History

The Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center (BRJCC) was founded by a group of like-minded individuals in 1978 as an agency of the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay to serve as a catalyst and focal point for the development of a vital Jewish community in northern Alameda and western Contra Costa counties.

In 1981, the Center moved from the small storefront where it was originally located to our present home, a former public school and school board building, at 1414 Walnut Street in North Berkeley. The JCC building is a registered national landmark, designed in the California Mission Revival style by noted architect Ernest Coxhead. In 1987, the Center purchased the property from the Berkeley Unified School District. In July 2006, we became an independent 501(c)3 agency and changed our name to the Jewish Community Center of the East Bay (JCCEB) to reflect our aspiration to serve communities throughout the East Bay.

The JCC of the East Bay provides a comfortable gathering place for Jews wishing to affirm their cultural and ethnic origins. Our members and visitors represent all facets of the Jewish community and many are unaffiliated with other Jewish organizations or synagogues. All programs emphasize and celebrate Jewish values and culture, and are open to everyone. An active Board of Directors, our dedicated staff, and our strong and active volunteer teams work together to build our community.

We have fabulous preschool, afterschool, and camp programs, and have been voted the "Best Afterschool Program" by "Best in the Bay" in J Weekly on many occasions. We have also been named the "Best Summer Camp". We host the oldest and third largest Jewish Musical Festival in the world. For seniors, we provide a wide range of services, including twice-weekly hot Kosher lunches - the only service of its kind in the area.

Today, membership has grown to 900 households, and we estimate that 10,000 people, Jews and non-Jews, participate annually in our programs.