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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.
A special message from Rabbi Andra Greenwald:
"...Life is the highest value in Judaism and the Talmud teaches that to save one life is to save the world.
Now is the time to put our words and values into action and to save lives—our own and those of our neighbors.
MLJC does not have a denominational framework. We’re not Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal, Liberal or Humanist. All are welcome!
After a year of waiting for a Covid-19 vaccine, we now have three available to us, but they won’t work unless we roll up our sleeves. We can help the vaccine triumph over variants if we act and act now—not only for ourselves, but for the common good....Save your own life and that of those you love and save the world."
2020-2021 Jewish Holiday Calendar ~ 5781
All holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date specified.
Leil Selichot ... Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays
Begins sunset of Saturday, September 12, 2020
Ends nightfall of Sunday, September 13, 2020
Rosh Hashanah ... The Jewish New Year
The anniversary of the creation of Adam & Eve, and a day of judgment
and coronation of G‑d as king.
Begins sunset of Friday, September 18, 2020
Ends nightfall of Sunday, September 20, 2020
Yom Kippur .... Day of Atonement; the holiest day of the year.
Begins sunset of Sunday, September 27, 2020
Ends nightfall of Monday, September 28, 2020
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 Friday, October 2, 2020
Ends nightfall of Friday, October 9, 2020
Simchat Torah ... Day of Celebrating the Torah
Begins sunset of Friday, October 9, 2020
Ends nightfall of Sunday, October 11, 2020
Chanukah ... Festival of Lights
Begins sunset of Thursday, December 10, 2020
Ends nightfall of Friday, December 18, 2020
Tu B’Shvat ... New Year for Trees
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Purim ... Commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the wicked Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia.
Begins sunset of Thursday, February 25, 2021
Ends nightfall of Friday, February 26, 2021
Pesach (Passover) ... The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt.
Begins sunset of Saturday, March 27, 2021
Ends nightfall of Sunday, April 4, 2021
Lag B'Omer ... 33rd day of counting the Omer
Friday, April 30, 2021
Shavuot ... marks the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai
Begins sunset of Sunday, May 16, 2021
Ends nightfall of Monday, May 18 4, 2021
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)