Calling all ants: There’s a big picnic coming soon to the East Bay and the bill of fare consists entirely of yummy Jewish food.
On Sunday, Sept. 12, the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay hosts PicnicFest, a community fiesta organized by the federation’s Young Leadership Division. It’s an opportunity for the growing East Bay Jewish community to come together, make friends and enjoy the waning summer sunshine at Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park.
“This is our first event,” says Alan Moskowitz, 34, co-chair of PicnicFest and an activist with the newly constituted Young Leadership Division. “The goal was to create an event amenable to everybody — couples, singles, young kids, teens — and learn what the community and federation is all about.”
The site has a capacity of up to 500 blanket-spreaders, and Jews from across the religious and cultural spectrum are welcome. Activities include live music from the Lowdowns, Israeli jazz singer Talia (accompanied by popular local musician Achi Ben Shalom), puppeteer Jen Miriam Kanter and more.
A full complement of face painters, jugglers and magicians will be on hand to keep the kids enthralled.
Picnickers need to bring their own food, but organizers will provide drinks, including a stash of ice cold He’Brew Beer. Raffle prizes include righteous goodies like a TiVo entertainment unit, an overnight stay for two at the Claremont Resort & Spa, and an original work of art by Judaica artist Lila Wahrhaftig.
Organizers say the time was right for an event like the PicnicFest. “There has been such a migration of singles and families to the East Bay,” says Moskowitz. “We want to plant the flag.”
Moscowitz represents an emerging generation eager to take the reins. “There’s a resurgence of young community-minded people in the East Bay,” he says, “and a lot of them transitioned from leadership in the city.”
After moving from San Francisco to Oakland three years ago, Moscowitz got involved with the Latid program at the federation, which served as a training ground for future leaders. “We were a group of young adults taught about what federation did,” he adds. “We became very educated in how philanthropy works.”
But before he puts his philanthropy training through its paces, Moscowitz is just trying to get the word out about PicnicFest. “There should be a lot of nice young Jewish people there,” he says. “We’re really trying to reach out.”
PicnicFest takes place 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 12, at Joaquin Miller Park, 3450 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland. Admission is free. Information: (510) 839-2900, or http://jfed.org/picnicfest/index.htm.