We ask those who are attending Friday and Saturday Shabbat, please bring a coat/sweater to stay warm if you're joining us in person. Please enter from the front door entrance, as you normally would for Shabbat services.

Friday Night Services:

January 20th at 7:30 pm.

Hybrid: On Zoom and In-Person.

Shabbes Beat led by Cantor Bernstein

Register Here for Zoom Service

Meeting ID: 886 7131 3838

Saturday Morning Service:

January 21st at 10:00 am.

Hybrid: On Zoom and In-Person.

Join the Zoom Meeting. Meeting ID: 365 434 855 and Passcode: 068575.

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

Save the Date

Sue Send Off

Saturday, January 28th, 9:15-9:45am in Oneg Room

We invite everyone to say farewell to our beloved Educator, Sue Bojdak.

Stay for the Tri-Mitzvah!

Tri-Mitzvah

Saturday, January 28th, 10am

Join Joseph Feiner, M Eifler and Yuridia Ruhama Yisraeli at their b'mitzvah as they celebrate this great milestone. All are invited!

Shabbat Shira Service and Sing Along

Friday, February 3

Service 7:30pm ~ Sing Along 8pm

In honor of Shabbat Shira (the Torah portion where we singingly come to safety across the sea), a rousing, fortifying, soup-for-the-soul, song fest! Join together in singing our favorite tunes, Jewish and secular, with special themes of the sea for Shabbat Shira and trees for Tu Bishvat.

Tu B'Shevat Seder

Sunday, February 5

6:30-8:00pm on Zoom only

Join us for a Seder to celebrate the New Year of the Trees, in this time of global change and needed healing. Co-leaders Carey Averbook and Eli Ramer will be facilitating the evening's ritual, weaving together kabbalistic and present-focused elements. 

Register here to reserve your spot and to get more information on the Seder.

Community: Let's Get Together

Saying Kaddish For a Difficult Relationship

Monday, January 23rd, 7pm on Zoom only

One of the prayers in Siddur Sha'ar Zahav reads, “Your memory is blessed in anger and in love,” acknowledging that not all of our losses bring positive memories. For those who were abusive, do we say Kaddish or Yizkor for them? Might we say something else at those ritual moments to mark the loss? You're invited to a discussion with Rabbi Copeland and Shalom Bayit's Liana Thomason to explore these questions in community.

Register for the Meeting: Zoom meeting

Gender-neutral Hebrew Chanting

 Friday, January 27th, 9-9:45am on Zoom

Want to start your day and transition into Shabbat by connecting with yourself, others, and the Divine with morning chanting? Do you have a hard time with the male language in our liturgy? Join Rabbi Copeland in a chanting practice that uses entirely gender-neutral names for the Divine. All prayers will be in transliteration or English, so come with any level of Hebrew, even if it's totally new to you.

Register here: Zoom meeting

Immigration Journal

Join other members of the SZ community to tell stories of immigrants/refugees who have shaped your life in preparation of Immigration Shabbat on February 10th. The Social Action Committee is collecting stories for this year's journal. (You can see the journal from last year here.) Everyone is welcome. Story wrap-up is February 5. Avoid the last-minute rush: Here is the link to tell your story.

Grant Writing: Looking for a way to support our community?

We need people to assist with researching and writing grants! We depend on grant funding for a variety of SZ programs. No experience is required—except an interest in writing, editing and shepherding grants through the application and approval process. You will work with Susie Idzik and experienced Resource Development volunteers. We promise you’ll increase your knowledge and connection to our community and gain a deep sense of fulfillment—and many mitzvah points! 

We estimate it will be a few hours of work over 1-3 months.

Please let me know of your interest by emailing me, Deborah Levy.

Racial Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (REDI) 101

Monday, February 6th, 8-9:30pm (EST)

Please join us for Beyond Welcoming: Addressing Racism, Homophobia, Ableism, & More. Start building stronger communities and transform the ways in which you can create meaningful Jewish experiences for people of all backgrounds. All are welcome to REDI 101, the core REDI program. 

We hope to have as many of SZ members as possible participate in this program.

Register here

Learn With Us!

Exploring Midrash 

Taught by Rabbi Yoel Kahn 

Thursday evenings, 7-8:30pm 

January 19 - February 23 (6 sessions) on Zoom only 

A midrash is “a story about a story in the Torah” (or the Tanakh). One of the oldest forms of Jewish commentary, midrash moves beyond the “literal” of any to bring imaginative and creative interpretations. While midrash often “fills in the blanks” in a narrative or offers the “backstory” to the text, it also is a path for the ancient commentators to complicate, nuance or even question the Biblical story. In this series, we will encounter a variety of classic midrashic texts, as taught by the rabbis of old, as well as exploring how these texts in turn are woven into Kabbalah, poetry and modern Jewish commentaries - including a session on the great modern midrashic interpreter, Avivah Zornberg. 

