Weekly Newsletter

Join Rabbi Faryn for our first Alternative Shabbat, where we will dive more deeply into Kabbalat Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat is the first half of a Friday night service, and consists of a series of 8 psalms, interspersed with familiar mystical incantations such as Yedid Nefesh, Ana Bekoach, and Lecha Dodi, all that weave together to tell a story. Join to learn more about Kabbalat Shabbat and to spend some time with each and every psalm and song of the service.

Alternative Shabbat is a space that we will hold when there are five Fridays in a month during which Rabbi Faryn will introduce new prayer modalities to the community.

For example, what would it be like for a whole service to be a guided meditation through the parshah? Or the entire Shabbat to be celebrated solely in wordless melody (nigunim)? Or for us to spend time with every single word of the prayer service, whether sung, chanted, or whispered silently to ourselves?

To learn more and to RSVP, click here. Registration is appreciated but not required.

⚠️ Food Note: There will be no happy half hour before or dinner after this service, but we will do kiddush.

♿ Health & Accessibility Info: Or Shalom is now ADA Accessible.

😷 Masking: Given the high levels of flu circulating at this time, we ask members to reference our COVID Policy, which states 'We highly encourage mask-wearing for all who can when not eating and drinking, especially when COVID levels/the levels of other communicable diseases are surging.'

Upcoming Events

January Traveling Shabbat

Friday, January 23, 6 - 8 PM

Haight Ashbury

Join Or Shalom every fourth Friday for Traveling Shabbat, a monthly Shabbat gathering hosted by one of our community members at their home. It's typically a short service facilitated by the host followed by a potluck dinner. This month, join us for Traveling Shabbat at the home of Madeleine Levin in Haight Ashbury. Address and contact information are provided in the confirmation email after registration. Please bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share.

For more information and to register, click here.

♿ Health & Accessibility Info: Street parking is limited; my block is on a hill. No stairs other than 3 steps up the porch to the front door. We have a dog who loves all people. All ages welcome!

⚠️ Food Disclaimer: To ensure inclusivity and accommodate dietary needs, all potluck dishes must be accompanied by a full list of ingredients.

🙌 Sign Up: Interested in hosting? Sign up at bit.ly/ts-host.

Family Tu B’Shvat Seder

Tuesday, January 27, 4:30 - 6:00 PM

331 Cortland Ave

Join us for a joyful, family-friendly Tu B’Shvat Seder led by our Or Shalom Community School students. Together, we’ll call in the powers of water to nourish, sustain, and give life to all beings — while taking a spiritual journey through the Four Worlds of Jewish tradition.

As we move from world to world, we’ll eat delicious blessings of trees and bushes, taste the fruits of the earth, sing, play, pray, and reflect on our connection to nature, water, and one another. Our students will guide us through ritual, song, storytelling, and hands-on moments designed for the whole family.

All Or Shalom families welcome, including OSCS parents and Sunday Family Program families. Limited to 30 participants.

For more information and to register, click here.

🗓️ Note: There will be no Sunday Family Program on February 1, as this family celebration will take its place.

♿ Health & Accessibility Info: Or Shalom is ADA accessible. Please review our COVID Policy.

Tikkun Olam

MLK2026 Commemorative March

Monday, January 19, beginning at 10:30 AM

San Francisco Caltrain Station, 700 4th St

March with us as we commemorate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and reaffirm our shared commitment to justice, equity, and civil rights. This symbolic 1.5-mile march echoes the historic Selma to Montgomery March and concludes at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Yerba Buena Gardens.

Or Shalom meeting spot:

Bike rack next to the Caltrain BikeHub

311 Townsend Street (between 4th & 5th)

Please be at the meeting spot no later than 10:45 AM.

Or Shalom will march together with our banner. All are welcome. Information about the March and the NorCal MLK Foundation can be found here.

For information about the Or Shalom delegation, please contact Debbie Benrubi.

Bringing the Olive Harvest Home

Sunday, January 25, 3 - 4:30 PM

331 Cortland Ave

RSVP

The Ceasefire Circle invites you to a special opportunity to hear from several Bay Area Jewish activists who recently traveled with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV) to the West Bank to support Palestinian farmers and families during the olive harvest. These activists joined CJNV in their work to build deep relationships of solidarity between Jews and Palestinians through direct acts of nonviolent co-resistance in Israel/Palestine. Taking actions like supporting the olive harvest are vital to lay the groundwork for a future of freedom, justice, and equality in the land.

During this free event, you'll hear about:

How some Palestinians are using a cooperative model to achieve food sovereignty and economic independence even under occupation
How settler violence and state oppression impacts Palestinians' lives
The role of Israelis and Jews from the diaspora in on-the-ground co-resistance work, as well as support from afar
Taste some Palestinian olive oil and hear about its journey from harvest to here
And have a chance to ask questions

Learn more about the project here: https://cjnv.org/olive-harvest/

This program is organized by Or Shalom’s Ceasefire Circle and moderated by Chase Carter, Development & Communications Director of CJNV and fellow Or Shalom member.

