Friday Night Service & Performing Judaism with Donnovan Yisrael
April 30 at 7:30 pm
Shabbat services at 7:30 pm led by Rabbi Copeland and Larry Best, followed by Donnovan Yisrael's talk about the intersection of Jewish identity, conversion and race at 8:15 pm, and Q&A until 9:00 pm. Donnovan is a Senior Health Educator of Mental Health and Wellbeing at Stanford’s Vaden Health Center.
Shabbat Morning Service
May 1 at 10 am
Our interactive morning services are led by Sha’ar Zahav members Ron Edelman and Alan Gordon. Join the Zoom Meeting. Meeting ID: 365 434 855 and Passcode: 068575.
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Shavuot and The Magic of Torah |
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Tikkun l’eil Shavuot (Night Torah Study for Shavuot)
Sunday, May 16
From 6:45 pm Until Midnight
It is said that we all stood at the foot of Mount Sinai, amidst thunder, lightning, and dense clouds, each and every one of us, receiving the magic of Torah. Join us in a much-of-the-night fest of learning, each choosing our own Torah adventure from a wide variety of sessions taught by our in-house Sha’ar Zahav mavens, plus special guest antiquities expert Lenny Wolfe.
We will follow up with the complete schedule and Zoom meeting information.
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Highlights: Everyone is Welcome |
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Jewish 12-Steps with Rabbi Mychal Copeland and Mike Shriver
Monday, May 10
7:00 - 8:30 pm
How do 12-Step recovery programs, rooted in Christian thinking, work for Jews? With the help of members who have, themselves, grappled with addiction, we will explore approaches to theology that can aid in recovery. Whether or not your life has been touched by addiction, everyone will have the chance to read texts and contemplate how our ideas about G!d might affect our daily lives.
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Intro to Friday Night Services with Cantor Sharon Bernstein
Tuesday, May 11
7:00 - 8:30(ish) pm
Are you new, or new-ish to the Friday night service? Or have been going for a long time, and have questions? Do you wonder what are the different parts, or why or how things are done?
Please join us for this one-off class covering key structural and thematic points of the Friday night service, designed to help us navigate our ways, practically and spiritually, through the Friday evening prayers.
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SocialAction: Ways to Get Involved |
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Volunteer Alert! The SF Jewish Community Federation is building a network of volunteers to support with COVID-19 vaccine access. You can help seniors, unhoused people, those who speak languages other than English, and other impacted communities book appointments or you may volunteer at a pop-up clinic. Learn more and sign up. |
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Campaign for SB-1 (voting fairness) and H.R. 40 (reparations) with the Religious Action Center
Today, Wednesday, April 28
5:00 pm
The Religious Action Center (“RAC”) is starting a Racial Justice Campaign. Find out what’s being planned and how we can get involved to fight voter suppression and dismantle systemic racism, one policy change at a time. Together our voices are louder and stronger!
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Phone banking with the CSZ John Lewis Memorial Voter Engagement Group
Sunday, May 2
5:30 pm
Afraid of phone banking? We have you covered! Ruth Schoenbach is leading our new “phone banking chavurah,” providing training and support.
At our first meeting on Sunday, May 2, we’ll join the Center for Common Ground to call voters in states where voter suppression bills have been introduced. We’ll urge voters to contact their elected representatives and ask them to oppose this legislation. Contact Ruth Schoenbach for more information
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Social Action Committee Meeting
Monday, May 3
6:00 - 7:30 pm
On fair elections, welcoming the stranger, secure housing and food, ending gun violence, and more! The Social Action Committee is working on advancing the “ Equality Act” (federal LGBT rights) and the “ For the People Act” (assuring national fair elections). Want to join us? Contact Nancy Wecker or Geri Kahn.
On immigration. Be part of a Sha'ar Zahav's Accompaniment team with a newly arrived gay Russian asylum-seeking couple. This is a great opportunity to learn first hand about the immigrant experience while you provide safety, and turn them on to resources for housing, food, legal and the LGBT community. For information, contact Nancy Wecker or Neil Young at (415) 649-4494. Also, seeking a Russian speaker to translate.
Calling all small landlords. Do you know about the COVID Tenant Relief Act which can provide delinquent rent benefiting landlords and tenants for stable communities? For information see Faith in Action Bay Area Small Landlords Website or contact abby@faithinactionba.org.
