More than 40 years ago (already, this sounds Biblical!), a group of about 10 Jewish families living in the Santa Ynez Valley determined that its ranks were likely to grow. Those families organized a socially-oriented group in order to offer selected Jewish holiday events, such as Hanukkah and Passover, to Santa Ynez Valley people with one or more family members of the Jewish faith. In the 1990s, t
he ranks of that group HAD grown to about 50 member families and the first High Holy Days services were held in the Valley. In 2003, The Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community was incorporated as a tax exempt 501c3 non-profit religious corporation and formally affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the predecessor organization of URJ. Membership has continued to grow to 60 member families. Services have similarly expanded. In 2003, SYVJC was the very proud recipient of a donation of an historical Torah, thanks to the auspices and the efforts of URJ. In 2008, SYVJC hired its first part-time Rabbi. Our current Rabbi is Debi Lewis. Read more about Rabbi Lewis on our web page: www.syvjc.org. Currently, SYVJC offers a full range of religious services, religious schooling, adult education, Bar/Bat Mitzvah training, High Holy Days services, a community Passover Seder, a Hanukkah Party, a Sukkot party, a weekly bulletin to members, social action and charitable activities both within and outside the community, and participates in a variety of social and community events.
