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Weekly Newsletter
July 17, 2025
21 Tammuz 5785 | Parshat Pinchas
| | | | | 333 Cortland Ave, SF, CA 94110 | |
Musical Shabbat Service & Potluck
Friday, July 18, 5:30 - 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 Danny & Julie Brook. 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:
– Opening Support (help set up and warmly welcome guests)
– Closing Support (help with light cleanup and resetting the space from 8:15–8:45 p.m.)
Thank you to our Greeter, Betsy Strausberg, and our Closing Support, Madeleine Levin. We are still looking for help with setup/greeting for other services. Please sign up now and help us keep these gatherings running smoothly!
♿ Accessibility Info: NVM is ADA accessible.
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Picnic with R’ Katie!
Sunday, July 20, 3:30 - 5:30 PM
Holly Park (Holly Park Cir & Highland Ave)
Rabbi Katie, Or Shalom's rabbi from 2007-2022, will be visiting from Colorado, and we are so excited to visit with her! Join R’ Faryn and R’ Katie for a potluck picnic at Holly Park near the Picnic Area (Holly Park Cir & Highland Ave) for an afternoon filled with music, learning, and plenty of time to schmooze.
Bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share and your own reusable dishware, along with blankets, chairs, and anything you need to feel comfortable at our picnic!
- 3:30-4:30 Potluck Meal and Open Schmoozing
- 4:30-5:15 Program with R’ Katie and R’ Faryn
- 5:15-on more schmoozing
For more information and to register, click here.
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July Traveling Shabbat
Friday, July 25, 6 - 8:30 PM
Ingleside Terrace
Traveling Shabbat is 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 Jurate Raulinaitis & Kirk Schneider in Ingleside Terrace. Address and contact information are provided in the confirmation email after registration.
About the hosts: Kirk Schneider, Jurate Raulinaitis and their Brooklynite writer-son Benjamin Schneider have been Or Shalom members for about 28 years. Jūratė is a cellist in the famous Or Shalom Music Ensemble, and Kirk is an existential humanistic psychologist and author.
⚠️ Food Disclaimer: To ensure inclusivity and accommodate dietary needs, all potluck dishes must be accompanied by a full list of ingredients.
♿ Health & Access Info: There are 11 steps to get to our house. We have no animals. We ask everyone to test for COVID just before coming over. Their home can comfortable accommodate 13 guests; if more people register we will look at alternative venues.
For more information and to register, click here.
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Writing our own Grief Songs: A Kinah Workshop
Wednesday, July 30, 7 - 8:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
On Tisha B’Av, we recite kinnot — elegies, dirges, songs of lament — for the destructions that have befallen our people. However, this liturgy is not static. It has become customary that each time our people face new destruction, our people write new kinnot to lament this destruction, and these kinnot get folded into our Tisha B’Av service.
So join R’ Faryn to write kinnot for our time. In this workshop, we will learn about the history of kinnot, reflect on what is being destroyed in our time, and write the kinnot of now. The kinnot we write will be incorporated into our Erev Tisha B’Av Gathering on Saturday, August 2nd.
For more information and to register, click here.
♿ Accessibility Information: There are no stairs to enter the space. Please read our COVID policy here. If you have any access requests, please submit them with at least five days notice so we can endeavor to make proper accommodations.
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Erev Tisha B’Av Gathering
Saturday, August 2, 8 - 9:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
In a time when the grief of our aching world could easily consume us, join with your Or Shalom family to sing, to reflect, to grieve, together.
On Tisha B’Av, we sit low to the ground. We let ourselves be in darkness. We fast. We sing of the destruction of the Temple three-thousand years ago and of subsequent destructions since. We recognize that grief is not linear. We mourn collectively, throughout time and space.
During our gathering, we will chant excerpts from Eicha — the Book of Lamentations — as well as contemporary kinnot — songs of lament — written by your fellow Or Shalomers, and will create space to reflect on the power of our grief in our time.
For more information and to register, click here.
♿ Accessibility Information: There are no stairs to enter the space. Please read our COVID policy here. If you have any access requests please submit them with at least five days notice so we can prepare to make proper accommodations.
| | School of Jewish Living Arts | | Are you interested in connecting with fellow SJLA participants and hearing from Rabbi Me'irah? Join the SJLA listserv at sjla@orshalomsf.org! | |
Your Forever Home: Exploring Local Cemetery Options
Ever think about your ‘forever home?’ Like, the place where you will rest your bones forever?