For more information and to register, click here.

♿ Health & Accessibility Info: Or Shalom is ADA accessible. Please review our COVID Policy.

Community

Jewish-Muslim Coexistence in Morocco

Tonight, January 15, 7 - 8 PM

331 Cortland Ave

Jewish-Muslim Coexistence for Millenia? Yes, in Morocco!

Join us Thursday, January 15th from 7-8 pm in 331 Cortland.

Bonnie Willdorf and Robin Roth will share what they learned on a 2-week tour of Morocco (plus research). Photos and commentary on the fascinating but little-known Jewish history of Morocco, where Jews and Muslims, Arabs and Amazigh (Berbers) were close and friendly neighbors.

Please register here for this free, in person event.

For more information, please contact the event organizers, Bonnie and Robin.

♿ Health & Accessibility Info: Or Shalom is now ADA Accessible.

Reconstructing Judaism's B'Yachad Convention

Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, March 15, 2026

Philadelphia, PA

In turbulent times, we need one another. The Reconstructing Judaism B’Yachad Convention March 12-15, 2026, in Philadelphia is our opportunity to rekindle our light, nurture our joy, and shape together a vibrant, evolving Jewish future rooted in belonging and possibility.

What to expect:

A warm, welcoming gathering where you’ll renew bonds with old friends and make new connections.
Thoughtful, engaging program tracks and plenaries aligned with our values of inclusion, innovation, and community.
Meaningful opportunities to reflect on who we are—and who we want to become—together.
A joyful, spirited Shabbat service to celebrate what it means to belong and to build together.

Or Shalom Bulletin

Help Shape Our Shabbat Rhythm

Our Shabbat rhythm is powered by you, our amazing members. There are several meaningful ways to host, each offering a different doorway into Shabbat. Dates for 2026 are open!

Host a Happy Half-Hour for Musical Shabbat

A joyful way to honor loved ones, mark a milestone, or simply support our Musical Shabbat gatherings by hosting a pre-service happy hour.

Host Traveling Shabbat

Open your home and help create an intimate, shared Shabbat dinner experience. Traveling Shabbat happens every fourth Friday and is one of our most beloved community traditions.

Host a Havurah Shabbat

Our newest Shabbat offering. Havurah Shabbat is an open Shabbat on the second Friday of each month for Havurot to host their own Shabbatot or for folks to experiment with Shabbat in their own way. Gather in your own spaces or in our space on Cortland or use our Zoom Pro account to gather virtually.

Interested in forming your own Havurah? Reach out to our Membership Coordinator to get the ball rolling.

Staff & Office Updates

Given the high levels of flu circulating at this time, we ask members to reference our COVID Policy, which states 'We highly encourage mask-wearing for all who can when not eating and drinking, especially when COVID levels/the levels of other communicable diseases are surging.'

Want to connect with us? Use the links below to schedule a time:

Zachary Libow, Membership Coordinator – Book time here
Mira Stern, Head of Youth & Family Education – Book time here

📅 Have an idea for an event? Submit a request.

🕯️ Sign up to lead a Zoom/on-site Havurah Shabbat here.

🧳 Sign up to host a Traveling Shabbat here

🤲 Add a loved one to our Healing List here.

💍 Getting married? Request our Community Chuppah!

Tzedakah

We gratefully acknowledge these contributions from our community:

When making a donation online, please be sure to specify where to allocate.

Leslie Roffman, in honor of Julie Brook

Stephen Gerard, in memory of Paulette Mansfield

Judy Olasov, in memory of Ann Zorn

Robin Roth, in memory of Eli Shul

Ruth Maginnis, in memory of Bill Maginnis

Corey Weinstein, in memory of Florence Weinstein

Gloria & Hans Kolbe-Saltzman, in memory of Joachim Seppi Neumann

Beth Mills, in memory of Benjamin Solow

Steve & Roz Itelson, in memory of Esther Itelson

David Greene & Wendy, Moze, Chloe, in memory of Irwin Greene

Yahrzeits

The community extends its comfort to Susan Rifkin on the death of her mother, Gilda Grossman

On the anniversary of their deaths, we remember:

Rosita Alarcon, Pierre Jeremy Barolette, Mark Brickman, Garrett DiAloia, Ben Fine, David Gershan, Edith Gideon, Percy Goldstein, Ida C. Hirschberg, Paulette Mansfield, Dave Pleaner, Al Sion, Julian Wager, Ann Zorn

Or Shalom Jewish Community

(415) 469-5542

Lisa Garbus, Board President

Rabbi Faryn Borella, Rabbi

Lillian Markind,Executive Director

Zachary Libow, Membership Coordinator

Mira Stern, Youth & Family Education

Visit Our Website

To submit an Or Shalom group-sponsored event for the newsletter, email newsletter@orshalomsf.org

by the Monday before you want it to be included.