Teens and adults with a disabilities: would you enjoy a way to experience the Jewish holidays in a family-friendly, disability-friendly environment? If so, you and your friends/family are invited to join us for eight sessions celebrating the Jewish holidays through art, music, movement, story – and food!

Everyone is welcome!

In the fall of 2023, we begin our 17th year!

Celebrations sessions take place mostly in person and some on Zoom to accommodate the needs of our families around COVID and distance! In-person sessions are approximately 2¼ hours and Zoom sessions are 1 hour. Please note the variable starting times of sessions. Times are given in Pacific.

Our home is Congregation Ner Shalom in Cotati. In-person sessions are held in Ner Shalom’s beautiful outdoor courtyard, unless otherwise noted. Ner Shalom membership is not a requirement of participation in Celebrations.

Rabbi Irwin Keller is our rabbi and spiritual leader, bringing a lifetime of song, study, and spirit to his work. Leslie Gattmann, Program Leader, is a retired special education teacher with expertise in Jewish education and Judaic arts.  John Maas, Music Director, is a psychologist with a music therapy background, now in private psychotherapy practice after 36 years at Kaiser.

If you would like more information, please contact our volunteer Parent Coordinators: Jennifer Lorvick at jlorvick@rti.org (415) 637-7668 or Mary Ann Malinak at mamalinak@comcast.net (707) 694-4700.

We care about everybody’s health!

Newcomers: Please check with Mary Ann or Jennifer prior to each session this upcoming year since local health protocols are constantly changing. We may have to make a late decision to meet on Zoom vs. in person. Prior to any in-person event, we can send you our safety protocols upon request. Thank you.

We look forward to celebrating the Jewish holidays with you and your families!

Celebrations class dates 2023-2024

High Holy Days
Sunday, September 10, 2023 at Noon

Sukkot
Sunday, September 30, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Renaissance Healing and Learning Center

Chanukah
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 11:30 am

Tu Bishvat
Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 11:30 am.

Purim
Sunday, March 17th, 2024 at 11:30 am

Passover
Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 11:30 am

Lag BaOmer Dance Party
Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 11:30 am

Havdalah with the Horses
Summer 2024, date to be announced
Renaissance Healing and Learning Center

gratitude from a participant

In many other settings, our son is treated like the elephant in the room, but at Celebrations and at other Ner Shalom events, like Pesach seder, he is calm, happy and getting so much out of being part of what is going on. He can't express this verbally, but you can all see the delight and joy in his face being with the Celebrations students marching around the shul with the Torah and in every other wonderful activity offered at Ner Shalom.