Immigrants and Friends Pre-Shabbat event, Postcard Party and so much more!

Pre-Shabbat program:

Immigrants and Friends

Our guests: Michael Chertok, immigrants from Honduras and Nadia Tavera Medina, Neat Program Coordinator for Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, will be discussing their personal immigration story and what inspires them to advocate for and support immigrants.

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

Friday Night Services for Vayakhel

March 8th at 7:30pm

Hybrid: On Zoom and In-Person

Led by Rabbi Copeland and Alyss Weissglass

Drash by Neil J. Young

Meeting ID: 886 7131 3838

Saturday Morning Service:

March 9th at 10:00am

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.

Purim is coming! Purim is coming!

Hamantaschen Baking Class

Tuesday, March 19, 7pm on Zoom only

Open to everyone!

Join us and learn/watch how to make a Purim classic--Hamantaschen! Alex Ingersoll and Martin Tannenbaum will guide you through this immersive baking journey.

Celebrate Purim at Sha'ar Zahav

Saturday, March 23, 6:15-9pm, Hybrid

Open to everyone!

It's Adar--be happy! Join us for cocktails and noshes. Dress up as your favorite queer icon, Purim character, or your heart's secret desire for our most topsy-turvy Jewish holiday (costume supplies available on-site). Our service will have parodies and a very special performance of Esther: A Barbie Megillah! Contact Rabbi Q if you want to be involved in the ensemble.

6:15-8pm: Hybrid (in-person and on Zoom)

8-9pm: After Party (in-person only)

Purim Kids Zone

Saturday, March 23, 4:30-7pm, in-person only

Designed for kids

Join your friends at Sha'ar Zahav for games, songs, stories, puppets, crafts, and a costume parade! On the lower level, we'll have a zone for the 5-and-under kids, activities for K-7 students, and a kid-friendly dinner. Of course everyone is welcome to also join our main community gathering upstairs.The downstairs pizza dinner is for kids and their grownups only. Free, but donation is appreciated. Pre-registration is required so that we can order the right amount.

Come as you aren't:

A Purim Extravaganza

Saturday, March 23, 8-10:30pm at Manny's

Open to Kaf Lameds (21-early 40s) only

Congregation Sha'ar Zahav and Congregation Beth Sholom are proud to present "Come as you aren't." Enjoy tradition, temptation, music, Jewish drag queens and fierce costumes all under the roof of Manny's located at 3092 16th Street.

Click here to register

Community Get Together!

Postcard Party

Sunday, March 10, 2:30-4:30pm, Hybrid at 290 Dolores St.

Join Sha’ar Zahav’s John Lewis Memorial Voter Engagement group at our first postcard kick-off party of the year. Can’t make it in person or on Zoom? Let us know you are interested and we will make arrangements to get a postcard packet to you! RSVP is mandatory. RSVP to Tirtza Pearl or Geri Kahn

Join us on Zoom

In Focus: Israel/Gaza with Standing Together

Tuesday, March 12th, 7pm at Congregation Sherith Israel

Meet two inspiring Israeli grassroots activists—Sally Abed and Alon-Lee Green, from NIF grantee Omdim Beyachad/Naqif Ma'an (Standing Together). Standing Together is a grassroots movement mobilizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel in pursuit of peace, equality, and social and climate justice. To learn more, click here.

Sha'ar Zahav is a proud co-sponsor of this event.

Laundering Antisemitism:

Identity Politics and the University with Dr. Marc Dollinger

Sunday, March 17, 4pm, Hybrid at 290 Dolores St.

Join us as we learn about SFSU Professor Marc Dollinger’s upcoming book chronicling his two fights against campus antisemitism, one at a right-wing college and the other at a left-wing university. We’ll learn about antisemitism, identity politics, and the very purpose of a college education.

Progressive Voices: Antisemitism after October 7th

Thursday, March 21, 6:30pm, In-Person

Join Ashager Araro, Tyler Gregory, Erin Schrode and Matthew Nouriel in this discussion about Antisemitism and its presence after October 7th. Araro is the founder and director of Battae, an Ethiopian Israeli Heritage Center. Gregory is the CEO of JCRC Bay Area. The location of the event will be provided one week prior to the event by Olivia Travel, the host of this event.

Sha'ar Zahav is a co-sponsor of this event.

Blood Donors Needed!

Sha'ar Zahav will be sponsoring a mobile blood drive at the synagogue and we are looking for people in our community who are interested in donating. After many decades the rules have changed. Gay men who meet certain criteria are now able to donate blood. Gay men who have not tested positive for HIV/AIDS or taking medication to prevent HIV infection, or have not had a new sexual partner in the last three months are now eligible to donate. We need to identify at least 25 to 30 potential donors in order to schedule the blood drive. First time donors are welcome. Straight and women blood donors are also encouraged.

For further information, please contact Barry Pearl.

26th World Conference of LGBTQ+ Jews

May 1st-5th, Mexico City

Sha'ar Zahav is a proud member of the World Congress of GLBT Jews: Keshet Ga'avah. Join the the 26th World Conference hosted and organized by Guimel, filled with captivating lectures, knowledge-sharing panels, and exciting opportunities to explore rich cultural and recreational offerings.

New and Lightly Used Clothing and Socks for the Homeless

A project of the Social Action Committee

There is a bin in the lobby at 290 Dolores to collect new and lightly used clothing and socks to be distributed to the homeless by The Gubbio Project. Drop by and drop off some items. We will be doing an ongoing collection.

Recurring Gatherings and Meetings

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

12-Step Meetings by and for SZ Members

Weekly on Thursdays

5:00-6:00pm on Zoom

Join CSZ'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

L'Havin: Understanding Israel and Its Neighbors is a Sha'ar Zahav working group that 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. 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.

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!

Weekly Torah Study Group

Weekly on Wednesday

8:30-9:30am

Rabbi Copeland and lay leaders lead discussions about the weekly Torah reading. Drop-ins welcome, no experience with Torah nessecary!

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

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 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

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 Ellen Murland.

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

Birthdays this week!

Kevin Stein 3/6

Arlene Singer 3/7

Jill Pomrantz 3/7

Tom Medin 3/9

Sam Yelland 3/9

Stephen Shotland 3/10

Jessie Ap'neva 3/11

Hershey Hirschkop 3/12

David Crestfield 3/12

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.

Health and Safety Policies at 290 Dolores

For the health and safety of our community, it is Sha’ar Zahav's expectation that all members and visitors who attend in-person services and events will be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. If you are unvaccinated, sick or experiencing any symptoms of illness, please enjoy services and events via Zoom.

Masks are no longer required at in-person services and events. But we are mask-friendly and fully supportive of visitors, members and service leaders who choose to wear masks for their own personal protection.

Sha’ar Zahav is a scent-free environment. Because keeping our synagogue safe for those with scent and chemical sensitivities is part of our commitment to accessibility, please refrain from wearing perfume/cologne or using other scented products.

For more information, email the Accessibility Committee.

Thank You to Our Grantors

Programs at Sha’ar Zahav are supported by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, the Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus Initiative for Immigrant and Refugee Justice of the Religious Action Center, the National Center to Encourage Judaism and the generous support of our members. Toda rabba!

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