About the Festival & Logistic Details

What is​ a Festival for Jewish Learning?

​The Central Coast Festival for Jewish Learning will be a unique opportunity
in San Luis Obispo ​to celebrate Jewish culture, history, and life.

​Speakers from around the country will come to deliver:
• lectures
• facilitate discussions
• share their art inspired by Jewish tradition

Local lay leaders, rabbis, and Cal Poly students serve as
staff, teachers, and service leaders at the festival.
There will be many ways to access the best of Jewish civilization and
central California during the three day program.
There will be classes, lectures, tours, hikes, bike rides, prayer services,
music, dance, panels, and discussions provided during the festival.
Participants will also have access to the many facilities at Cal Poly.

Scholarships to attend are available; Donations for Scholarships are welcome.  

The initiative to launch the Central Coast Festival for Jewish Learning was inspired by
 The Maine Conference for Jewish Life,
a program of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life.
LOCATION
Unless noted, all events take place at
Cal Poly State University - University Union*
South Poly View Drive , San Luis Obispo, 93407
(*Opening Friday Keynote is at Philips Hall)

FREE PARKING
Attendees will receive free parking in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) Parking Lot.
There will be an accessibility drop-off only near the University Union and in front of the PAC Center.

Registration (prices include all meals)
FULL Conference - (ALL 3 days, Fri, Sat, Sun)  - $100
TWO Day  - (CHOOSE any 2 days) - $72
SINGLE Day -  (CHOOSE 1, Fri, Sat or Sun) - $36
STUDENTS - $2 (ALL Days, ALL Events, ALL Meals!)
Scholarships available; Donations for scholarships welcome.
AT-A-GLANCE SCHEDULE
FRIDAY - May 17, 2019
Afternoon registration
Opening Keynote Speaker, 3:00 PM
Friday Services 5:30 (Phillips Hall)
Kabbalat Shabbat, Kiddush Cocktail Hour, and Mega-Shabbat Dinner at Chumash, 6:00PM
SATURDAY, May 18, 2019
Breakfast, 8:30AM
9:30 AM - Multi-denominational prayer services, yoga, or Saturday morning hike
Keynote speaker, 11:30AM
Lunch, 12:30PM
Breakout Sessions, 1:30-3
Breakout Sessions, 3:15-4:30
Off-campus Dinner, Speaker and Havdalah, 5:00-8:00PM
SUNDAY, May 19, 2019
Breakfast, 8:30AM
Breakout Sessions, 9:30-10:45
Breakout Sessions, 11-12:15
Lunch & Keynote Speaker, 12:30 PM
Festival Close Israeli Dancing, 2pm
All food is made under the supervision of Rabbi Chaim Hilel
Picture
Program Schedule Overview (PDF Download - Click Photo)

Festival Comittee Members
Special Thanks

This learning festival could not take place without the hard work and dedication of our committee members. Our community is incredibly grateful to have such talented and passionate individuals working together to bring you this amazing festival weekend.
Lauren Bandari, Executive Director JCC-Federation
As Executive Director, Lauren is leading JCC in establishing its community presence and growing to serve the community at large.  She coordinates its programs and services, and works to collaborate with other community organizations.    
Lauren originally hails from Chicago, IL, where she grew up in one of its northern suburbs, Highland Park.  Lauren was raised in a Conservative shul, and went to a Bnai Brith Jewish overnight camp in Wisconsin.  Her personal connection to Judaism started to take root during a summer travelling around the country with other Jewish teenagers.  That summer she found herself leading services, and experiencing her Judaism in profound ways.  Lauren very much feels the power of community and is passionate about connecting us here in San Luis Obispo county.

Lauren has her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Illinois-Chicago, and focused on Nonprofit Management.  Her undergraduate degree is in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Before moving to San Luis Obispo, Lauren worked for  the Harley-Davidson Motor Company,  Sotheby's, Inc., University of Chicago Press, and University of Wisconsin-Madison Press.  (jccslo.com)

Jake Kaufman, Director San Luis Obispo Hilel
Jake is leading the efforts to grow SLO Hillel into a lasting and leading chapter of the Hillel.  After completing his degree in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University in 1997, Jake enjoyed a successful 15-year career with Husky IMS.  During this career, the company quadrupled in size into a $2-Billion/year a global organization. His first roles were in Design and Project Engineering; he quickly advanced into Sales and Marketing, and ultimately Business Development and Management - leading the efforts in Western North America. Outside of work, Jake has been an active member of The Guardians, one of the largest fraternal charities in Los Angeles.  Jake has also served as a volunteer Fireman, as a big brother in Big Brothers Big Sisters and sits on a number of charity boards today. Outside of his professional and philanthropic life, Jake enjoys traveling, climbing mountains, biking, sailing, SCUBA diving, playing racquetball, cooking, reading, and  both performing and fine arts.  He is married; he and his wife have 2 children. (slohillel.org)

Rabbi Chaim Hilel
Rabbi Chaim Hilel hails from Montreal, Canada. He graduated from the Central Lubavitch Yeshivah in Montreal, where he received his rabbinical ordination. He has been involved in religious outreach throughout the world, including Israel, Morocco, Hawaii and all over California . Together with his wife Miki they have been directing chabad on the central coast since 2009.  (chabadslo.com)

Rabbi Janice Mehring
Rabbi Mehring grew up in the Reform movement with Jewish summer camp being responsible for her love of Judaism through music, community and creative prayer.  She has shared this passion by teaching religious school since she was 15 years old.

