Best Kid-Friendly Ways To Celebrate Passover Around The East Bay
Passover Seder for Young Children
Jewish Community Center of the East Bay, Oakland Branch
5811 Racine St.
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 848-0237
www.jcceastbay.org
Date: March 25
The Oakland branch of the Jewish Community Center of the East Bay offers an annual seder dinner geared specifically towards children ages two to seven. Children of all ages, including those with no prior Passover or seder experience, are welcome to attend. A child friendly light seder meal will be served. It is suggested that diners bring their own pillows and blankets to sit on as the meal will be served picnic style.
Congregational Seder Dinner, Passover Festival and Yiskor Service
Temple Sinai
2808 Summit St.
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 451-3263
www.oaklandsinai.org
Dates: March 26 and April 1
Temple Sinai in Oakland is one of the largest Jewish congregations in the East Bay. Join in celebrating the season at either its congregational seder or Passover festival. Temple Sinai's seder and Passover festival are child friendly and also open to those with limited or no knowledge of the Jewish faith and custom, as well as to interfaith families. The Passover festival and Yiskor service held on April 1 will close out the 2013 Passover holiday season.
Family Friendly Seder Dinner
Wise Sons Deli
3150 24th St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 787-3354
www.wisesonsdeli.com
Dates: March 25-27
Just a short trip from the East Bay, the San Francisco-based Wise Sons Deli has been holding an increasingly popular family friendly seder dinner for the past several years. While there will be no specific kids' menu at this year's seder, children are welcome to join in the fun, interactive dinner held on-site at the deli. Diners are seated family style at long tables and while the traditional Passover story is celebrated, the focus at this seder is definitely on the food. Make sure to sign up early as this event frequently sells out.
Related: Best Kosher Foods In San Francisco
Community Seder
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews
Bothwell Arts Center
2466 8th St.
Livermore, CA 94550
(510) 888-1404
www.trivalleyculturaljews.wordpress.com
Date: March 30
The Tri-Valley Cultural Jews are a non-religious organization for those who identify with the Jewish culture and heritage but do not necessarily practice the religion. Each year, it holds an annual community seder dinner to celebrate the Passover season using its own unique haggadah to celebrate all humans' struggles for freedom. Dinner is non-kosher and served picnic style. This very kid friendly event includes singing, games and a non-perishable food collection for a local food bank. Anyone interested in a cultural celebration of Passover is welcome to attend, and a $10 donation from non-members age 13 and older is requested.
Passover Seder
Kol Hadash / Northern California Community for Humanistic Judaism
Albany Community Center
1249 Marin Ave.
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 428-1492
www.kolhadash.org
Date: March 30
Similar to the Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, Kol Hadash is comprised of a large group of over 60 East Bay households that celebrate their Jewish identity non-theistically. This Passover season, it will be holding a humanistic seder dinner in the Albany Community Center. Kol Hadash welcomes interfaith families, believers and non-believers alike to join in on a more modern take on the traditional seder. Advance registration is required.
Related: Best Resources For Homeschool Families In The East Bay
Joanna Metheny is a freelance writer covering all things South Bay. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
