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Weekly Newsletter
February 26, 2026
9 Adar 5786 | Parshat Tetzaveh
| | | | | 333 Cortland Ave, SF, CA 94110 | | |
Good news—we’ve extended the deadline until midnight tonight for our Mishloach Manot Purim Fundraiser! Take part in the mitzvah of sharing gifts with friends while helping sustain Or Shalom.
Mishloach Manot bags may be picked up at our Community Purim Celebration, delivered to your home within San Francisco, or picked up at Or Shalom. Contact the office if you need help arranging a pickup.
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February Traveling Shabbat
Friday, February 27, 6 - 8 PM
Glen Park
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 Allan Pleaner in Glen Park. Address and contact information are provided in the confirmation email after registration. Please bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share.
Words from our host - As a long-time member of Or Shalom I'm immensely grateful for the blessing that sharing in community offers, particularly during challenging and turbulent times. Making space in my home for us to gather, sing, connect, reflect is a pleasure and joy!
For more information and to register, click here.
⚠️ Food Disclaimer: To ensure inclusivity and accommodate dietary needs, all potluck dishes must be accompanied by a full list of ingredients.
♿ Health & Accessibility Info: There are stairs to enter this home.
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Family Purim Carnival & Costume Parade
Sunday, March 1, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Bernal Heights Rec Center Playground, 500 Cortland Ave
Join us for a Family Purim Carnival & Costume Parade at Bernal Heights playground and recreation center behind the Bernal Heights Library! There will be carnival games and activities, including assembling Mishloach Manot (hamantaschen gift bags) to gift to our local neighbors.
Kids and adults alike, come in your costumes for our Costume Parade down Cortland Ave! No registration is necessary to attend!
Schedule:
10:00 – 11:00am Carnival
11:00 – 11:30am Songs & Storytelling
11:30 – 12:00pm Costume Parade & Gift-Giving!
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Musical Shabbat Service & Potluck
Friday, March 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, the Music Ensemble and a special d'var Torah by member Shaya French!
Before our Shabbat service, join us for a Happy Half-Hour. This Happy Half-Hour is sponsored by Allan Pleaner in honor of his parents.
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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Jewish Ethics in a Time of Authoritarianism
Third Annual Rosenzweig-Apelbaum Ethics Lecture
Guest Speaker Rabbi Mira Wasserman, Ph.D.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
10 am - 12 noon
San Francisco JCC, Fisher Hall
3200 California St, San Francisco
Free and open to the public: Register by April 10
What are our responsibilities as Jews and as citizens in the face of the federal government's acts of cruelty and injustice? How can Jewish teachings offer guidance about how to live well and do good when so much that we value is under threat?
While the challenges of the current political moment are unprecedented, the ancient rabbis were no strangers to authoritarianism, having escaped and resisted Roman violence and repression. The stories and practices they developed under the shadow of empire resonate in new ways today. In this talk, Rabbi Mira will identify three ways ancient sages overcame their powerlessness under a harsh Roman regime, offering us models for making moral choices today.
Rabbi Mira Beth Wasserman, Ph.D., is the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
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Shabbat Shalomies
Saturday, March 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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Teen Collective
Saturday, March 7, 1-4 PM
Join us for our Teen Collective Hang, where we will embark on a 3-stop food tour in our amazing Mission District and enjoy a round of bowling together at Mission Bowling Club. 1-4pm.
All expenses are covered by Or Shalom! Please expect more information closer to the date (such as where to meet and what to bring) once you have RSVP'd.
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We are hiring! Please help us find our new Community Engagement Manager!
The Community Engagement Manager oversees the full membership experience — from first inquiry through long-term engagement — while also managing communications and events, and maintaining systems that allow the congregation to function smoothly. This role balances relationship-based community building with strong administrative, organizational, and technological skills.
| The office will be closed on Tuesday, March 3 for Purim. | | Save the date for the Or Shalom Community Seder - Friday, April 3 at the First Unitarian Universalist Center, 1187 Franklin St, SF. Full information and volunteer opportunities coming soon. | | |
Tzedakah
We gratefully acknowledge these contributions from our community:
When making a donation online, please be sure to specify where to allocate.
Leslie Roffman & Bob Goodwin, In Memory of Leonard Roffman
Robin Roth, In Memory of Ellen Gurian
Corey Weinstein, In Honor of the Chesed Commity and OS friends who have been nursing me through my recovery with tasty soups and gracious love.
Tala & Chester Hartsough, In Memory of Sangeeta Michael Berardi
Corey Weinstein & Pat Skala, In Memory of Earl Weinstein
Roz & Steve Itelson, In Memory of Ben Fine
Hans & Gloria Kolbe-Saltzman, In Memory of Clara Wolinsky Menduke
Wendy Thurm & David Greene, In Memory of Phyllis Thurm
Bonnie Willdorf, In Memory of Barry Willdorf
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Yahrzeits
The community extends its comfort to Becca Amirault and Annette Hess on the death of Steve Hess, beloved father and husband.
On the anniversary of their deaths, we remember:
Abraham Raskin, Alan Krohn, Alice Staller, Bea Markow, Chrys Hunstiger, Dan Goldman, Dolores Helman, Ellen Gurian, Frances Amsler, Joe Mandell, Joseph Malinas, Lani Mulholland, Leon Waxman, Leonard Roffman, Lisa Ann Waxman, Lynne Richter, Nicholas Carter
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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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