Celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut around the Bay!

The Federation is thrilled to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) with our Bay Area Jewish community. This April, Israel is turning 70 and we are proudly supporting 20 outstanding events of every variety organized by our community partners in San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, and Sonoma. Check back daily for additional events and information.

April 8

San Francisco: The Contemporary Jewish Museum’s Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration. To celebrate Israel's Independence Day, catch the large projection of videos from Technion—Israel Institute of Technology’s Rube Goldberg Machine School Challenge.
 

April 16

South Peninsula: Hillel of Silicon Valley's Israel Week Celebration (April 16-20). This week-long series of Yom Ha'atzmaut activities at Foothill College includes a carnival, Israeli music, and food trucks serving Israeli foods. You can also learn about Israel's accomplishments in the areas of  humanitarian aid, human rights, and technology.

San Francisco: San Francisco Hillel's Israel @ 70 Week (April16-20). To celebrate 70 years of Israel's independence, students can experience Israel through culture, food, and art. Activities include tabling on campus to spark conversations about peace and struggles along the way, an open-tent conversation exploring the theme of home, a talk from Dennis Ross, former Ambassador to Israel and the Middle East, on exploring negotiations, providing space for meaningful reflection on Yom Hazikaron, and a festive Shabbat.
 

April 17

San Francisco: Live Performance by Koresh Dance Company. Join the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and Koresh Dance Company for a musical and emotional journey through some of Roni Koresh’s seminal pieces in celebration of Israel's 70th birthday.

San Francisco: Yom Hazikaron with Mordechai Kedar – Bringing Shalom to Our Home. Join Club Z for a ceremony commemorating Yom Hazikaron, including opening remarks by Ravit Baer, Israel's Deputy Counsel General to the Pacific Northwest, followed by a moderated discussion with Dr. Mordechai Kedar, an Israeli scholar of Arabic culture and a lecturer at Bar-Ilan University.
 

April 18

San Francisco: Yom Hazikaron Memorial Service and Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration. With Congregations Adath Israel and Chevra Thilim.
 

April 19

North Peninsula: Peninsula Jewish Community Center's Happy Birthday Israel! Take part in day-long festivities celebrating Israel at 70! Sample delicious Israeli foods and enjoy music, educational videos, arts and crafts, and a classic puppet show.
 

April 20

Sonoma: Congregation Shomrei Torah's Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration. Following Shabbat services, celebrate Israel's 70th with Israeli music, dancing, and free food.

San Francisco: Yom Ha'atzmaut 70’s Party. Join Moishe House NOPA for a 70’s-themed party in celebration of Israels 70’th birthday with disco music, colorful clothing, dancing, and good times.
 

April 21

San Francisco: San Francisco Shabbaton in Honor of Yom Ha’atzmaut and Israel's 70th Birthday. Join Congregation B'nai Emunah for a full weekend of food, wine, music (Klezmania! Trio), and learning with Dr. Henry Shreibman, its scholar in residence. Co-sponsored by the Southside Jewish Collaborative.

South Peninsula: Yom Ha'atzmaut BBQ Picnic. Celebrate Israel's 70th with Moishe House Silicon Valley at Shoreline Park, featuring games, sunbathing, music, and food.
 

April 22

Sonoma: 70 years of Israel's Independence, A Musical Celebration. Take a journey through 70+ years of Israeli music with Congregation Beth Ami, and israeli musicians Noa Levy and Achi Ben Shalom.

San Francisco: Congregation Beth Sholom's Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration. Enjoy an afternoon of Israeli music, dance, film, food, and children's activities to celebrate Israeli Independence Day, featuring music from Lior Ben Hur and his band, Sol Tevél.

North Peninsula: Oshman Family Jewish Community Center's Yom Ha’atzmaut Community Celebration in San Mateo. Celebrate Israel's Independence Day at a community-wide annual party, with music, dancing, food, and fun for the entire family.
 

April 25

San Francisco: Israel in the City – A Community-Wide Young Adult Celebration. Enjoy a taste of cosmopolitan Tel Aviv in our city by the Bay! Celebrate Israel's 70th Birthday with a group of young professionals at this event organized by the Federation’s NextGen Professionals Network.
 

April 29

San Francisco: Jewish Community Library's Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration for Young Children and their Families. This free gathering features stories from master Israeli storytellers Koren Zuckerman and Maayan Glaser-Koren of Treehouse Learning, songs, craft projects, and kosher food. The event will be entirely in Hebrew.

Marin: Yom Ha'atzmaut Family Kumzitz. A "kumzitz" is made up of two words – “kum” (come) and “zitz” (sit). It is traditionally a gathering where people come and sit together, share food and songs. Preschoolers and their families are invited to join Gan Israel Preschool for a community-wide kumzitz in its outdoor classroom.

San Francisco: Yom Ha'atzmaut Community Celebration and Concert with Hadag Nahash. Enjoy an Israeli “Shuk” (market) with activities for the whole family, music, and food for purchase, followed by a torchlight ceremony and musical performance by Israel’s biggest hip hip/funk band, Hadag Nahash. Organized by Congregation Emanu-El, Jewish National Fund, the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, and the Israeli American Council.
 

May 6

San Francisco: Israel Palooza at MoHoDo. Join Moishe House Dolores for a backyard celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut featuring delicious home-made Israeli food, drinks, candy, music, games, a DIY craft, and more.
 

May 9

South Peninsula: NCSY's Jewish Student Union Teens Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration. Students at schools in the South Peninsula can celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut with their campus Jewish Student Unions.
 

May 11

Marin: The Moth in Marin – Telling Our Israel Stories. Join Brandeis Marin, the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, Congregation Rodef Sholom, and Congregation Kol Shofar for and the Marin Jewish community in a celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut! The festivities begin with Shabbat services at Rodef Sholom, followed by a community dinner and Moth-style stories about Israel from community members.
 

May 12

San Francisco: Israelove 70 Fest. Sing, schmooze, eat, and dance at World Zionist Organization-DDA's festive celebration featuring Israeli food, drinks, and a live performance by local musician, Noa Levy.
 

May 25

San Francisco: Israel's Birthday. Join the Russian Speaking Jewish Moishe House to celebrate Israel's birthday and its vibrant culture and history with Israeli music and food.

Support for these events is made possible by grants from the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund and Sterling Bank and Trust / Seligman Family Foundation.