Acorn Shabbat 5787 (2026-7): A Year of Foods!
JOIN US for a full year of wild foraging, campfire cooking, and exploring what food can teach us about culture, natural cycles, memory, solidarity, and resistance!
Acorn foraging & processing * Acorn challah * Campfire matzoh * Building fires * Foods and stories from around the Jewish diaspora * Food, culture & resistance in Palestine & Lebanon * And so much more!
Acorn Shabbat is a family forest club that meets biweekly on Saturday mornings in Oakland throughout the school year (September-May). We are rooted in Jewish culture, but all are welcome. We share a commitment to social justice and Palestinian liberation.
“Finding joy, companionship, and commitment in the sacredness of the Redwoods has been the biggest highlight of our past year – for the whole family, 2yrs old to 80yrs old. This is the future of Judaism, here, now.” – Rebecca, Acorn Shabbat participant
Schedule: We meet biweekly on Saturday mornings, 10:30-12:30. Our 2026-7 program year begins September 5th and runs through May. Fall program dates: September 5 (Rosh Hashanah Open Session), September 19 (Sukkot Open Session), October 3, October 17, October 31 (wild-foraged candy?!?), November 14, November 28, December 12 (Chanukah Open Session). Everyone is invited to the open sessions–bring your friends, grandparents, and neighbors. Regular sessions are geared toward families joining us for the full-year journey.
What we do: We always offer a variety of activities: singing, art projects, nature learning, creative celebrations of Jewish holidays, and guided reflections for adults. This year, we’re doing a deep dive on food! But a lot of our time is spent in forest free play (and social time for the grownups). This is not a formal political or religious instruction program for kids, and they’re welcome to spend time digging in the dirt . . . but we hope to pass on values of community, social justice, liberation Judaism, and nature connection by embodying them together in joyful ways.
Ages: Children’s programming is geared at ages 5-12, but younger kids are welcome with adult accompaniment, and teen helpers are enthusiastically welcomed! (Talk to us if you’re interested!).
Adult participation: Adults are welcome to participate in all sessions, or to drop off children over 5 with advance notice. Many adults volunteer to help make the group run in various ways, but we respect limited capacity and no one is required to put in extra time. This year, we’re also offering kids-only drop-off programming for school holidays. Stay tuned for dates!
Commitment: No one can make every session, but our year-round program is geared toward ongoing community-building for the whole family. We ask that families try to attend regularly. If you just want to drop in, please join us for our open sessions!
Cost: We ask each family to contribute $200 per semester (fall and spring). If this isn’t affordable to you, you’re welcome to contribute a lower amount or attend for free. This year, a portion of family contributions will go toward stipends for chefs, foragers, and other cultural practitioners to share their knowledge with us.
Access: All our activities are outdoors in public parks with water and bathroom access. Some involve short walks over uneven ground to reach the program space and/or the bathrooms. Please contact us for further access information or to discuss your family’s needs!
Can I join this if I’m not Jewish? Absolutely!! This is a great space for anyone looking to connect with nature, spirit, and a community of folks with shared values and creative kids. We do engage Jewish history, culture, and ritual, but everyone is welcome to join in.
