Jewish organizations. Through cultural, educational, spiritual and social action programs, our community comes together — the affiliated and unaffiliated — to celebrate, explore and learn. By being inclusive, we become: O NE W elcoming A ctive V ibrant E xciting Jewish community.

MOROCCAN HAROSET BALLS Ingredients 1 cup walnuts (almonds can be substituted) 1 peeled and cubed green apple 1/2 cup pitted dates 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup pitted prunes 2 tsp. grape juice 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. sugar Preparation In a blender or food processor, add all ingredients. Blend to desired consistency. Some prefer this charoset to have more texture while others refer a smoother consistency. Roll the charoset mixture into balls, refrigerate for 1-2 hours, and then place individual balls on each plate. HEDVA'S YEMENITE CHAROSET (with thanks to the Jewish Journal magazine) Ingredients 1 cup walnuts 1 cup almonds 10 dates, seedless Water 1/2 cup raisins 1 apple, peeled, cored and diced 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 cup grape juice or sweet red wine Preparation In a food processor, lightly grind walnuts and almonds. Set aside. Soak dates in water for 1 hour and cut each date into halves. Grind dates, raisins and diced apple in the food processor. Add walnuts, almonds and remaining ingredients. Add the grape juice or sweet wine and mix well. SEPHARDIC HAROSET Ingredients 1/2 cup pecans chopped 1/2 pound pitted dates 1 1/2 cup raisins 2 peeled apples 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground ginger 1/4 cup orange juice Preparation Put all of the ingredients in a food processor with a steel blade and process until coarsely chopped. ASHKENAZI CHAROSET Ingredients 6 grated apples 1 cup finely chopped walnuts 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 2-3 Tbsp white sugar 1/3 cup sweet red wine Preparation Place the apples and walnuts into a large bowl. Combine the cinnamon and sugar, sprinkle over the apples. Stir in the sweet wine. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving. SABRA HAROSET (Thank you to Be’chol Lashon’s website for this tasty charoset. Ingredients 2 peeled and cored apples 6 peeled bananas 1 lemon, juiced 1 orange, juiced 20 pitted dates 1 cup peanuts (switch to another nut, if allergic) 1 cup dry red wine matzah meal as needed 2 tsp. cinnamon sugar to taste Preparation Put fruit, nuts, cinnamon and sugar into a food processor and blend to a slightly chunky texture. Add wine, lemon juice and orange juice. Then add enough matzah meal to form the consistency that you want.

VENUES Due to social-distancing protocols at many of our locations, the majority of our events remain virtual (online). If a program is held in-person, that information will be included in its write-up. The location of our “Young Families' Programs," which are usually outdoor events, will be listed in the program description, or in some cases, communicated after registration is complete.