Rabbi Yoel Kahn, Ph.D, was the Rabbi of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav from 1985-1996.

Register for class here 

Journey to Judaism: A Discussion Group

Facilitated by Ora Prochovnick, Rose Katz and James Carlson

Six Mondays (the last Monday of each month), starting January 30th, 7pm-8:30pm

This discussion group will explore issues that arise for people who are considering, are in the process of, or have only recently completed, converting to Judaism. We also welcome those who have a Jewish parent (or parents), but were raised with little or no Jewish experience and are interested in exploring their connection to Judaism. This group is not an introduction to Judaism course, but rather a place to ask questions and discuss issues with others who are also on this journey. Class sessions will alternate meeting in person with meeting on Zoom. Hybrid access will not be available for the in-person sessions. For further information, click here.

To register, please contact Executive Director Susie Idzik

Recurring Gatherings and Meetings

L'Havin: Understanding Israel and Its Neighbors 

Monday, January 23, 6pm

Sha'ar Zahav's working group provides our members and community friends 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. Please contact lhavin@shaarzahav.org if you’re curious.

Join the Meeting here

Kaf-Lamed Monthly Gathering

Don't go to Shabbat alone!

January 20, 7:30pm

Join Sha'ar Zahav's young adult group (The Kaf Lameds) for a monthly gathering at Shabbat Services in person! Perfect for those who've ever felt intimidated to go to Shabbat in person services alone. Or perfect for those who just want a few buddies to join on Friday night services! This is a monthly gathering, where we'll do "Shabbat Together" the 3rd Friday of each month. Contact Emily Ornelas-Dorian.

Theater & Movies Chavurah: The Fabelmans

Wednesday, February 1st

6:00 pm on Zoom

Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth. It’s available to view in theaters or to rent or buy on Amazon Prime and many other streaming platforms. It’s pricier than our prior shows, but it’s still considerably less expensive than attending theatre.

Join the Meeting: Zoom meeting

Book Group Discussion:

The Aleppo Codex: The True Story of Obsession, Faith, and the Pursuit of an Ancient Bible

by Matti Friedman

Tuesday, February 7, 7:00 - 8:00 pm on Zoom

The Aleppo Codex is the true-life thriller of what happened to the 10th-century Aleppo Codex, the oldest annotated Hebrew Bible, after it left its burnt-out sanctuary in Syria in the 1950s on its way to Israel. It's a story of intrigue, political upheavals, and a controversial courtroom trial. It's also a story of what happened to the once thriving Syrian Jewish community, many of whom went to Israel as well.  For more info, email Ami Zusman.

Join the Meeting: Zoom Link

Art Group: Drop-in

New Dates!

2nd Tuesdays and 4th Thursdays of the month

7:00-8:00pm on Zoom only

Drop in for a joyful hour of free art-making and connection. Everyone is welcome!

Contact Paisha Rochlin or Barbara Cymrot.

Tuesdays: Zoom link

Thursdays: Zoom link

Climate Action Committee

2nd Monday of the Month   

5:00-6:30pm on Zoom

The CAC gathers monthly to support and educate ourselves and our community on climate issues, including climate grief, policy advocacy, and personal and community strategies to address the urgent crises of climate change and climate justice. 

Contact Deborah Levy.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

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 Eliana Smithstein 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!

Remember When

1st Wednesday of the Month

6:30-8:00pm

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. We will gather on the first Wednesday of every month. Email Marv Lehrman.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Weekly Torah Study Group

Weekly on Wednesday

8:30-9:30am

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Mussar 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 and 3rd 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

3rd Saturday of the month until 2023, 9:50 am

We hike on the second Saturday of the month

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 Ellen Murland

12-Step Meetings by and for SZ Members

Weekly on Sundays On Zoom

1:00-2:00pm

The meeting will be run in the usual 12-step format but will also feature some thoughts and reflections from members bringing Judaism into their 12-step practice. Contact Erika Katske.

For Sha'ar Zahav Members Only. Register Here to Attend.

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

Michael Kalb 1/18

Shawn Rosenmoss 1/18

Yolande Schneeman 1/19

Eileen Lynette 1/20

Harold Lahn-Schroeder 1/21

Lila Naparst 1/21

Martin Tannenbaum 1/22

Laureen Kim 1/22

Rebecca Fenn 1/22

Jonathan Igor Williamson 1/24

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.