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Weekly Newsletter
August 28, 2025
5 Elul 5785 | Parshat Shoftim
| | | | | 333 Cortland Ave, SF, CA 94110 | | |
Family Alef-Bet Program
Wednesday, September 3, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Our Family Alef-Bet program kicks off this upcoming Wednesday! Designed for families with 4th–7th graders, this fun and engaging class is a chance for you and your child to learn to read Hebrew together. This is also great for B' Mitzvah students to brush them up on their Hebrew. The program runs Wednesdays through December, and everyone is welcome — membership not required!
To learn more and enroll, click here.
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Mahjong Night
Wednesday, September 3, 7 - 9 PM
Inner Sunset
Mahjong is back at Or Shalom! We've progressed from lessons to games. Join other Or Shalomers in playing American Mahjong! Bring your 2025 National Mahjong League Card.
For more information and to register, please click here.
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Musical Shabbat Service & Potluck
Friday, September 5, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St, SF
Join us at our new location at the Community Music Center for Musical Shabbat with R' Faryn and the Music Ensemble! Before our Shabbat service, join us for a Happy Half-Hour. Then 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
We're still looking for a host to sponsor our first Happy Half Hour in our new space! If you're interested, please sign up here or reach out to Pat Skala!
New - Childcare will be available from 6-7:30pm. Children are always welcome at services but we realize they may need the opportunity to be in a less-structured environment for all or part of the service.
Volunteer Sign-Up Update:
We’ve launched a new volunteer sign-up sheet that includes new roles:
– HHH Host
– Opening Support
– Childcare Volunteer
– Closing Support
Please sign up now and help us keep these gatherings running smoothly!
♿ Accessibility Info: CMC is ADA accessible.
⚠️ 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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2025 Community Picnic
Sunday, September 7, 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
GGP - Marx Meadow, 906 John F Kennedy Dr
We're looking forward to seeing you at Or Shalom's end-of-summer annual picnic! Please join us for lunch, music, sports, and companionship.
Please bring:
- A side dish or dessert to share. We'll provide the main course!
- Reusable dishes & flatware (we’ll have disposables as backup)
- Balls, frisbees, games, and musical instruments
- Something to sit on — blankets, folding chairs, etc.
- Layers for SF’s unpredictable weather
- Anything you need to feel comfortable!
Mark your calendars now! Guests are welcome — this is a wonderful chance to introduce friends to the Or Shalom community.
Registration is appreciated but not required! Just show up!
For more information, click here. Sign up to volunteer here!
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Welcoming Shabbat on Zoom
Friday, September 12, 6 - 7 PM
via Zoom
Join us for Welcoming Shabbat on Zoom — a warm gathering 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.
We're still looking for a host! If interested, please contact the office or R' Faryn!
Click here for our Zoom Siddur (prayerbook). You might wish to print out our Siddur in advance of Welcoming Shabbat.
Zoom Link
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Enrollment Now Open for all Youth & Family Education Programs!
We’re excited to welcome students and families into our programs for 2025–26!
Or Shalom Community School (Grades 1–6)
Weekly afterschool program blending progressive Jewish curriculum with outdoor learning, art, and immersive ritual experiences. Multi-age classes foster friendship and mentorship.
Sunday Family Program (Ages 5–12 + Parents)
Monthly experiential gatherings for families to learn together—making charoset, exploring Jewish music, designing ritual objects, and more. Think field trips, hands-on fun, and meaningful connection.
Shabbat Shalomies (Ages 1–5, All Welcome)
A joyful Tot Shabbat series on the first Saturday of each month, led by Head of Youth & Family Education Mira Stern. Music, prayer, play, and community connection for little ones and their grown-ups—followed by park playtime and snacks.
B’Mitzvah Program (7th Grade and Up)
A transformative, yearlong journey in Torah study, identity formation, collective mitzvah projects, and spiritual leadership—culminating in a personalized B’Mitzvah ceremony co-created with Rabbi Faryn.
