Click here to see a full schedule of weekend events
To reserve a copy of Professor Matt’s books God and Big Bang, Essential Kabbalah and The Zohar in advance of the festival, call the TBESOC office during business hours: 949-362-3999 $18 per book
PURIM 2025 begins Thursday evening, March 13
JOoOC looks forward to celebrating Purim with TBESOC "The Magic of Purim" events for the whole family Thursday, March 13
2A Liberty in Aliso Viejo 5:00pm - Family Purim Program "The Lost Sounds of the Megillah" in the sanctuary with Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein 5:00pm - Full Megillah reading and Ma’ariv in the chapel 6:15pm - Festive Purim Dinner in the Social Hall | RSVP 7:00pm - "The Magic of Purim" featuring the talents of Ariel Shrum and other guest magicians
Order Your Hamantaschen for Purim by March 10 16277 Laguna Canyon Rd Suite G, Irvine, CA 92618 Phone: (714) 587-2850 Order at theblessedbraid.com
JCoOC programs and community service projects are seeded and grow through 🌱 your generosity🌱
Yehuda Kurtzer’s March 3rd op-ed in JTA addresses the troubling response by American Jews to the current dismantling of American Democracy and why we should all be concerned. Read it here
"The Magic of Purim"events for the whole family | Thursday, March 13 | 5:00pm Family Program and Traditional Megillah reading | 6:15pm - Purim dinner and party | 2A Liberty in Aliso Viejo RSVP for dinner
HaNefesh OC presents JOURNEYS OF HOPE:Exploring Immigration Through Learning, Action, and Community | Monday, March 10 at 6pm and March 30, 10am - 5pm | RSVP here
Saturday, March 8 at 2pm PT TWELVE STEPS AND TORAH JCoOC partners with Our Jewish Recovery(OJR) every Shabbat afternoon for Torah study informed by the wisdom of Twelve Step recovery. Join us on Zoom. For more information and to be added to the Twelve Steps & Torah email list, click here For a full menu of OJR programs and meetingsclick here
Mondays at 9:30 am PT on Zoom
March 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2025 ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE Proverbial Wisdom with Rabbi David Lazar
March 10: Collection of Cleverness - Background and structure Known in Hebrew as Mishlei, the Book of Proverbs is a collection of separate writings that address patterns of life and different value systems. Considered essential to the library of Wisdom Literature, Mishlei raises questions about values, moral behavior, the meaning of human life, and proper conduct. Click here for details and to register
Tuesdays at 2pm PT | 5pm ET Mar 4 - Parent & sibling loss Mar 11 - Open group Mar 18 - Spousal loss Mar 25 - Child loss
Thursdays at 5pm PT | 8pm ET Mar 6 - Spousal loss Mar 13 - Child loss Mar 20 - Parent & sibling loss Mar 27 - Open group
Beginning March 13, JCoOC’s Jewish Bereavement Support Network will be hosting a 6-week in-person grief group at the Merage JCC in Irvine on Thursdays from 1:00-2:30pm. Register here
Sunday through Thursday at 6:00pm OC EGAL NIGHTLY MINYAN If you are looking for a place to say Mourner's Kaddish, observe a yahrzeit, or participate in an evening minyan, OC Egal meets online five nights a week.Click here to receive the private Zoom link. All are welcome.
Advanced Learning Institute March 10, 17, 24 and 31 | 9:30am PT on Zoom
CLIMATE ACTION
National Mass Organizing Call: We Rise: Climate, Jobs & Justice for All Tuesday, March 18, 5:30pm PT (There will be breakout rooms by state, as well as one for college students, people who want to work on electoral campaigns, and more.)
It is time to hold polluters accountable for the Climate devastation they have inflicted upon the entire world. Superfund Bill SB 684 will require fossil fuel companies to pay into a fund for resilience and recovery. We will also make sure the oil drilling buffer zone law that we helped to pass goes into full effect. Join us on March 18 to learn about these campaigns and more.
Times are dark, but the clean energy revolution is here and undeniable. “Ma’alin ba-kodesh v’ayn moridin”; once we set out upon a path toward a clean energy future – we rise in holiness, we do not descend.
Are you concerned about the decimation of our planet? Join members of OC’s Jewish community committed to working together to speak up, take action and educate others. Dayenu Orange County is waiting for you!
What is a Dayenu Circle and why would I want to be part of it? Dayenu Circles—small groups of people working on climate action—are a way for you to make powerful, positive change with a Jewish voice. Together with just a few friends, fellow community members, or neighbors you can join or create a Dayenu Circle that can be your homebase for climate action.
Hadassah Magazine Presents: A Conversation with author Dara Horn Thursday, March 20 at 7 PM ET
All are invited to join Hadassah Magazine Executive Editor Lisa Hostein for her interview with three-time National Jewish Book Award Winner Dara Horn. The focus will be her latest work One Little Goat - a graphic novelabout the Pesach holiday and the alarming rise and historical roots of antisemitism. Horn, one of America’s most insightful Jewish commentators, is also the author of People Love Dead Jews and five best-selling novels.
Want to explore what AJU online learning has to offer? Browse all of their classes and events! Can't make it live? Register anyway! All participants will receive the recordings of free webinars. Join them in real time to engage with the speaker, ask questions, and be part of the conversation!
JOURNEYS OF HOPE Exploring Immigration Through Learning, Action, and Community Monday, March 10 at 6pm and March 30, 10am - 5pm Learn more and register here
Immigration is more than just a policy issue—it’s about people, stories, and the values we uphold as a Jewish community. HaNefesh OC invites us to engage in a two-part experience designed to deepen our understanding of immigration justice.
March 10: A Zoom seminar on becoming an UnDocuAlly, challenging harmful stereotypes, and creating spaces of true inclusion. March 30: An immersive day trip to LA. Meet immigrants, experience the power of food in connecting communities, and learn from those most impacted by policy changes.
Israel Philharmonic Tribute: Heartbeat of a Nation Wednesday, March 26, 2025 5:30pm Pre-concert Dinner Reception at The Park Club 8:00pm Performance at Segerstrom Concert Hall
The Jewish Collaborative of Orange County is a creative, collaborative, and compassionate community mosaic dedicated to innovating and supporting local and national programming that enriches the landscape of Jewish life and encouraging individuals and families to connect their passions and purpose with Judaism.
Mondays May 19, 26 and June 16, 2025 9:30 am PT | 12:30 pm ET Register here
This question in 2025 has deep personal and political consequences with roots in ancient Jewish debates. Rabbi Daniel will trace how ideas of Jewish identity have shifted across time - from biblical categories to the modern crises of belonging. We will explore why there has never been one clear answer to the question of Jewish identity and why the debate itself may be essential to Jewish continuity.
Grounded in the Jewish prophetic value of Pikuach Nefesh, JQ offers free virtual monthly and drop-in support groups for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies. Learn more
ExploringJudaism.org is about embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism and our personal search for meaning and learning. No matter who you are or your experience in Judaism there is something to learn and explore.
Each challah is an edible work of art, baked fresh and hand-braided especially for you! Choose from raisin, traditional, sesame seed and poppy seed. For more information, visit theblessedbraid.com.
JCoOC is an exempt organization in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code EIN: 36-4844121
