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Weekly Newsletter
January 29, 2026
11 Shevat 5786 | Parshat Beshalach
| | | | | 333 Cortland Ave, SF, CA 94110 | |
Community Tu B'Shvat Seder
Sunday, February 1, 6 - 8 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Join R’ Faryn this Tu B’Shvat for a mystical wandering through the four worlds!
In Medieval Times, the Jewish new year of the trees (Tu B’Shvat) got a special upgrade when the Kabbalists instituted for it a Seder. Similar to the Passover Seder, the Tu B’Shvat Seder takes us on a journey. Using fruits and nuts as our teachers, the Seder guides us from the material to the immaterial through the senses of taste, smell and touch.
This Seder, which will focus on and delve into the mystical wisdom of Tu B’Shvat, is for the entire Or Shalom community, but is designed with adult minds in mind.
♿ Health & Accessibility Info: Or Shalom is ADA Accessible. Please review our COVID Policy. Upon registration, include any access needs in the Notes section of the registration form.
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Musical Shabbat Service & Potluck
Friday, February 6, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St,
Join us at the Community Music Center for Musical Shabbat with R' Faryn and the Music Ensemble!
Before our Shabbat service, join us for a Happy Half-Hour. This Happy Half-Hour is sponsored by the Stephen Gerard, in memory of his mother, Paulette Apelbaum.
After the service, please enjoy Shabbat dinner with your fellow Or Shalomers. Bring a vegetarian dish to share and reusable dishware.
5:30 pm: Happy Half Hour
6:00 pm: Shabbat Service
7:30 pm: Vegetarian Potluck
Volunteer Sign-Up Update:
Interested in hosting a Happy Half Hour? Please sign up now and help us keep these gatherings running smoothly!
♿ Accessibility Info: CMC is ADA accessible.
🚗 Rideshare: Need a ride to services? Just ask! Members can post ride requests on our member-only listserv, OS Connect — include your neighborhood we’ll do our best to help connect you with a nearby driver.
🧸 Children at Services: Children are always welcome at Or Shalom services. Childcare is available, and children are welcome to either join the service or spend time in our dedicated kids’ space. Please read our community statement on Welcoming Children at Services.
⚠️ Food Note: All potluck dishes must arrive fully prepared, include a complete ingredient list, with its own own serving utensils and reusable dishware — no kitchen access available.
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Shabbat Shalomies
Saturday, February 7, 10:30 AM - 12 PM
Noe Valley Playground - 798 Douglass St.
Join Or Shalom for our monthly outdoor baby and tot Shabbat with music, shakers, puppets, dancing, playtime, and more!
While programs are designed for families with children aged 1-4, we love building an intergenerational community. Bring the whole mishpucha — grandparents and extended family are highly encouraged to join.
We always have great snacks, fun art supplies, and activities for older siblings too. We welcome everyone, including unaffiliated, single and multi-parent, multi-faith, multi-ethnic, multi-abled, and LGBTQ+ families.
Registration not required, just show up! For more information about Shabbat Shalomies, click here. For any questions about Shabbat Shalomies, please contact our Director of Youth & Family Education, Mira Stern.
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Considering God Salon
Thursday, February 12, 7 - 8:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
The topic for the next Considering God Salon is…. drumroll please…
Jewish Humor! Let's gather and share our favorite Jewish jokes, laugh, groan, opine about why so many comics are Jewish, and maybe discover that comedy is our superpower! Bring a favorite Jewish joke if you have one.
All are welcome! Also note we are meeting on a Thursday, not our usual Wednesday.
The Salon meets quarterly and is lay-led. For questions, contact: Betsy Strausberg brstraus@comcast.net or Robin Roth robinroth1@comcast.net
♿ Health & Accessibility Info: Or Shalom is ADA Accessible. Please review our COVID Policy. Upon registration, include any access needs in the Notes section of the registration form.
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Nosh & Learn with the Southside Jewish Collaborative
Wednesday, February 11, 1:30 - 3 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Come nosh, learn, and join in hands-on social action! Each month, the Southside Jewish Collaborative — a partnership between Or Shalom, Am Tikvah, and Ner Tamid — gathers for learning, community, and preparing lunch bags for unhoused San Franciscans.
This month’s teaching will be led by R’ Faryn. The Collaborative has been thriving for more than a decade, bringing our congregations together across denominations to live out shared Jewish values and strengthen our collective impact.
♿ Health & Accessibility Info: Or Shalom is ADA Accessible. Please review our COVID Policy.
For more information on the history of the Southside Jewish Collaborative, click here.
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Immigration Justice Workshop - Our Jewish Past and Today's Action
Sunday, February 22, 1 - 4 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Join Bay Area Jews for Justice (BAJJ) to explore the connections between US Jewish immigration histories and the attacks on immigrants today. We’ll examine the historical throughline between US Jewish experience and current immigration issues. You will look at your personal stake, recognizing that our community’s wellbeing is tied to that of immigrants. This workshop is designed to motivate and inform, providing a foundation to jump in, correct misinformation, and feel confident taking a stand.
This political education session will equip you to show up for local immigration-related campaigns, such as supporting the ICE Out Of Dublin effort and building allyship with local businesses for sanctuary programs.
For questions and more information, please contact Or Shalom member Melanie Malinas.
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Mazal Tov to Danny Spitzberg and Tatiana Luboviski-Acosta on the birth of their first child, Río Rafael Neftalí, lovingly referred to as Rafa. We look forward to welcoming Rafa into the Or Shalom community soon!
Sign up here to bring the family a meal in this special time.
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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.
sign up here
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.
Sign up here
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.
Sign up here
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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:
📅 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!
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Tzedakah
We gratefully acknowledge these contributions from our community:
When making a donation online, please be sure to specify where to allocate.
Allan Pleaner, In Memory Of Rene Pleaner
Bonnie Willdorf, In Memory Of Abe and Lillian Offner
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
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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:
Rene Klein Pleaner, Stacy Marger, Howard Wolen, Blanche Ah Tye, Abe Offner, Harold von Halle, Michael Mitchel, Charlotte Fine, Herman Boren, Albert Glassman, Esther Rubinstein, Natalie Gavrin Nixon, Bernice Rosenberg, Mark Itelson, Jaclin Burtzlaff, Lillian Offner, Elaine Carter, Hattie Green Shulman, Sophye Patla Olasov, Betsy Binder
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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.
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