Sha'ar Zahav's office phone provider is being transferred and we may miss your call or voicemail until the transition is complete. If you can’t get through, please send us an email or try again a bit later. | |
|
The office will be closed Wednesday, December 25th and Wednesday, January 1st.
Rabbi Copeland and Cantor Bernstein will be out from Tuesday, December 23rd to January 6th.
While they are on vacation, please call (707) 412-8573 for emergencies during this time or contact the office.
| |
Community, Let's Get Together! | |
|
Trans* Together
Friday, December 20, 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
| |
|
Lights, Candles, Action! Virtual Community Hanukkah Lighting
Each night of Hannukah, December 25-January 1st, 6pm on Zoom
Join in community for Sha’ar Zahav’s Third Annual Virtual Chanukiah Lighting.
We are looking for volunteers to lead candle lighting/blessing and tell a story each night. You can volunteer for one or both roles on the night you choose. Stories may be historical or hysterical, personal or impertinent, inspirational or aspirational. Sign up here to lead candle lighting or tell a story. Just imagine, you can have a bunch of people celebrating at your home without the muss or fuss.
Register for the series here (attend whichever ones work for you)
| |
|
Hav-Dal-Nu-Kah: A Hannukah and Havdalah Gathering!
Saturday, December 28, 6pm, in-person at Sha'ar Zahav
Are you home for the holidays? Getting back from travels? Join Sha’ar Zahav’s young adult group, Kaf Lamed, for a special Hanukkah gathering featuring Havdalah blessings, menorah lighting, yapping, and festive noshing, which of course includes latkes and sufganiyot. You don't want to miss this night of light, joy, and community!
Let us know if you can make it by filling out the form here.
| |
|
TJIF: Trans Justice! It's Friday!
Friday, January 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
| |
|
Winter Blanket & Clothing Drive
Bring your new and lightly used blankets and warm clothing, including new socks to 290 Dolores St. They will be distributed to the homeless by The Gubbio Project. We will be collecting all winter long.
| |
|
Save The Date: Civil Rights Trip 2025
May 24-31, 2025
SZ will join our sibling shul in LA, Beth Chayim Chadashim, as we follow in the footsteps of civil rights pioneers and mark important milestones in LGBTQ+ Jewish history. You’re invited to join BCC’s first-ever tour of the Civil Rights Trail, May 24-31, 2025, to be followed by a week in Washington, DC, where we will celebrate Shavuot, explore the rich cultural history of the capital region, and celebrate a gathering of LGBTQ Jews (June 5-6) and World Pride DC (June 7-8) with our friends at Bet Mishpachah. You are welcome to join the Civil Rights Trail tour, the week in DC, or both! If you're interested, please contact Rabbi Copeland. For more information, click here.
To register, call 888.370.2736 (Option 2).
| |
Recurring Gatherings and Meetings | |
|
Theater & Movies Chavurah:
Treasure
Wednesday, January 8, 6:00pm on Zoom
Treasure is a 2024 tragicomedy film directed by Julia von Heinz. It’s based on the 1999 novel Too Many Men by Lily Brett and stars Lena Dunham, Stephen Fry and Zbigniew Zamachowski. Set in 1990, it tells the story of an American journalist Ruth who travels to Poland with her father Edek to visit his childhood places. Available on multiple streaming platforms.
Join us: Zoom Link
| |
|
SZ Book Group
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store By James McBride
Tuesday, January 7, 7:00-8:00pm on Zoom
Come join us (we love new folx!) as we discuss a fast-reading book which starts with a skeleton found at the bottom of a well - but it’s really about the intertwined lives of immigrant Jews and African Americans who live in the rundown neighborhood of Chicken Hill.
Join us: Zoom Link
| |
Arts Chavurah
Sunday, January 19th, 10:30am-1:30pm,
in-person, at a member's home,
address upon registration
Originally an annual Yom Kippur workshop, this newly created monthly chavurah celebrates all forms of creativity—your imagination sets the limit! Supplies like watercolors, pencils, and charcoals are provided, but feel free to bring your own, including writing journals. We meet every third Sunday of the month. A fridge and microwave are available, so bring lunch and any extra materials you’d like!
RSVP to Barb Cymrot
| |
|
Climate Action Committee
5:30-6:30pm on Zoom
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
Sessions begin in December
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. $125 suggested donation for 4 sessions. 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!
| |
|
L'Havin: Understanding Israel and Its Neighbors
Last Monday night of each month, 6pm
SZ 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.
| | |
|
|
Arthur Meirson 12/20
Michele Sullivan 12/20
Emma Simonoff 12/21
Jane Kenner 12/21
Nina Patchell 12/22
Jeffrey Piade 12/23
Trudi White 12/23
Gabriella Powell 12/23
Yonah Levy 12/24
Drew Parker-Rose 12/24
| |
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. | |
Health and Safety Policies at 290 Dolores | |
Vaccinations and Masks
For the health and safety of our community, all who attend in-person services and events should be vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are unvaccinated, sick, or experiencing any symptoms of illness, please enjoy services and events via Zoom. While masks are not required at in-person services and events, we are mask-friendly and fully supportive of visitors, members, and service leaders who choose to wear masks.
Fragrance-Free Environment
Sha’ar Zahav maintains a fragrance-free environment at all its in-person services and events. In order to support those who are physically harmed when exposed to chemical fragrances (difficulty breathing, migraines, flu-like symptoms), please refrain from wearing perfume/cologne or using other scented products. For more information on this subject, click here.
| | | | |
