Dear Sha'ar,

In order to offer an opportunity to be in community in light of last night's election results, tonight (Wednesday, Nov 6), Rabbi Copeland will hold a hybrid open space for us to be together in community, to commiserate, to console, to share, and sing from 5:30-6:30 pm. We’ll have light refreshments. Register for Zoom or Register for in person

Please remember that our Sha'ar Zahav community is here for each other. As always, our clergy are available to talk. Hineni is here to help hold you. Seek out a committee that is making a difference. Come together this Shabbat for a special drash and pre-Shabbat program, TJIF, designed to hold us a community at this moment. If you need help finding resources in the larger community, ask.

Rabbi Julia Watts Belser writes that, "Hope is the fragile political work we do to help one another get through." Let’s hold each other as we do this work together as a community.

Shabbat and B'Mitzvah

Contact office@shaarzahav.org to sponsor Oneg or Flowers for Shabbat.

Scroll down to read more about our exciting Oneg Chavurah!  

Friday Night Services for Lech Lecha:

November 8th at 7:30pm

Hybrid: On Zoom and In-Person

Led by Cantor Sharon Bernstein and Josh Muller

Drash by Cantor Sharon Bernstein and Rabbi Mychal Copeland

Register Here for Zoom Service

Meeting ID: 886 7131 3838

Saturday Morning Service

November 9th at 10:00am

Hybrid: On Zoom and In-Person

Join Riley Luftman at her bat mitzvah as she celebrates this great milestone. All are invited!

Join the Zoom Meeting. 

Meeting ID: 365 434 855

Passcode: 068575.

To join by phone for either service, dial +1 669 900 9128 or find your local number.

Community, Let's Get Together!

TJIF: Trans Justice! It's Friday!

Fridays: Nov. 8, Dec. 6, Jan. 3, 6:15-7:15pm, Hybrid at Sha'ar Zahav

Start your Shabbat with justice! People of all genders and cultures are encouraged to join in specific activities to fight back against anti-trans bigotry and to hold us in community. Led by Rabbi Eliana Kayelle with Rabbi Reuben Zellman, hosted by Congregation Sha'ar Zahav & Keshet.

Register here

Trans* Together

3rd Fridays: Nov. 15, Dec. 20, January 17, 6:00-7:15pm, Hybrid at Sha'ar Zahav

We're living in exhilarating and terrifying times. Trans, intersex, and non-binary folks are invited to our own space to connect with community, eat and have fun. Choose art/maker space, music circle, youth program or Jewish study, or just hang out. Light dinner provided. People of all cultures and backgrounds are warmly welcome.

Hosted by Congregation Sha'ar Zahav and Keshet.

Register here

Rabbi Mychal Copeland on the Tabernacle

Thursday, November 14, 11:30am, in-person at The CJM

Uncover insights into Nicki Green: Firmament's central artwork: a large tent-like structure informed by the descriptions of the biblical mishkan or tabernacle, which Green uses to represent transitional space, diaspora, and more. In this gallery chat, Rabbi Mychal Copeland of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav will speak about the importance of the mishkan as a historical ritual structure and its significance in contemporary Jewish practice. For tickets and more information, click here

Music in the Mishkan Is Back for a Fall Bonus Concert!

Sunday, November 17, 4pm

Randall Weiss and the Bridge Players will be appearing in a special performance as a pay-what-you-want fundraiser for the synagogue. Pianist Marilyn Thompson will join violinist Randall Weiss in a program featuring the music of Beethoven, Brahms and Bach, as well as 20th century Israeli composers Paul Ben-Haim, Yariv Esrachi and Marc Lavry.

Please join us for this special concert benefiting Sha'ar Zahav!

