Berkeley Afterschool & Edah
JCC East Bay – Berkeley Branch, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA 94709
About
Berkeley Afterschool & Edah offers activities such as sports, science, art, reading, making pottery, cooking, creative writing, bookmaking, sewing, Judo, polymer clay art, ceramics, American Sign Language, crafting, STEM, Jewish Dungeons & Dragons, polymer clay jewelry, fabric arts, gardening, advanced Mah Jongg, and Yiddish conversation. The program includes weekly chugim (electives), Choices, and Shabbat celebrations, as well as Club Kehillah for 4th and 5th graders with leadership experiences, special field trips, and mitzvah projects. Edah includes a Hebrew-speaking environment during Z’man Ivrit using games, songs, stories, role-play, and reading and writing, plus a snack bar where students order in Hebrew and Wednesday chugim that combine activities like Jewish Dungeons & Dragons, polymer clay jewelry, fabric arts, gardening, and sports with practicing and learning Hebrew.
• Ages: 5–11 years old
• Schedule: The 2025–2026 year runs from August 13, 2025 to June 4, 2026, with 2, 3, 4, and 5 days per week options and drop-off at 1:30pm, 2:30pm, or 3:30pm depending on school dismissal, and pick-up at 6pm; kids sign up for classes that run for about 8 weeks per session across 4 sessions in the school year.
• Price: Tuition is billed in 10 equal monthly installments with an option to pay in full for a 5% discount, a $50 non-refundable registration fee, a $200 deposit that is refundable or can be donated at the end of the year, BAS rates ranging from $480 to $1080 per month depending on start time and number of days, and Edah rates ranging from $580 to $1297 per month depending on start time and number of days, plus an additional 5% discount for enrolling 2 or more children in JCC preschool, BAS, or Kids’ Club.
The Berkeley Afterschool program states that it supports and mentors youth as they grow to become impactful and engaged citizens, offers a safe, affirming environment that allows students to be their authentic selves, and balances structure and freedom with both free play and organized activities. Edah is described as a Jewish learning village where students are immersed in Jewish culture and tradition, holidays and values, and Hebrew as a living language, with teachers trained in child-centered pedagogies who foster a community of inquiry, active choices, and collaborative learning. Edah focuses on experiential learning, meaning making, values transmission, critical thinking, and communication skills, and states that students develop real Hebrew language skills, positive feelings about themselves as Jews, and a sense of belonging to the Jewish people, supported by practices like Edah ma’agal (closing circle) that creates leadership opportunities for older kids and role models for younger ones. The program incorporates Jewish values, experiences, cultural observances, weekly Shabbat celebrations, and Wilderness Torah nature-connected Jewish programming as part of the afterschool offerings, with Wilderness Torah hosting events on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at Live Oak Park, weather permitting. All food provided to children is certified Kosher, and vegan and allergen-friendly snack options are offered. The JCC East Bay states that it stands for equal rights and safety for people of all backgrounds and faiths and welcomes and supports a diverse Jewish community, people of all religions, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, communities of color, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. The JCC East Bay has been awarded the Platinum seal of approval, the highest tier available, by GuideStar (now Candid).
Last updated April 29, 2026.
• Ages: 5–11 years old
• Schedule: The 2025–2026 year runs from August 13, 2025 to June 4, 2026, with 2, 3, 4, and 5 days per week options and drop-off at 1:30pm, 2:30pm, or 3:30pm depending on school dismissal, and pick-up at 6pm; kids sign up for classes that run for about 8 weeks per session across 4 sessions in the school year.
• Price: Tuition is billed in 10 equal monthly installments with an option to pay in full for a 5% discount, a $50 non-refundable registration fee, a $200 deposit that is refundable or can be donated at the end of the year, BAS rates ranging from $480 to $1080 per month depending on start time and number of days, and Edah rates ranging from $580 to $1297 per month depending on start time and number of days, plus an additional 5% discount for enrolling 2 or more children in JCC preschool, BAS, or Kids’ Club.
The Berkeley Afterschool program states that it supports and mentors youth as they grow to become impactful and engaged citizens, offers a safe, affirming environment that allows students to be their authentic selves, and balances structure and freedom with both free play and organized activities. Edah is described as a Jewish learning village where students are immersed in Jewish culture and tradition, holidays and values, and Hebrew as a living language, with teachers trained in child-centered pedagogies who foster a community of inquiry, active choices, and collaborative learning. Edah focuses on experiential learning, meaning making, values transmission, critical thinking, and communication skills, and states that students develop real Hebrew language skills, positive feelings about themselves as Jews, and a sense of belonging to the Jewish people, supported by practices like Edah ma’agal (closing circle) that creates leadership opportunities for older kids and role models for younger ones. The program incorporates Jewish values, experiences, cultural observances, weekly Shabbat celebrations, and Wilderness Torah nature-connected Jewish programming as part of the afterschool offerings, with Wilderness Torah hosting events on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at Live Oak Park, weather permitting. All food provided to children is certified Kosher, and vegan and allergen-friendly snack options are offered. The JCC East Bay states that it stands for equal rights and safety for people of all backgrounds and faiths and welcomes and supports a diverse Jewish community, people of all religions, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, communities of color, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. The JCC East Bay has been awarded the Platinum seal of approval, the highest tier available, by GuideStar (now Candid).
Last updated April 29, 2026.
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