a man holds to flaming batons
Burning Mensch: Tribal Celebration of Lag B’Omer at Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto.

Bonfires! And other best bets this Mother’s Day weekend

For a cool weekend activity, light up your Saturday night at Burning Mensch. The Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto is hosting a Lag B’Omer “tribal celebration” featuring not only fire-dancing and a light-stick performance, but belly dancing, juggling and much more. Come in costume, and indulge in silent and ecstatic dance, too. Best yet: it’s free!

From 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Get the full line-up at paloaltojcc.org.


Ninet Tayeb — or just Ninet, as she’s known in Israel — is a true celebrity singer-songwriter in her homeland. She’s singing at the Peninsula JCC’s Lag B’Omer celebration on Sunday, May 14. There will also a bonfire (with s’mores!), archery, kosher barbecue, even bingo. Bring a jacket or sweater and maybe a blanket.

Festivities are from 5- 7:30 p.m. on the Peninsula JCC campus, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. pjcc.org


Here’s something different to do on Mother’s Day: Go down to the farm — Berkeley’s Urban Adamah, that is, for the “Spring Festival of Learning,” for an afternoon of talks and workshops led by rabbis and scholars, including rabbinic superstar David Ingber of New York’s Romemu congregation. But it’s not all serious stuff: How could it be with topics such as “Jewish Hair Untangled,” “Wisdom in the Wine,” and “Moses and Donald Trump: a Dialogue.” Kids (and animal lovers of any age) can hang out with goats and chickens, make Shabbat candles and go on a scavenger hunt. And everyone can groove to the music of Kugelplex, feast on Mexican street food, and warm up by the Lag B’Omer bonfire. That’s just a small slice of what’s happening.

1-7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 14 at Urban Adamah, 1151 Sixth Street, Berkeley. For a preview of all the activities, check out urbanadamah.org.

Liz Harris

Liz Harris is a J. contributor. She was J.'s culture editor from 2012-2018.