The Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community offers a broad variety of activities to serve the Jewish families in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. We are affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism and have been a continuing Jewish presence here in the central part of Santa Barbara County for more than 50 years.
Our Mission Statement
Our mission is to foster a community in the Santa Ynez Valley rooted in Jewish culture and values, open to all, that provides the community with the opportunity to worship, celebrate, learn, discover, collaborate, share, and flourish.
Our values, based on the idea of B’tzelm Elohim (we are created in the image of God) are: Respect for all, the pursuit of justice, empathy for those who need help, the repair of the world, openness to differing perspectives, collaboration with those who share or wish to share our values.
Youth
Our young families enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community. The children take a central and important part of all SYVJC gatherings and events.
Who are we?
Among our member families, you will meet doctors, lawyers, business men and women, artists, wine makers, judges, engineers, civil servants, architects, restaurateurs, educators, therapists, retirees, students, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren.
We are children of Orthodox, Reform and Conservative parents, and some of us are Jew-ish. Some of us have embraced our "Jewishness" late in life, some of us have always held it dear; all of us are exploring what it means to be a Jew.
Among our members you will find an outpouring of opinion, affection, and above all, support for one another.
In 2003 the SYVJC was created as a non-profit corporation and was formally affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ). Our community is engaged in many activities, from our monthly Shabbat and Torah study with our Rabbi, to our annual community Passover, Hanukkah, and Sukkot festivities. Over the last few years The Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community has also celebrated several Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. We have also sponsored numerous social and educational activities, including field trips, films and lectures.
We sponsor a full complement of High Holy Day Services, with our Rabbi and a Cantor. For all of our events and gatherings view our event calendar.
We invite you to contact us for more information about our congregation.
What is Reform Judaism?
Throughout history, Jews have remained firmly rooted in Jewish tradition, even as we learned much from our encounters with other cultures. Nevertheless, since its earliest days, Reform Judaism has asserted that a Judaism frozen in time is an heirloom, not a living fountain.