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Weekly Newsletter
April 3, 2025
5 Nisan 5785 | Parshat Vayikra
| | | | | 333 Cortland Ave, SF, CA 94110 | |
Considering God Salon
Thursday, April 3, 7 - 8:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
As we approach Passover, it’s a good opportunity to discuss the role of God in our Seders and in Exodus, the foundational story of Judaism with its themes of enslavement and liberation. In reflecting on this today, what questions and thoughts come up for you? How do you bring this into your Seder? Come and share your ideas and seder practices, rituals, prayers, recipes, songs etc.
For access information and to register, click here.
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Shabbat Service & Potluck
Friday, April 4, 6 - 8:30 PM
Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St
Join us for lively musical services with R' Faryn and the Music Ensemble! Before our Shabbat service, join us for a Happy Half-Hour sponsored by Daniel Najjar, in honor of his 50th anniversary of when he ran away from home to be gay in San Francisco. Then enjoy Shabbat dinner with your fellow Or Shalomers. Bring a vegetarian dish to share and reusable dishware for our post-service potluck.
5:30 pm: Happy Half Hour
6:00 pm: Shabbat service
7:30 pm: Vegetarian potluck
Volunteer Sign-Up Update:
We’ve launched a new volunteer sign-up sheet that includes two roles:
– Greeter (warmly welcome guests)
– Closing Support (help with light cleanup and resetting the space from 8:15–8:45 p.m.)
Thank you to Eala Gross, who’s volunteered to be a Greeter for the next three services, and to Zachary Libow, our Membership Coordinator, who will be Closing Support this Friday.
We still need volunteers for May—please sign up now and help us keep these gatherings running smoothly!
♿ Accessibility Info: NVM is ADA accessible.
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Emergency Preparedness Training
Sunday, April 6, 1 - 5 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Join us for a hands-on afternoon with the SF Fire Ner Tamid Society. Participants will be certified in Hands-Only CPR and AED use (American Heart Association), and will also learn bleeding response and earthquake preparedness. This training is especially encouraged for those interested in volunteering as greeters at Or Shalom events.
🛑 Registration is now closed. Please email office@orshalomsf.org to be added to the waitlist. Confirmation emails to all registrants have been sent. If you think you signed up but did not receive an email, please contact the office.
For access information, click here.
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Embodied Spiritual Practice Shabbat: Preparing for Pesach and the Omer with Gail Gurewitz
Friday, April 11, 6:00 - 8:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Join us for a transformative Embodied Spiritual Practice that weaves together gentle yoga and moving meditation, inspired by the profound ritual of Bedikat Chametz, in which we cleanse both our physical space and inner self of what no longer serves. As we prepare for Pesach, this practice invites you to journey inward, illuminating the hidden corners of your soul just as you search for crumbs of chametz. Allowing the flicker of candlelight to guide your movements, you’ll connect with your body as a sacred vessel, sweeping away old patterns and clearing space for renewal.
Just as Bedikat Chametz calls us to seek out the hidden leaven, this practice will encourage you to explore the nooks and crannies of your spirit with compassion and awareness. You will move through each posture as if dusting off your inner spaces and reflect on the aspects of life that feel heavy or stagnant. By consciously letting them go, you prepare your heart for the spaciousness, liberation, and renewal that Pesach brings.
This all-levels workshop is for all bodies and abilities. Modifications will be provided for all movement, including the ability to sit in a chair throughout the workshop.
Please bring: yoga gear, meditation or other pillow, notepad or journal, a feather.
For access information and to register, click here.
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Reconstructing Israel with R' Faryn
Wednesdays from April-May, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Reconstructionism is not a set theology or doctrine, but rather a historical and analytical lens, an ongoing process, and an embodied practice. In this 8-week series, we’re applying that lens—what we call “Reconstructing”—to the concept of Israel. Is “Israel” a person? A people? A place? A nation-state? A state of mind?
This is the third session of the series. Each week builds on the last, offering space to explore and wrestle with the evolving meaning of “Israel” through a Reconstructionist lens. Whether you're returning or joining for the first time, come ready to reflect, question, and engage in this dynamic process of reconstructing identity, history, and possibility.
