Popular Jewish foods, live music, children’s activities, demonstrations of Jewish rituals, and a lively open-air market will all be part of Temple’s Israel’s third annual Jewish Cultural Festival onSunday, June 9 from noon until 7:00 p.m. The festival — free and open to the public — will take place on the grounds of Temple Israel, 130 Riverside Drive, just across the river from Fifth-Third Field near downtown Dayton.

“Thousands have turned out in past years to enjoy the tastes, sights and sounds of Judaism,” said festival co-chair Carol Finley, “and we’re thrilled to welcome the community to our building and grounds for an engaging day of exploration and entertainment.” Temple Israel is the largest and oldest Jewish congregation in the Miami Valley.

A Jewish culinary journey of the world.
Popular Miami Valley restaurants C’est Tout, El Meson, Meadowlark and Pasha Grill will prepare traditional Jewish foods of France, Latin America, the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. Visitors can mix and match dishes to sample flavors from around the globe, all for sale from the from the different restaurants.

Non-stop entertainment starring Jewish music of all kinds.
The Cincinnati Klezmer Project returns with the lively sounds of Eastern European Jewish folk music. TheKettering Civic Band and Muse Machine will play Broadway, Big Band and popular tunes by Jewish composers, and Deceptive Play will rock the festival with a selection of music by contemporary Jewish artists like Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, the Beastie Boys and KISS…all nice Jewish boys. Always a favorite, The Shimmy Cats will bellydance in traditional Middle Eastern style.

Israeli or Jewish craft beers to quench the thirst and lift the spirit.
What could be better…for the adults…than a cold beer on a hot afternoon? Try some of the best Jewish or kosher beer from domestic and foreign brewers. Kids and non-beer-drinkers will enjoy several flavors of Dr. Brown’s Sodas, a long-time staple of delicatessens.

Children’s games, activities to entertain and educate.
Learning about Judaism will be fun and engaging for the youngest festival goers. Children may toss matzo balls into soup pots as a way to learn about Passover and its traditions, spin dreidls to learn about Chanukah, color Hebrew letters and symbols, sing and dance. Zoot Theatre Company will lead hands-on mask making in the children’s area as a wy to learn about Purim, and Zoot’s puppets will visit the festival to meet and greet visitors.

An educational program exploring Judaism in the Diaspora.
A series of interactive presentations in Temple’s sanctuary will highlight the similarities and differences among Jewish communities of different lands and times. Temple’s rabbis and area experts will also show and explain Temple’s Torah scrolls. Take an armchair journey of Jewish communities of Spanish and European descent and of Holocaust and modern times.

A lively open-air market.
Tents and booths evoking the feel of Israeli markets will offer a mix of Judaica, crafts and artwork by Jewish and non-Jewish artisans.

Mitzvah Alley.

Work with Temple members to improve our community and world.

Jews take our responsibility to improve our world very seriously. Through prayer and action, advocacy and tzedakah (charity), we are working to save and improve lives. Learn about projects Temple supports and other initiatives within the Jewish world.