Register here

Multifaith Panel Reflecting on Trans Day of Remembrance

Monday, November 18, 7 - 8:30pm

TransThrive: 1460 Pine Street, Hybrid

Transgender religious leaders representing various traditions reflect on how their communities are both learning from and impacting trans, intersex and non-binary lives. Where are we doing well in supporting the trans community? What is the work still to do? What are the theological impacts of trans experiences within different traditions? Moderated by SZ's Quinn Martinez.

Register here

Journey to Judaism

Five Tuesdays: November 19, December 17, January 21, February 18, March 18

 7-9pm, in person at Sha’ar Zahav

Last chance to join!

This monthly discussion group will explore issues that arise for people who are considering converting to Judaism. Those with a Jewish parent but raised with little or no Jewish experience and who are interested in exploring their connection to Judaism are also welcome! Pre-registration required. For questions, to sign up or to discuss any access needs please e-mail Rabbi Reuben.

Open Shabbat - Response to Unhoused and Food Insecure

Friday, November 22, 6pm, in person at 16th and Mission BART Station

The SAC is co-sponsoring Open Shabbat in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District. If you haven't attended this Friday night service, it's an experience! We are providing the meal so if you want to help meet & greet and help distribute the food or if you just want sing along in the Shabbat service your participation is appreciated. Any questions, reach out to Jane Kenner. Registration not required--just show up!

Save The Date - BCC Civil Rights Trail Tour 2025

May 24-31, 2025

Join our friends at Beth Chayim Chadashim as we follow in the footsteps of civil rights pioneers and mark these important milestones in LGBTQ+ Jewish history. Jonathan Falk, co-chair of BCC's Civil Rights Trail Jonathan Falk, will be with us during Shabbat on November 22 to share a bit more and answer any questions. Registration and details coming soon.

Learn With Us!

You Need A Rest! Shabbat as a Spiritual Practice

Mondays, November 11-December 9, 6:30pm, Hybrid at Sha'ar Zahav

“The Sabbath is a metaphor for paradise," writes Dr. Susannah Heschel. Some say Shabbat is Judaism's gift to the world. How do we make it meaningful in our lives? Can our rituals speak to our spiritual needs today? What new rituals might we create? We'll explore spiritual teachings about Shabbat in this class and dive into some of the commandments that can deepen the experience, while sharing our aspirations. Recommended reading: A Day Apart: Shabbat at Home by Noam Sachs Zion and Shawn Fields-Meyer. Taught by Rabbi Copeland.

Register here

Recurring Gatherings and Meetings

SZ Book Group

The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance, by Rebecca Clarren

DATE CHANGE: Tuesday, November 19, 7:00-8:00pm on Zoom

There’s a place in South Dakota some locals still call “Jew Flats.” The US government gave this land “free” to Clarren’s ancestors – but it was land the government seized from the Lakota. Clarren explores the tangled history of Jews fleeing Russian persecution and the Lakota whose land they settled on. 

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Climate Action Committee

5:30-6:30pm on Zoom

November meeting: November 18th

Starting December: 2nd Monday of the month

Come share your ideas on how to maintain climate awareness and take action on climate at SZ, including learning of a climate-related State proposition we can all support. We'll also talk about coordinating with other SZ social justice committees. All ideas welcome!

Hope to see you there. Contact Deborah Levy.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Weekday Morning Prayer

Weekly on Tuesdays

8:30-9:00am

Songs and prayers to set our hearts and minds! This service takes place every Tuesday morning, and is led by community lay leaders and Cantor Bernstein. Contact Cantor Bernstein.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Social Action Committee

The first Monday (unless a holiday) of the month

6:00pm on Zoom

On fair elections, welcoming the stranger, secure housing and food, ending gun violence, and more! Want to join us? Come to our next meeting or contact Nancy Wecker or Neil Young.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Weekly Torah Study Group

Weekly on Wednesday

8:30-9:30am

Have you studied Torah but wondered what happens next? We're studying the Prophets (Nevi'im). Drop-ins welcome, no experience with text study necessary. This group is lay lead.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Hineni

Can you do a mitzvah for someone in our community?

