SF Jewish Week is in full swing and this is easily one of the strongest Jewish event weeks SF has had in a while.
We’ve got comedy, Jewish Heritage Night at the Valkyries, Israeli dancing, kosher deli, challah braiding, Robot Shabbat, a massive Blue & White Ball, and a Sunday poetry open mic to close it out.
Basically: pick your lane, then show up.
🔥 Feature: SF Jewish Week
San Francisco Jewish Week
A citywide celebration of Jewish culture, community, food, music, nightlife, and connection, running May 9-16 across SF. The main site lists the flagship events, including the Comedy Showcase, Robot Shabbat, and Blue & White Ball.
Stay in the loop here.
📅 Events This Week
Monday, May 11
San Francisco Jewish Week Comedy Showcase at The Function
All-star Bay Area Jewish comics, no filters, just laughs. A fun, very SF Jewish Week way to start the week.
Time: 7:00/7:30-9:00 PM
Place: The Function, 1414 Market St.
RSVP HERE
Tuesday, May 12
Psychedelics: Support at the End-of-Life and with the Grief that Follows
A Sinai Memorial + Jewish Association for Death Education conversation on psychedelics, grief, and end-of-life support.
Time: 6:00 PM
Place: SF / details via RSVP
RSVP HERE
Wednesday, May 13
Jewish Heritage Night with the Golden State Valkyries
Jewish pride meets WNBA energy. Pre-game gathering, Boichik Bagels, custom T-shirt, and Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky at Chase Center.
Time: 5:30/6:00-10:00 PM
Place: Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way
RSVP HERE
Thursday, May 14
NY Deli Kosher Pop Up @ Chabad of the Neighborhood
The New York deli pop-up is back: pastrami, corned beef, knish, rugelach, matzah ball soup, and that classic “big sandwich” energy. Pre-order recommended because these tend to sell out.
Time: 5:30–8:00 PM
Place: Chabad of the Neighborhood, 85 West Portal Ave.
RSVP HERE
Unveiled: New Works for Klezmer Clarinet
Nat Seelen, artistic director of the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music, presents new solo klezmer clarinet works and leads a conversation about the music.
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Place: SF / details via RSVP
RSVP HERE
Rikud By The Bay Israeli Dance @ JCCSF
All-level Israeli folk dancing with choreographer Tovael Hagai. Come whether you know every step or none of them.
Time: 6:45-9:45 PM
Place: JCCSF, 3200 California St.
RSVP HERE
Friday, May 15
Twist of Tradition: Hands-on Challah @ JCCSF
Braid your own challah to take home and bake. A sweet, tactile pre-Shabbat moment with Wise Sons collaboration energy.
Time: 2:30–5:00 PM
Place: JCCSF, 3200 California St.
RSVP HERE
Chevra Young Professionals Shabbat
A young professional Shabbat at Chevra Thilim. Great food, great people, tons of new faces every month. This is one to watch if you’re looking for that YJP crowd in their 20s and 30s.
Time: Friday evening
Place: Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave.
RSVP HERE
Robot Shabbat - The First Ever
Shabbat dinner + robots. Yes, really. Value Culture and Toborlife AI are mixing ritual, dinner, tech, and community at North Beach Restaurant.
Time: 6:30–9:30 PM
Place: North Beach Restaurant
RSVP HERE
Youngish Shabbat @ CBS
A warm, social Shabbat dinner with SF’s young Jewish community… good food, good people, and easy Friday night energy.
Time: Friday Evening
Place: Congregation Beth Sholom
RSVP HERE
Saturday, May 16
Shabbat Services + Lunch @ Chabad SF
Morning services followed by Shabbat lunch.
Time: 10:00 AM-1:30 PM
Place: Knesset Israel Chabad, 873 Sutter St.
Learn More HERE
Blue & White Ball - SF Jewish Week Closing Celebration
The big finale. Formal attire, cocktails, Israeli + American hits, and a huge YJP crowd at the W. Hosted by Malka Productions and Value Culture. This is the “everyone you know somehow ends up here” event.
Time: 8:00 PM-12:00 AM
Place: W San Francisco
RSVP HERE
Sunday, May 17
Shavuot Floral Workshop @ Chabad SF
A hands-on floral workshop ahead of Shavuot. Pretty, seasonal, and very on-theme.
Time: 12:00-2:00 PM
Place: Chabad SF / Fairmont San Francisco listing appears on Eventbrite search
RSVP HERE
Jewish Poetry Open Mic
Yetzirah, a national nonprofit supporting Jewish poets, hosts an open mic with the Jewish Community Library. A softer, literary way to close the week.
Time: 3:00–4:15 PM
Place: Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St.
RSVP HERE
Shavuot Paint & Sip @ Chevra Thilim
A creative pre-Shavuot event at Chevra.
Time: 6:30pm
Place: Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave.
RSVP HERE
A Night of Entertainment & Celebration to Benefit Hebrew Free Loan
Mentalist, Dinner, dessert bar, music with the Martini Kings, and a celebration honoring Sabina & Roman Polnar.
Time: 6:00-10:00 PM
Place: Bimbo’s 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Ave.
RSVP HERE
⏳ Things To Keep An Eye On
Oy Bay: Launch - May 30
New Jewish social club launching in SF. Early buzz is strong!
RSVP HERE
Shavuot week events - May 21-23
There are already several Shavuot events showing up after this week, including community learning nights and Shavuot celebrations. Worth building next week’s issue around that.
👋
Jewish SF is kind of on fire right now. I tell everyone I meet: “I’ve never been more bullish.”
There’s so much happening. New people showing up. Old friends reconnecting. Random run-ins turning into dinners, Shabbats, collaborations, and full-on community.
Go to something this week. Bring a friend. Stay later than you planned.
Always open to feedback and niche event recs... send either to: [email protected]
And if you enjoyed this, send it to a friend who should be more plugged into Jewish SF.
L’chaim
- Gabriel