The Orchard: A Season of Connection and Celebration

The Orchard has been bustling with activity over the past few months, bringing our community together through a series of memorable events. 

The highlights include a Women's Candle Painting Night at which a dozen young women gathered at a congregant's home for a creative evening of painting and mocktails. The event was filled with laughter, creativity and connection, and offered a relaxed space for new friendships to blossom.

We also enjoyed a lively Shabbocce Ball event, combining the fun of bocce ball with a delicious pizza feast at a local park. Our time on the Los Gatos Creek Trail was equally enjoyable, as we took a scenic hike and topped off the day with refreshing brews, bringing together our love of nature and good company.

A bittersweet moment came earlier this year when we said goodbye to Rabbi Jon Prosnit, who helped create The Orchard and then led it for years. While his departure was heartfelt, we are thrilled to now welcome Rabbi Shoshana Nambi, a fantastic new addition to our team who has already made a wonderful impact.

We celebrated the High Holy Days in style, beginning the new year with a special Shabbat, a community Pizza Break Fast and a meaningful volunteer event for Sukkot, which underscored our commitment to service and togetherness.

Looking ahead, we are excited for the upcoming winter season. November will see us embarking on a camping trip, followed by our Friendsgiving celebration. We’ll also gather for Chanukah festivities, and are already making plans for our second annual Ski Trip Shabbat Weekend.

It's been a season of growth and joy at The Orchard, and we can’t wait for what’s next!

The Orchard is a Jewish community for adults in their 20s and 30s (with or without children) in Silicon Valley. Our mission is to co-create an inclusive community, deeply rooted in ethics, values and spirituality, that — through leveraging Jewish wisdom — positively impacts the participants, and works to increase social good. Learn more at betham.org/orchard.