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The late Congressman John Lewis shed his blood crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma to fight for Black voters and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Today voting rights are under attack again.
Join the National Day of Action May 8! Over a 100 cities will demand the passage of the For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and D.C. Statehood and address one of the greatest obstacles to the passage of civil and voting rights – and one of the last vestiges of slavery – the filibuster!
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Judaism 101 Class
Interested in the Summer Class?
New or newish to Judaism? Know someone who would like to learn or re-learn the basics of Judaism? This class is a starting point to dive into Jewish learning and/or Jewish practice. Anyone from any background is welcome!
We are hoping to start a group in June, but need at least 5 more participants to complete the cohort. Here are the details: From June 15 – August 24, 2021 on Zoom, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. The class fee is $149. Partial scholarships available for those who need it.
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Weekly Mussar Group
Tomorrow, Thursday, April 29
7:00 - 8:00 pm
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! For more information, contact Mark Pressler.
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Finding God in a Pandemic
Two More Mondays: May 3 and 10
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Jews love to say we are “God-strugglers,” so let’s explore the rich Jewish landscape of God-talk, from the classics like Buber, Kaplan, Heschel to feminist and queer Jewish theologies. We will explore how theology, pantheism, and atheism attempt to answer the most profound questions of our time.
Sign up for the whole class or drop in when you’re able. We'll be counting the omer. Open to all.
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Weekly Torah Study Group
Wednesday, May 5
8:30 - 9:30 am
Study the weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Copeland and lay leaders. For the first half hour, we’ll talk, learn and share thoughts about the portion. In the second half, we will practice our Hebrew reading skills in a compassionate environment! Join for either or both parts of the study.
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Adult B’Mitzvah Program
Begins Soon on Zoom
Many of us did not become B’Mitzvah as children and feel like it might be time to make that connection. Our Adult B’mitzvah Program (ABP) is a monthly group educational program, which runs for approximately 8 – 12 months. In the ABP you will learn about the history of the ritual and explore what it means to become an adult B’mitzvah. You will have practical classes in giving a D’var Torah, reading/chanting from the Torah, leading services, and learning the prayer service.
There will also be sessions on the who, what, and why of prayer, different perspectives of G-d, everyday spirituality and much more. The process culminates in either an individual or group B’mitzvah on a Saturday morning at Sha’ar Zahav.
Contact the coordinator Mark Pressler to let us know you are interested or would like to hear more!
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Theater & Movies Chavurah
Today, Wednesday, April 28
6:00 - 7:30 pm
We have re-launched the theatre/movie chavurah and our second play is " Dara" available on National Theater at Home. Watch on your own, and let's gather to discuss it on Zoom.
To join the chavurah, please email Yvette Adida or Liliana Peliks. We will watch something new every month, and will decide together on dates, genres, etc.
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Weekly Art Group: Drop-in
Tomorrow, Thursday, April 29
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Yoga Practice
Saturday, May 1
8:45 am - 9:45 am
You are invited to a twice-a-month Shabbat morning exploration of yoga and Judaism that integrates mind, body, and spirit. Stuart Dick and Rabbi Mychal Copeland will alternate leading the first and third Saturday of every month.
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Meditation Chavurah
Saturday, May 1
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
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.
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Disability & Accessibility Committee Meeting
Our Next Meeting is Postponed Until Monday, May 3
Noon - 1:30 pm
Join to meet others with disabilities and work towards a more accessible Sha'ar Zahav on Zoom and when we go back to the synagogue building. We are also looking forward to starting programs and events centered around queer, Jewish, and disabled identities. Want to join? Have questions? Please email Eliana Smithstein.
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Weekday Morning Prayer
Tuesday, May 4
8:30 - 9:00 am
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. For more information, contact Cantor Bernstein.
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Remember When...
Wednesday, May 5
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Hitch a ride on the wayback wagon for a trip down memory lane. Let’s reminisce about the 40’s thru the 70’s together! Different topics each month. Everyone is welcome! Questions? Contact Marv Lehrman.
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Kaddish Memory Circle
Thursday, May 6 and 20
8:30 - 9:00 am
During this time of immense loss and grief, we are holding regular Kaddish Memory Circles to support each other. Rabbi Mychal Copeland, Ora Prochovnick and Martin Tannenbaum will alternate leading these circles twice a month.
