KLEZCALIFORNIA INC

KLEZCALIFORNIA'S VISION:
• Yiddish culture actively engages individuals and families in Yiddish language, arts, crafts, literature, klezmer music, theater, Yiddish song and dance, and the enjoyment of Eastern European Jewish food.
• Yiddish cultural activities are regularly part of community centers, synagogues, schools, and ethnic music and dance gatherings.
• Yiddish cultural activities are presented regularly in community arts venues and considered to be an element of world music.
• Yiddish cultural events attract people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds.
• Yiddish culture is shared and taught by a growing number of enthusiastic leaders.
• Jewish people, whether affiliated or not, have meaningful Jewish experiences through interactions with Yiddish culture.
• Jewish youth appreciate and embrace Yiddish heritage throughout their cultural and religious education.
• KlezCalifornia continues to play a significant role in building a vibrant Bay Area community to promote and celebrate Yiddish culture, creating continuity for generations to come.

Produce Yiddish cultural events throughout the nine-county Bay Area.
• Publicize related cultural events through e-mail and newsletters to Bay Area residents interested in Yiddish culture
• Identify and link Yiddish culture-bearers with each other and with the region's creative communities.
• Connect individuals with each other and with important Yiddish teachers and culture-bearers.
• Expand the involvement of those engaged in a particular element of Yiddish culture, encouraging them to explore a broader range of Yiddish cultural expression.
• Attract people new to Yiddish culture through performing arts and interdisciplinary activities.
• Incorporate Yiddish culture into Jewish education programs for both youth and adults.
• Encourage participation from both Jews and non-Jews.
• Continue to explore new collaborations with related organizations.
• Catalyze and serve as a resource for creative projects.
• Act as a resource for performing artists, through performance opportunity information, networking, and fiscal sponsorship.
• Continue to develop joyful and creative ways to keep Yiddish culture vital and active.

KlezCalifornia is a lean and effective organization that maximizes financial support. We have low overhead, a wonderful volunteer roster and, as an organization, value the frugal nature of the Yiddish culture we celebrate. KlezCalifornia squeezes many important programs out of the financial support we receive.

KlezCalifornia's work since our founding in 2003 has changed the old paradigms in the San Francisco Bay Area (that we are “obligated" to keep Yiddish alive because it is “dying," that Yiddish culture is old-fashioned and not relevant today) into new ones: Yiddish-inspired culture is cool, enhances Jewish life, and brings people together for multi-generational fun. People of all skills and interests can incorporate Yiddish culture into their lives.

All in the San Francisco Bay Area now can enjoy a visible, thriving Yiddish-inspired community. We have been pleased over time to see how much of this has resulted from KlezCalifornia's own activities.

Our program "Tam: Tastes of Yiddish Culture for Kids & Teens" has lesson plans in Yiddish culture suitable for classrooms in grades K-12.

Since the pandemic, we have moved all our programs online and attract even more people than before. People everywhere can now enjoy participatory workshops, lectures, Yiddish conversation salons, social gatherings, and other programs.