For more information and to RSVP, click here.
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Make Polluters Pay! Family Climate Action
Tuesday, April 15, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
331 Cortland Ave
All are invited to drop in and write or make calls to California legislators, under the guidance of Or Shalom's b'mitzvah students, urging passage of the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Bill to fund climate disaster recovery, transition to clean energy, and build disaster resilient, sustainable infrastructure in California.
Bring your phones and laptops or tablets if you have them. We'll have paper and postcards to send snail mail too.
Co-sponsored by Or Shalom's Dayenu Circle.
For access information and to register, click here.
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JFCS Seder Sack Program
Join the Community-Wide Passover Mitzvah!
No one should ever feel isolated and abandoned—and especially not on Passover. Help our partners at JFCS provide lovingly packed Seder Sacks of traditional holiday foods and treats to homebound seniors, adults with disabilities, or local families in crisis.
Just $36 sends a Seder Sack to someone in need! Give now at jfcs.org/sedersacks
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Nachshon Collective Freedom Seder
Saturday, April 19, 3:00 PM
Mission Terrace
People of all ages are invited to join the Nachshon Collective — a young adult Havurah out of Or Shalom — for a Freedom Seder. This Freedom Seder will explore what liberation looks like in our society today, including non-Zionist and anti-Zionist viewpoints. All are welcome to join us but please note that the Freedom Seder is not a place for political debate, but rather a holiday ritual observance.
This event will take place at the home of Stacey Leyton & Pierre Barolette in the Mission Terrace neighborhood in San Francisco. The full address and contact information will be given at registration.
For more information about the Nachshon Collective, the history of Freedom Seders, and to register, click here.
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Join the Youth & Family Education Committee
The Or Shalom Youth & Family Education Committee (formerly Religious School Committee) plays a vital role in shaping our educational programs by offering guidance, managing budgets, planning initiatives, and supporting volunteer efforts.
Currently, only one committee member is a parent of a student in our programs, and we’re eager to bring in more parents—whether of current or prospective students—to help shape the future of Jewish education at Or Shalom. The commitment is light, with meetings about once a month.
We also welcome any Or Shalom members who have a passion for children, education, or community-building. Additionally, we’d love to include a post-B’nai Mitzvah teen to help represent their peers and contribute to the development of our new Teen Program.
If you’re interested in joining, please reach out to Max Bernstein at 510-206-2830 (calls or texts). We’d love to have you on board!
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Or Shalom Mobile App Relaunch! Stay Connected on the Go
We’re excited to announce the relaunch of the Or Shalom Mobile App! Now, staying connected with our community is easier than ever. With the app, you can access the member directory, stay up to date with events and prayer times, and find helpful links to our WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram
How to get started:
- Search for ShulCloud Mobile Member App in the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.
- Download and install the app.
- Log in with your Or Shalom credentials—our logo will appear automatically!
Experience Or Shalom at your fingertips! Download the app today and stay connected wherever you are.
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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.
Wendy Thurm & David Greene, in memory of Milton Thurm
Allan Pleaner, in memory of Elec Klein
Rachelle Resnick, in memory of Jerome Muchin
Leslie Roffman & Bob Goodwin, In memory of Leonard Roffman
Gail & Ron Gurewitz, in honor of Or Shalom
Chad & Kathy Balch, in memory of Frank Pagano
Gloria Kolbe-Saltzman, in memory of Esther Gochin and Ulrich Kolbe
Judy Olasov, in memory of Anthony Louis Olasov
Matthew & Motomi Rudoff, in memory of Marcia Colby Rudoff
Debbie Benrubi, for the Retreat Scholarship Fund
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Yahrzeits
On the anniversary of their deaths, we remember:
Allen Abramson, Ronnie Boss, Ariel Bourke, Trudy Kalman, Elec Eliyahu Klein, Martin Jacobs, Judah Fine, Allan Fine, Sally Feiner, Murial Gorden, Hector Xavier Mirande, Hayim Najjar, Art Sechrest, Milton Thurm
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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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