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Weekly Newsletter
March 12, 2026
23 Adar 5786 | Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei
| | | | | 333 Cortland Ave, SF, CA 94110 | |
Welcoming Shabbat on Zoom
Friday, March 13, 6 – 7 PM
Join us for a Welcoming Shabbat on Zoom led by Or Shalom member Vyvyan. Our online gathering will be filled with songs, candle lighting, healing blessings, the Mourners’ Kaddish, and Shabbat poetry. Embrace the spirit of Shabbat together, from the comfort of your home.
Zoom Link
Password: Shabbat
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Shabbat Morning Service
Saturday, March 14, 10 AM - 1:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Join Rabbi Me'irah for an intimate Shabbat morning service, where we will sing, pray, read from the Torah and learn together. The Torah portion for our Saturday minyan is Vayakheil-Pekudei (Exodus 35:1-40:38). It is a combined portion that celebrates the crafters amongst us as the very artists whose wise and willing hearts spun, wove, embroidered the textiles, did the leather work, set all manner of beautiful stones in gold and silver and did brass work, all for the sanctification of the tabernacle in the desert. What part does art and beauty play in the spiritual aspect of our lives? Come join our discussion, and if you are a crafter, you will be so validated!
Bring a vegetarian dish and reusable dishware for our post-service vegetarian potluck 12:30 – 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Food Disclaimer: To ensure inclusivity and accommodate dietary needs, all potluck dishes must be accompanied by a full list of ingredients.
♿ Health & Accessibility Info: Or Shalom is now ADA Accessible. Please review our COVID Policy.
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Family Shabbat Service & Potluck
Friday, March 20, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St.
Join us at the Community Music Center for our Family Shabbat Service led by R' Faryn, the Music Ensemble and kids from our Or Shalom Youth & Family Programs! This service will be fun and engaging for people of all ages, 2-92!
Before our Shabbat service, join us for a kid-friendly, snack-forward Happy Half-Hour, sponsored by the Or Shalom Youth and Family Education Committee.
After the service, join us for a potluck Shabbat dinner with your fellow Or Shalomers. Bring a vegetarian dish to share and your own reusable dishware.
5:30 pm: Happy Half Hour
6:00 pm: Shabbat Service
7:30 pm: Vegetarian Potluck
♿ 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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Mental Health in Middle School: A Youth-Led Workshop for Parents and Other Caregivers
Sunday, March 22, 10 AM - 12:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Calling parents/caregivers/grandparents of kids ages 5-12*! Or Shalom’s B’ Mitzvah Class have some thoughtful insights about what it’s like to navigate mental health in this dynamic stage of life. They want to share their experiences and offer advice in hopes of better equipping adults to support young people through middle school. This workshop will include interactive activities and a Q&A panel with the 7th graders.**
Each year, the Or Shalom B’mitzvah class is asked to collectively design a mitzvah project. This workshop is a part of this class’s mitzvah project, in which they are addressing education access from many angles. This workshop reflects their wisdom that when mental health goes unsupported, education is not accessible.
*Parents/caregivers/grandparents of younger kids welcome, but workshop is targeted for caregivers of elementary school students. Space is limited to 40 registrants.
**Please note: this is a youth-led workshop intended for adults to hear from middle schoolers about what it is like to be in middle school and how they feel best supported by the adults in their lives. The students have created the curriculum based on their lived experiences. They will not be offering information about best practices from the perspective of youth mental health professionals. B' Mitzvah Educator Natalie Boskin and Rabbi Faryn will be in the room to support the youth facilitation.
♿ Health & Accessibility Info:Or Shalom is now ADA Accessible. Please review our COVID Policy.
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March Traveling Shabbat - SF Night Ministry Open Shabbat
Friday, March 27, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
16th & Mission BART Plaza
Or Shalom's Social Action Circle is sponsoring the SF Night Ministry Open Shabbat, a monthly gathering that's light on ritual and heavy on sharing food and community. We've hosted in the past, and our presence is always welcomed and appreciated.
We need volunteers to help make it a success:
- Donate to help cover food costs
- Sandwich-making: Thursday, March 26 at 4:30pm (until finished) in Noe Valley
- Shabbat + food distribution: Friday, March 27 from 5:30–7:30 pm
This is a powerful opportunity to show up for our neighbors with food, song, and care.
To get involved or for more information, please reach out to Sue Schechter.
| | R' Faryn will be away at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Conference and Reconstructing Judaism Convention March 9-16. In case of pastoral emergency, call the office to be put in touch with the rabbi on call. | | |
Tzedakah
We gratefully acknowledge these contributions from our community:
When making a donation online, please be sure to specify where to allocate.
Matt & Motomi Rudoff, In Memory Of Marcia Colby Rudoff
Chad & Kathy Balch, In Memory of Frank Pagano Jr.
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
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Yahrzeits
On the anniversary of their deaths, we remember:
Anthony Louis Olasov, Barbara Luck, Bertha Pleaner, Bonnie Gail Franklin, Esther Gochin, Eugene Herz, Florence Rosen, Frank Pagano Jr., Julius Yale Libow, Kurt Porter Sligar, Leo Rubinstein, Marcia Colby Rudoff, Morris Rostker, Pat Bozin, Phyllis Hunt, Ruta Penkiunas, Ruth Krohn, Ruth Opper, Sylvia Brill, Ulrich Kolbe
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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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