Coastside Jewish Community : Providing an inclusive community that supports connection to Jewish life, both cultural and spiritual, on the coast from Pacifica to Pescadero.

Shabbat Message:
Today is an important day…

Posted on April 24, 2026May 4, 2026 by Reb Moshe

Today is an important day. Actually, there have been quite a few lately.

In the Jewish calendar, there was Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzma’ut this past week – Israel’s Memorial Day (April 21) and Independence Day (April 22). Feeling compelled to do something to commemorate these important days, I made the trip down to Santa Cruz with two other CJC members to meet the Israeli and Palestinian authors of the new book, The Future Is Peace.

Read the full Shabbat message.

Israel: How did it come to this?

Posted on April 6, 2026April 24, 2026 by Laura

Lifelong Learning Chavurah in-depth learning opportunity Israel: How did it come to this? An historical review of the events, dynamics and drivers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. J School, part of the educational arm of J Street, presented a series of online seminars to help people understand the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Those sessions are available online, and are […]

Counting the Omer

Posted on March 17, 2026April 27, 2026 by Laura

The spiritual practice of Counting the Omer lasts for 49 days, divided into seven weeks of seven days each, from the second day of Pesach until the day before Shavuot. Our practice today emerges from three layers of Jewish history, each with it’s own layer of meaning.

Shabbat

Posted on March 5, 2026May 4, 2026 by Laura

Friday, May 8 – Family Shabbat w/ Pizza & Movie Night in Montara, 6pm

Email Brianne for the location.

Book Club

Posted on March 4, 2026April 2, 2026 by Vaughn

Coastside Jewish Community Book Club meets approximately once every two months at members’ homes. We read all kinds of books that are in some way related to Judaism, and generally ensure our books are available through a library. We usually get together in person, and make online access available if anyone tells us they need it. Quite importantly, we get together to enjoy each others’ company.

Our next meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 28. We are reading My Name is Asher Lev, by Chaim Potok.

Family Circle

Posted on October 2, 2025April 15, 2026 by Laura

A Jewish Sunday School for grades K-7.

Social Action

Posted on September 29, 2025October 10, 2025 by Linda B. Goldstein

Linda and Chip Goldstein have helped to organize with La Honda Indivisible many “hands off” and “No Kings” protests that have been held in Half moon Bay. CJC members continue to gather at local and other Bay Area protests.

Annual Holiday Observances & Past Special Events

Posted on September 29, 2025October 3, 2025 by Laura

Following is information about some of our Holiday observances and special events of the past year. Ignore the ‘posted’ dates!

Thursday, May 21, 7pm: Tikun Leyl Shavuot virtual gathering. Along with Jews all over the world on the eve of Shavuot, Aryae and Wendy will facilitate a sharing of words of Torah and spiritual reflection. This is said to take place on the anniversary of the night when Moses and the Israelites encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai before receiving the Torah the next morning. You can find a diverse collection of teachings about Shavuot on their Torah Circle Blog. To participate in this virtual gathering, email Wendy.

Friday, May 22, 6pm: Kabbalat Shabbat & Shavuot Service & Dinner. Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai. It's a tradition for synagogues and bimahs to be decorated with flowers and greenery to remind us of the midrash that when the Torah was given, the desert bloomed! This year, our service will take place in a gorgeous, verdant greenhouse in Pacifica, with views of Montara Mountain and nearby beaches. It will be a beautiful place to celebrate the giving of the Torah and the wonders of nature as the sun sets over the Pacific. RSVP here to find out the location.