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, clay art, STEM, creative writing, yoga, sewing, Judo, polymer clay art, ceramics, American Sign Language, crafting, Jewish Dungeons & Dragons, polymer clay jewelry, fabric arts, gardening, games, music, mindfulness, storytelling, and nature. The program also includes big-body movement on the playground and games in the game room, along with weekly chugim (specialty electives). 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, breathing language.
• Ages: 5–11 years old
• Schedule: The 2026–2027 school year runs from August 12, 2026 to June 3, 2027, with 2, 3, 4, and 5 days per week options and classes that run in approximately 8-week sessions across four sessions in the school year.
• Price: $50 non-refundable registration fee; a non-refundable $200 deposit that may be returned if the school year is completed; tuition billed in 10 equal monthly installments with an option to pay in full for a 5% discount, plus an additional 5% discount for enrolling 2 or more children in JCCEB preschool, Berkeley Afterschool, or Kids’ Club.
Drop-off begins at either 1:30pm, 2:30pm, or 3:30pm depending on school dismissal time, and pick-up is at 6pm, with Edah programming ending at 5:30pm while students may stay until 6pm. The program provides a balance of structure and freedom, with time for free play and organized activities, and all food provided to the children is certified Kosher with vegan and allergen-friendly snack options. Berkeley Afterschool offers a safe, affirming environment that allows all students to be their authentic selves.
The TK–5 Berkeley Afterschool program states that it is all about supporting and mentoring youth as they grow to become impactful and engaged citizens. Edah builds an environment for Jewish and Hebrew education, with experiential learning that focuses on meaning making, values transmission, critical thinking, and communication skills. Edah students develop real Hebrew language skills, positive feelings about themselves as Jews, and a sense of belonging to the Jewish people.
Teachers are trained in pedagogies that put the child at the center. Edah includes structured parts of the afternoon: Mavoh (Introduction), Z’man Ivrit (Hebrew Time), Z’man Kvutza (Group Time), and Ma’agal (Closing circle). During Mavoh, students can choose stations such as the art-room, the building studio, the Lego lab, or an activity in the courtyard visiting a different country and its Jewish community each week. During Z’man Ivrit, a Hebrew-speaking world is created in classrooms using games, songs, stories, role-play, and reading and writing. During Ma’agal, the community comes together singing and celebrating one another, creating leadership opportunities for older kids and role models for younger ones.
The program incorporates Jewish values, experiences, cultural observances, and weekly Shabbat celebrations. On Fridays at Berkeley Afterschool, students celebrate Shabbat in different modalities and also light candles, recite the blessings, drink grape juice, and eat challah. Club Kehillah provides a tailored leadership experience for older elementary school children, including leadership opportunities, special field trips, and mitzvah projects.
Wilderness Torah runs nature-based Jewish programming as part of the afterschool offerings. The JCC East Bay, which runs this program, has been awarded the Platinum seal of approval, the highest tier available, by GuideStar (now Candid).
Last updated July 29, 2026.
• Ages: 5–11 years old
• Schedule: The 2026–2027 school year runs from August 12, 2026 to June 3, 2027, with 2, 3, 4, and 5 days per week options and classes that run in approximately 8-week sessions across four sessions in the school year.
• Price: $50 non-refundable registration fee; a non-refundable $200 deposit that may be returned if the school year is completed; tuition billed in 10 equal monthly installments with an option to pay in full for a 5% discount, plus an additional 5% discount for enrolling 2 or more children in JCCEB preschool, Berkeley Afterschool, or Kids’ Club.
Drop-off begins at either 1:30pm, 2:30pm, or 3:30pm depending on school dismissal time, and pick-up is at 6pm, with Edah programming ending at 5:30pm while students may stay until 6pm. The program provides a balance of structure and freedom, with time for free play and organized activities, and all food provided to the children is certified Kosher with vegan and allergen-friendly snack options. Berkeley Afterschool offers a safe, affirming environment that allows all students to be their authentic selves.
The TK–5 Berkeley Afterschool program states that it is all about supporting and mentoring youth as they grow to become impactful and engaged citizens. Edah builds an environment for Jewish and Hebrew education, with experiential learning that focuses on meaning making, values transmission, critical thinking, and communication skills. Edah students develop real Hebrew language skills, positive feelings about themselves as Jews, and a sense of belonging to the Jewish people.
Teachers are trained in pedagogies that put the child at the center. Edah includes structured parts of the afternoon: Mavoh (Introduction), Z’man Ivrit (Hebrew Time), Z’man Kvutza (Group Time), and Ma’agal (Closing circle). During Mavoh, students can choose stations such as the art-room, the building studio, the Lego lab, or an activity in the courtyard visiting a different country and its Jewish community each week. During Z’man Ivrit, a Hebrew-speaking world is created in classrooms using games, songs, stories, role-play, and reading and writing. During Ma’agal, the community comes together singing and celebrating one another, creating leadership opportunities for older kids and role models for younger ones.
The program incorporates Jewish values, experiences, cultural observances, and weekly Shabbat celebrations. On Fridays at Berkeley Afterschool, students celebrate Shabbat in different modalities and also light candles, recite the blessings, drink grape juice, and eat challah. Club Kehillah provides a tailored leadership experience for older elementary school children, including leadership opportunities, special field trips, and mitzvah projects.
Wilderness Torah runs nature-based Jewish programming as part of the afterschool offerings. The JCC East Bay, which runs this program, has been awarded the Platinum seal of approval, the highest tier available, by GuideStar (now Candid).
Last updated July 29, 2026.
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