Alef-Bet Hebrew Class (Grades 4–7 + Parents)
An intergenerational approach to Hebrew learning, where kids and parents study side-by-side. No pressure—just progress, together.
Teen Collective (Grades 8–12)
A bold monthly space for Jewish teens (8th-12th grade) to connect over identity, justice, art, and culture. We gather for food, deep community building, and real conversations about what it means to be Jewish today.
To learn more about our programs to enroll, click here.
📩 For questions about these programs, contact Mira Stern!
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Upcoming Sessions!
B’ Mitzvah Program
Wednesday, September 3, 4:30 - 6 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Family Alef-Bet Program
Wednesday, September 3, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
331 Cortland Ave
Shabbat Shalomies
Saturday, September 6, 10 AM - 12 PM
Precita Park, 3200 Folsom St
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Chesed Cooking Party Thanks
A big thank you to Norisa Berardi and Saralie Pennington for chopping and cooking with us on Sunday, August 24; to Judy Olasov for generously opening her home (and freezer!) to store our meals; to Eleanor Louis for supplying desserts; and to Betsy Strausberg for her generous donation toward supplies.
Together, you’ve helped stock our Chesed freezer with comfort food for those in need of a little extra care.
💜 If you or someone you know could use a delivery of home-cooked meals, please reach out to the Chesed Committee.
— Madeleine Levin, Sue Schechter & Betty Zonderman
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Under the Stars with Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema
Saturday, September 6, 6 - 9:30 PM
Precita Park
Join neighbors for Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema’s Under the Stars — a free evening of films by local filmmakers and community connection in Precita Park.
Schedule
- 6 –7 pm – Spread out your blanket, visit community partner tables, and enjoy the pre-show music.
- 7 – 9:30 pm – Film screenings + awards announcement.
Or Shalom will be there! Stop by our table, staffed by Eala Gross and Susan Rifkin, to grab snacks, mugs, and information about our community. Come say hello, support us, and stay for the movies!
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Staff & Office Updates
Want to connect with us? Use the links below to schedule a time:
🤲 Add a loved one to our Healing List here.
📅 Have an idea for an event? Submit a request.
Rabbi Faryn is out of office August 16–30. In the event of a pastoral emergency, please call her voicemail for instructions.
The Or Shalom office will be closed Monday, September 1 for Labor Day.
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We're Hiring!
Or Shalom is hiring for the following position:
Shabbat Shalomies Tot Shabbat Leader
If you or someone you know might be a great fit, we’d love to hear from you.
To learn more or apply, visit orshalomsf.org/jobs
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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.
Patricia Kalman, in memory of Richard Kalman
Sue Schechter, in honor of Erica Reder and Ben Lynch, on the arrival Eva Mei Lynch!
Margo Friestadt, in honor of R' Faryn, R' Me'irah, Sue Schechter, Betty Zonderman, and the Chesed Group.
Allan Pleaner, in memory of Alice Klein
Florence Grende, in honor of Lisa Garbus
Florence Grende, in memory of Lynn Frederick Ludlow
Laura Bresler, in memory of my father Harvey Bresler, and in gratitude for support around the death of my mother Barbara Pious Bresler
Roz & Steve Itelson, in memory of Beverly Fine
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Yahrzeits
The community extends its sympathy to Margo Freistadt on the death of her husband Lynn Frederick Ludlow
On the anniversary of their deaths, we remember:
Robert Campbell, David Frankel, Betty Gerard, Mary Glassman, Louise Gross, Ilene Helman, Etta Green Johnson, Richard Kalman, Clarice Ruben Lifson, Sandi Matthews, Barbara Mazie, Paul Mazor, Shmuel Peretz, Gilbert Potter, Farhard Samii, Marilyn Schechter, Ida Rabinowitz Schwartz, Laura Siegal, Dr. Ralph Siegel, David Thurm, Art Tognazzini, Brian Von Halle, Rose Weiss
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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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