The full-day fast associated with the 9th of Av (beginning Saturday night, August 2nd) not only remembers calamities of the past, it is an opportunity to express deep concern for current crises.
Because of our painful history, we as Jews have room in our hearts to empathize with all suffering. In that vein, modern Tisha b’Av observances are also an opportunity to honor grief propelled by destruction and agression beyond our tribal calamities. We hope you will find a way to mark this important day in your home town or online. Some options are listed below.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and the Collaborative Team
Saturday, August 2 at noon TBESOC - 2A Liberty in Aliso Viejo Following Shabbat morning services, join us for a lunch and learn session led by Jackie Menter, Director of Refugee and Resettlement Services at JFCSLBOC, with an update on the current work of refugee relief organizations around the country as they pivot their focus during these turbulent times.
Saturday evening, August 2 at 7:30pm TBESOC - 2A Liberty in Aliso Viejo A Tisha b’Av evening program with Sound Healing, Havdalah and the recitation of the Book of Lamentations See flyer below and RSVP here
Sunday, August 3 at 10:00am 3635 Elm Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807 All are invited to join JCoOC and Temple Beth Shalom in Long Beach for a Tisha b’Av Shaharit service that will include the reading of Lamentations and a special study session.
Sunday, August 3 at 7:00am PT | 10:00am ET Lamenting Together: Community Eicha Online Reading Join Rabbi Julia Andelman together with the My Jewish Learningcommunity to find meaning and hope in this cathartic mourning ritual. Register here
Special Shabbat Event next Friday Night, August 8th
Shabbat Rocks Full Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv service with Carina and Baruch Rock | Friday, August 8at 6:30pm | hosted at a private home in Irvine | RSVP here
Kever Avot Service 5786 at Harbor Lawn - Mount Olive Memorial Park and Mortuary | Sunday, September 28th, 2025 at 10:30am | 1625 Gisler Avenue in Costa Mesa | (714) 540-5554
Kever Avot Service 5786 at Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary | Sunday, September 28th, 2025 at 1:30pm | 3500 Pacific View Drive in Corona Del Mar | (949) 467-3715
Saturday, August 2 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 meetings click 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. No Minyan Sunday night, August 3rd
Presented by the Jewish Community Foundation Orange County's Weissman Arts program, and partnering with institutions throughout Orange County, the 2025 Festival brings together Jewish artists from around the U.S. and Israel to paint this spring and summer. Painting at select locations began in May and will culminate at a full-day festival on August 24.
Artists that kicked off the festival in May include: Rabbi Yitzchok Moully, Mike Wirth, Louis Barak, and Hillel Smith, festival founder and co-producer of this event. They have already created six new murals in Santa Ana, Irvine, and Huntington Beach. Arriving in early August to complete the mural cycle will be Adam Podber, Alexander Golob, and Dede Bandaid with Nitzan Mintz. Together with Smith, these artists will create the remaining five murals, completing the 2025 Orange County presentation of Jewish Street Art.
Enrich your summer with Jewish learning Visit the websites below to access current and past course and special program schedules:
AJU Whizin Center for Open Learning: AJU online learning offers classes for adults seeking to build Jewish skills and knowledge and hosts lectures by internationally acclaimed scholars, artists, authors and geo-political experts. Something for everyone!
Jewish Theological Seminary of America | Podcast | Torah Commentary | Lifelong Learning JTS offers online classes that create live, interactive opportunities for study with top-caliber scholars. Encounter compelling Jewish scholarship that brings the texts and wisdom of our tradition to bear on contemporary dilemmas. Courses delve deeply into specific areas of Jewish text, history, philosophy, religion, arts, and literature.
HUC Connect: HUC Connect invites you to join participants from 55 countries to discover something new about Judaism and about yourself through webinars, courses and podcasts.
Shalom Hartman Institute: Online courses, podcasts and programs that courageously address some of the most pressing issues of our time.
Orange County Community Scholars Program: A colorful array of podcasts and videos of current and past lectures spanning 2001-2025. Jewish scholarship at its finest.
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.
November 10,17,24 and December 1
Mondays - 9:30 am PT | 12:30 pm ET Register here
When you think about biblical women, what images and words come to mind? Temptress? Victim? Women subjugated by husbands or fathers? Close textual reading reveals that these stereotypes are incongruous with the actual lived experiences of female characters in TaNaKh. In this course we will gain some new insights into the extraordinary women that populate the pages of our Holy Scriptures.
Dror Israel: Educating for Hope and Healing in Times of War
Wednesday, November 12 at 7:00pm
Sivan Bamberger, International Development Director for Dror Israel
Hosted at a private home in Orange RSVP HERE
Bringing Heaven Down To Earth: Integrating High Holy Day Wisdom into Everyday Life
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.
JCoOC is an exempt organization in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code EIN: 36-4844121