Hineni, our caring community at SZ, is in great need of more volunteers (and in more Bay area regions!) to meet the caring needs of our community. If you can help by making a call, helping with an errand, making a home visit, or offering a ride; please fill out this form so we can better match you to members and their needs.

Food Creates Community!

Please join our new Oneg Chavurah with other Sha’ar Zahav members who volunteer to cook, bake or shop to assure we have a plentiful and delicious oneg each week. We’re also building a library of recipes and menus and would welcome your contributions. From now through September, you can sign up to organize, cook, bake or shop — once or many times. 

To learn more, please email oneg@shaarzahav.org.

Caregiver's Group

1st Wednesday of the month, 7-8:30pm on Zoom

Are you a caregiver for someone in your life? A parent, relative, spouse? Christina Irving of the Family Caregiver Alliance leads our monthly Caring for the Caregivers group. If you are interested, please reach out to Rabbi Copeland. Find out more about the Alliance here.

Disability and Accessibility Committee

If you identify as disabled, are exploring that identity or have a loved one with a disability and are interested in joining the Disability and Accessibility Committee, please reach out to the committee for more information. If you are interested in learning more about disability and how you can become a better ally, stay tuned for educational events to come!

12-Step Meetings by and for SZ Members

Weekly on Thursdays

5:00-6:00pm on Zoom

Join SZ's 12-step group at our new time for some pre-High Holiday reflection in the spirit of recovery! Meetings are open to everyone in our wider SZ community (and the Bay Area Jewish recovery community), and we welcome folks who are members of any 12-step fellowship (AA, NA, Alanon, CMA, etc.). Join us this Thursday at 5pm and use this zoom link. Questions? Email Erika Katske.

L'Havin: Understanding Israel and Its Neighbors

Last Monday night of each month, 6pm

Members Only

L'Havin: Understanding Israel and Its Neighbors is a Sha'ar Zahav working group that provides our members with support, knowledge, and dialogue skills that deepen our relationship with the land and peoples of Israel and Palestine, and to advance understanding and healing within our Jewish community. You do not need to come with any previous knowledge of the topics we may discuss or with any set viewpoints. In fact, we encourage all to come with open ears and a learner’s mindset. Led by Rachel Nilson-Ralston. Contact the office to add yourself to the listserv.

Mussar Discussion Group

Bi-weekly on Thursdays

7:00-8:00pm

Mussar is a very practical and flexible spiritual discipline to help you balance soul-traits (Middah/Middot) such as Humility, Loving-Kindness, Generosity, and Silence. Drop-ins are always welcome! Contact Mark Pressler.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Meditation Chavurah

1st Saturday of the month

10:30am-Noon

Everyone is welcome. And you will not regret it! A typical session includes a short and longer silent sit, with chanting, movement, and a short teaching. The group meets on the first and third Saturday of every month.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Hiking Chavurah

2nd Saturday of the month, 9:50am

Join other Sha’ar Zahavniks on monthly urban hikes – mostly in SF but we sometimes venture farther afield. This is a great way to get to know other SZ members while exploring the city and beyond. The hikes usually last about two hours. Email Karen Schiller and Deanne Edwards.

Martin Tilzer 11/6

Joseph Feiner 11/6

Eliana Gershon 11/7

Joseph Sieger 11/8

Will Garcia 11/8

Matt Rich 11/9

Abraham Katz 11/9

Brad Post 11/9

Jonah Goldstone 11/9

Annie Atura Bushnell 11/10

Evan Markiewicz 11/10

Patricia Lin 11/11

Daniel Stellini 11/11

Mark Pressler 11/12

Richard Weiner 11/12

Merle Malakoff 11/12

While we strive for all our events to be mixed-access, this is not always possible. Some events are only in-person, and some are Zoom only. If you have any questions about a particular event, please contact the office, or the contact listed for the event.