She completed her undergraduate education at UCLA, received a Master's degree in Physical Therapy from USC and for many years, had an orthopedic private practice before answering the call to become a rabbi. She sees this transformation as a perfect fit, moving from physical healing to spiritual healing. Rabbi Mehring received a Master's degree in Rabbinic Studies and was ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion, CA, a trans-denominational seminary for rabbis, cantors and chaplains. She has served as spiritual leader and rabbi of Congregation Ohr Tzafon in Atascadero since 2007.  Rabbi Mehring formally trained with Cantors Nathan Lam and Perryne Anker before redirecting her studies to become a rabbi.  It is still through Jewish music that this 'singing rabbi' finds deep spiritual connection and depth. She has sung locally with the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale and with Canzona, a women's chamber vocal ensemble.

Rabbi Mehring is committed to understanding and dialogue amongst people of varied faith traditions. Her commitment to this work goes beyond finding what is common to our faith traditions, to working towards mutual respect and understanding of our differences. She works toward building a just world for all by service as a board member for People of Faith for Justice,  Community Affairs Council for the Jewish Community Center of San Luis Obispo,  and the North County Clergy Group. She is the rabbinic director for the Central Coast Community Hevra Kadisha.  (MyRabbiSings.com)

Abby Lassen
Abby Lassen majored in cultural anthropology at Stanford University and attended UC Hastings College of the Law with the intent to become a public interest lawyer. While raising her two daughters, she was employed in social welfare and education positions, as well as an attorney with an emphasis in government benefits and access to health care. During her almost three decades residing in San Luis Obispo County, a priority for Abby's volunteer activities has been participating in organizations which foster the Jewish community. In the late 1990's along with Emily McGinn, she led Jewish Community United which coordinated a calendar for the local Jewish organizations and their lighting the menorah in Mission Plaza, plus sponsoring several Jewish Cultural Celebrations. Abby was honored by Hadassah for her leadership in the Jewish community.  She served as a co-chair for the San Luis Obispo regional board for the Anti-Defamation League office in Santa Barbara and coordinated its receptions which honored local schools' and YMCA programs' participation in the ADL No Place for Hate initiative. Abby currently serves as a co-chair for the JCC/Federation's Community Affairs Council.

Ellen November
Ellen’s professional experience spans over 15 years as IT Director at Saatchi & Saatchi and Team One Advertising in Los Angeles, the agencies on record for Toyota and Lexus, respectively. Her specialties are Digital Asset Management, Project Management and Leadership.

She is also a Fiber Artist. Drawing on the graphic nature of maps, Ellen's fiber art is cartographic in nature. Art quilts allow her to combine her skills in illustration, photography, graphic design and quilting.

Her latest project was a series of work based on interpretations of the Rand McNally Thomas Guide Book of maps. Each piece in the series represents a coastal area of LA County. Her work is part of a permanent installation at Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Southern California, the Western Museum of Flight, The Monday Club of San Luis Obispo and Crafted at Port of LA. She received a BFA in Illustration from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena CA and now resides in San Luis Obispo. (EllenNovember.com)

Ben Gerber
Ben is a Industrial Engineering student at Cal Poly, class of 2019.

Jessica Drogy
Jessica is a Business Administration student at Cal Poly, class of 2020.

Heather Melcer
Heather Melcer is a freelance writer, certified Feng Shui consultant, artist, and self-publishing consultant. Her diverse background began with a BA in Communications, work experience in publishing, marketing, graphic design, writing, an MFA in Motion Picture Production from the University of Miami, and personal metaphysical studies into both our outer and inner worlds.

She keeps busy with different creative projects including a recently published mandala coloring book she made as a gift for her mom that she was inspired to share with all moms and is now on Amazon and B&N. She enjoys going to the movies and theater (especially musicals) and dabbles with creating vegan recipe videos on YouTube.  Originally from NJ, she has lived in New York City, London, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago and has recently traded in her city-self for the lovely, quiet energy of the Central Coast. Though she still enjoys taking mass transit, so it hasn’t quite stuck yet! She considers herself somewhat of a “Phantom” committee member, as you may not often see her, but rest assured she is busy weaving websites, programs, and much more…to the music of the night…  (HarmonyInMotion.com)