This summer, Rabbi Me’irah will be offering three field trips to local Jewish cemeteries to help in your discernment about your ‘forever home.’ On these field trips, we will meet with representatives from the cemeteries to learn what each cemetery uniquely has to offer, as well as engage in learning over a BYO picnic lunch, facilitated by Rabbi Me’irah.
Bring a picnic blanket, chair if you need one, and your own lunch and prepare for a fun, meaningful, and enlightening day.
Dates:
Sunday, July 27, 11 AM - 2 PM
Eternal Home Cemetery (at the Chapel)
1051 El Camino Real, Colma
Sunday, August 10, 11 AM - 2 PM
Gan Yarok
301 Tennessee Valley Rd, Mill Valley
Sunday, August 17th, 11 AM - 2 PM
Gan Shalom (at the Chapel)
1100 Bear Creek Road, Briones
To register, click here.
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OS Chesed Circle
The Chesed Circle is how we show up for one another in times of need. Whether it’s organizing meals, offering a ride, making a visit, or simply checking in, this group helps coordinate care and support for members of our community going through illness, loss, recovery, or major life transitions.
If you're interested in helping out occasionally—or just want to stay informed—join the circle!
Questions? Contact Madeleine Levin or Sue Schechter.
| | If you would like to add your loved one to the Or Shalom Healing List, you can do so here. | |
Grieving the Loss of a Loved One
San Francisco and Online
JFCS is offering two 10-week grief support groups for those mourning the loss of a close loved one. These groups are open to people of all backgrounds and are led by professional grief counselors.
In-person in SF
Tuesdays, 1:00–2:30 pm | July 15 – Sept 16
Online via Zoom
Tuesdays, 10:00–11:30 am | Aug 5 – Oct 7
Cost is $120 for the series + $30 book fee. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
For more information, please call JFCS at 415-449-1214 or email robynb@jfcs.org.
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The 45th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
July 17 - August 3
San Francisco & East Bay Locations
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival returns for 18 days of bold, independent cinema and unforgettable stories on the Jewish experience, from world premieres to award contenders. With 70 films lighting up screens across San Francisco and the East Bay for 18 days, this is the summer of film you don't wan to miss!
Grab your tickets now at sfjff.org
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Golden State Valkyries Jewish Heritage Night
Sunday, Aug 17, 5:30 PM
Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way
Celebrate Jewish pride, community spirit, and women’s professional basketball at the first-ever Jewish Community Night with the Golden State Valkyries—our Bay Area WNBA team making waves in their inaugural season!
🟣 Tickets are just $40 and include an exclusive Jewish Community Night x Valkyries t-shirt
🟣 No extra fees or surcharges when purchased through this special link
🟣 Hosted in partnership with Value Culture and Afikomen Judaica
Don’t miss this joyful gathering of Jewish fans from across the Bay.
🎟️ Purchase Tickets Here. Deadline to order is August 10.
For questions, contact Thomas Glafkides at tglafkides@valkyries.com or 510-250-4613 (call/text).
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SF Giants Jewish Heritage Night
Tuesday, September 9, 6:45 PM
Oracle Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza
Celebrate Jewish Heritage Night at Oracle Park–a night dedicated to honoring the rich culture and traditions of the Jewish community. Join us for an unforgettable night filled with pride, connection and Giants baseball as the team takes on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Partial proceeds from each Special Event ticket will benefit the Jewish Community Federation and includes one ticket to the game and a special SF Giants themed menorah.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here
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Signed, Sealed, Installed
Our new shul sign is up on Cortland
Or Shalom finally has a proper sign outside our building—and it looks great!
Big thanks to Stephen Gerard, who generously covered the full cost of the sign. We’re grateful for his support and for helping us show up a little more clearly in the neighborhood.
Come take a look next time you’re walking by!
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New Members
Please join us in welcoming our new members to the Or Shalom Community!
Kira Levy & Family
Allegra Mautner & Family
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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.
Laura Bresler, in memory of Harvey Bresler
Judy Olasov, in memory of Hyman Birlant Olasov
Judy Olasov, in memory of Nathan Patla Olasov
Beth Mills, in memory of Khane Bushel Solow
Leslie Roffman & Bob Goodwin, in memory of Ethel Roffman
Pat Skala & Corey Weinstein, in memory of Roz Lyn Elson
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Yahrzeits
On the anniversary of their deaths, we remember:
Phyllis Berger, Stuart Bernstein, Harvey Bresler, Hyman Birlant Olasov, Berta Rosa Freistadt, Anna Stekoll Engelman, Phyllis Goldstein, Bernice Kert, Daniel Kurlander, Helen Landau, Hope Lewis, Luku Li, Rob Steig
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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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