Link of the week: Our very own Ruth Bernstein oversaw JCRC's third annual Bay Area Jewish Identity survey. If you'd like to see the results of the survey, please register here. Sha'ar Zahav is a member of the JCRC Council.

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

Scroll down to read more about our exciting Oneg Chavurah!

Friday Night Services for Vaera:

January 24th at 7:30pm

Hybrid: On Zoom and In-Person

Led by Cantor Bernstein and Ora Prochovnick

Drash by Howard Steiermann

Meeting ID: 886 7131 3838

Saturday Morning Service

January 25th at 10:00am

Hybrid: On Zoom and In-Person

Led by Sarita Groisser, Alan Gordon, Yeroham and Galit Franco

Join Yeroham and Galit at their bat and bar mitzvah as they celebrate this great milestone. All are invited!

Join the Zoom Meeting.

Meeting ID: 365 434 855

Passcode: 068575.

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

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Living History: A Holocaust Survivor's Story

Sunday, January 26, 2pm, Hybrid at Sha'ar Zahav

Join us on International Holocaust Remembrance Day for an inspiring and unforgettable afternoon as we hear firsthand from 100-year-old Luba Grungras, mother of our member Neil Grungras. She is believed to be the last living Auschwitz survivor in the Bay Area.

Tu B'Shvat

Alemany Farms Volunteering Opportunity

Saturday, February 8, 1-3pm, in-person at Alemany Farms

Join SZ-niks of all ages at Alemany Farms to focus on how the earth cares for us, and how we care for the earth, through a brief teaching and discussion, followed by some light hands-on farm work (optional).

I Am the Tree of Life: Tu B'shvat and the Zohar

Wednesday, February 12, 7-8:30pm, Hybrid at Sha'ar Zahav

Rabbi Copeland will lead us in studying a text of the Zohar, the Jewish medieval masterpiece, while eating some nuts and other Tu B'shvat foods. This is an in-person event with an option to be with us on Zoom.

Community, Let's Get Together!

Tot Shabbat

Friday, January 24, 5:30-6:30pm, Hybrid at Sha'ar Zahav

See your friends and make new ones as we welcome Shabbat with songs, stories, cuddly Torahs, and, of course, a dinosaur! Optional pizza dinner afterward. All are welcome!

Civil Rights Trip 2025

May 24-31, 2025

Deadline: This Friday, January 24th

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).

Ritual Committee Meeting

Wednesday, January 29, 7pm-8pm, Zoom only

All congregants are welcome to join us! This month we will be learning how to speak from the bimah (pulpit) so all folx can better understand what is being said.

Join the meeting: Zoom link

Music in the Mishkan is Back!

Long-time member, Randall Weiss, and The Bridge Players present the 25th season of Music in the Mishkan on February 23 and April 27 - mark your calendars! All concerts begin at 4:00 p.m. Don't miss these beautiful concerts in our lovely sanctuary!

Order your tickets today!

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.

Recurring Gatherings and Meetings

SZ Book Group

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Tuesday, March 4, 7:00-8:00 pm on Zoom

Two Mexican-American boys in the 1980s – Ari and Dante – meet at the swimming pool. They come from very different families, are very different themselves, and begin a friendship that changes both of them, and their families, in profound, challenging, and deeply moving ways. Winner of Lambda Literary and Stonewall Book awards.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

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

Arts Chavurah

Every 3rd Sunday of the month, 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. A fridge and microwave are available, so bring lunch and any extra materials you’d like!

RSVP to Barb Cymrot

Social Action Committee

The first Monday (unless a holiday) of the month

6:00pm on Zoom

On fair elections, defend the immigrant, 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

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.

Birthdays this week!

Martin Tannenbaum 1/22

Laureen Kim 1/22

Jonathan Igor Williamson 1/24

Neil Hart 1/25

Anshel Mamet 1/26

Howard Hahn 1/27

Mike Klayman 1/27

Blair Lewis 1/27

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.