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Special Va'ad (Board) Meeting
Wednesday, May 12
6:30 - 9:30 pm
This Va'ad meeting will focus on the results of our recent member survey. We will meet again on Wednesday, May 19 for our regular monthly meeting. All members are welcome to attend!
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"Jewish&" Shabbat Service
Friday, May 14
7:30 pm
Join us to celebrate those in our community who are part of multifaith, multicultural, and multiracial families!
We will lift up our ancestor, Ruth, whose book we read at the Shavuot holiday, as a“fellow-traveler,” a Moabite who chose to live in community with the ancient Israelites.
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Building Community with Other Single People
Sunday, May 16
4:00 - 5:15 pm
Are you single? If your answer is yes and you'd love a little community during these isolating times, you have found the right place! Sha'ar Zahav member Tamar Gershon is championing a virtual space to meet, chat and develop a support system.
Ultimately, when we can, we'd love to meet for in-person activities, and maybe some will meet their Bashert (soulmate), who knows?? For all ages, all genders, all sexualities and abilities. Questions, feel free to email Tamar Gershon.
For Sha'ar Zahav Members Only. Join the Zoom Meeting: Zoom link
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Co-presented by Sha'ar Zahav |
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Queer Jews: A 20th Anniversary Symposium in Memory of David Shneer. Co-presented by the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion & Sha’ar Zahav.
Sunday, May 2
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Twenty years after the initial publication of Queer Jews, the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion is hosting a symposium in honor of the role the book played in re-imagining the American and global Jewish worlds, and in memory of David Shneer’s many gifts and contributions to queer Jewish life. David was a longtime friend of many members, and a Sha'ar Zahav educator. Rabbi Mychal Copeland will be facilitating during the symposium as well!
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B’Tzelem Elokim: A Mother Discusses Her Fight for Transgender Rights. Co-presented by the Jewish Community Library and Sha’ar Zahav.
Sunday, May 2
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Mimi Lemay, author of "What We Will Become" will speak about her journey away from the ultra-orthodox community, and her own family's journey in affirming the chosen gender of their son, Jacob.
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COVID-19 Funeral Expenses Assistance
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 -related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number
Applications began on April 12, 2021
844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time
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Merle Malakoff, 4/1
Charlie Spiegel, 4/1
Eliana Frank, 4/2
Quinn Klaiman, 4/3
Ben Gaste, 4/5
Rachel Nancollas, 4/5
Britta Pomrantz, 4/6
Larry Best, 4/7
Hannah Megumi Korthof, 4/7
Daniel Gill, 4/8
Anna Katz, 4/8
Nicolas Rosenstone, 4/9
Marvin Lehrman, 4/10
Glen Hauer. 4/10
John Arnold, 4/10
Kara Romanko, 4/11
Liam Klaiman, 4/11
Sydney Klaiman, 4/11
Johanna Klaiman, 4/11
Sophia De Anda, 4/11
Susan Leff, 4/12
Avidan Rene Novogrodsky-Godt, 4/13
Jay Cohen, 4/13
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Bonnie Kates, 4/13
Marjorie Hilsenrad, 4/14
Kaye Hoxter, 4/14
Bob Gordon, 4/16
Diana Buchbinder, 4/17
Maelis Perlman, 4/18
Donald Fischer, 4/18
Meg Keene, 4/18
Carina Elisa Rose, 4/19
Lillian Levy, 4/19
Shaun Poblete, 4/20
Jonathon Thunderword, 4/20
Scott Bergman, 4/20
Lisa Finkelstein, 4/21
Sara Haber, 4/23
Joshua Muller, 4/23
Karen Schiller, 4/24
Samuel Lowinger, 4/24
Brian Ellis, 4/25
Karlyn Isaac Lotney, 4/26
Janaye Murphy, 4/29
Ruth Schoenbach, 4/30
Rachel Ralston, 4/30
Neil J Young, 4/30
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Friday Evening Service
April 30, 7:30 pm
19 Iyar
Emor
Led by Rabbi Copeland and Larry Best
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Saturday, Lay-led Morning Service
May 1, 10:00 am
Meeting ID: 365 434 855
Passcode: 068575
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Thank You to Our Grantors |
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