Mother Lode Jewish Community

JOIN US

Welcome to the MLJC website. Our group was formed in 1987 by four families living in the Murphys/Arnold corridor. It grew quickly and in 1996, incorporated as a 501(c)3 to serve the needs of the small Jewish population here in the Mother Lode. While there is no synagogue or temple located in any of the four counties from which most of our members are now drawn, there are families and individuals who wish to meet one another and celebrate the various holidays, festivals and life cycle events that comprise Jewish life and culture.

All of our events and activities are open to those of the Jewish faith and their families and friends as well as those wishing to learn more about Judaism. For those of you who are not yet MLJC members, we sincerely hope you will join us in our celebrations and events throughout the year and one day perhaps decide to join as members.

Information about upcoming events.

We do not own or occupy a building or meeting space. Our gatherings most often take place in the homes of our more centrally located members…those in the Murphys/Copperopolis and Sonora/Jamestown areas. Some of our larger gatherings, such as Passover and Chanukah, are typically held in a local meeting hall or restaurant in the same “central” locations.

Our only criteria for membership is that one member of the family be Jewish. We do not have a denominational framework. We’re not specifically Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal, Liberal, or Humanist.

All are welcome!

Become a member or renew online.

TuB.plantinggrp

service

PURIM2013.jpg

TuB.plantinggrp

1/7

MLJC does not have a denominational framework. We’re not Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal, Liberal or Humanist. All are welcome!

2024 Jewish Holiday Calendar ~ 5784-5

All holidays begin at sundown.

Tu B’Shvat ... New Year for Trees

Begins sunset of Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Ends nightfall of Thursday, January 25, 2024

Purim ... Commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from

the wicked Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia.

Begins sunset of Saturday, March 23, 2024
Ends nightfall of Sunday, March 24, 2024

Pesach (Passover) ... The Feast of Unleavened Bread

Celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt.

Begins sunset of Monday, April 22, 2024

Ends nightfall of Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Lag B'Omer ... 33rd day of counting the Omer

Sunday, May 26, 2024

Shavuot ... marks the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai

Begins sunset of Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Ends nightfall of Thursday, June 13, 2024

Rosh Hashanah ... The Jewish New Year

A time of rejoicing and of serious introspection,

a time to celebrate the completion of another year while

taking stock of one’s life.

Begins sunset of Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Ends nightfall of Friday, October 4, 2024

Yom Kippur .... Day of Atonement; the holiest day of the year.

Begins sunset of Friday, October 11, 2024
Ends nightfall of Saturday, October 12, 2024

Sukkot ... Feast of Tabernacles

The holiday when we expose ourselves to the elements in covered huts, commemorating G‑d's sheltering our ancestors as they traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Begins sunset of Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Ends nightfall of Wednesday, October 12, 2024

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah ... Day of Celebrating the Torah

Begins sunset of Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Ends nightfall of Friday, October 25, 2024

Chanukah ... Festival of Lights

Begins sunset of Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Ends nightfall of Thursday, January 2, 2025

For a complete list of Holidays and other important dates as well as Shabbat candle lighting times and similar information, go to HebCal.

Check out MLJC Celebrations on our EVENTS tab (at top)