This Week in Jewish SF

The holidays are over, and the city gathers to remember.

Wednesday marks three years since October 7, and nearly every shul in San Francisco is holding space for it, starting with the citywide commemoration Tuesday night. It's also SF Tech Week, so Israeli founders are all over town. Then Shabbat arrives, we open the Torah back at page one, and Sunday we sing in the new month.

Candle lighting: Friday, October 9 at 6:22 PM
Havdalah: Saturday, October 10 at 7:18 PM
Parashat: Bereshit (Shabbat Mevarchim, blessing the new month of Cheshvan)

The Leverage team kicks off Tech Week with a reception for investors who back Israeli companies, founders in the middle of a raise, and angels looking for a way in.

🕕 Evening
📍 San Francisco, address with registration
🔗 REGISTER

The whole community in one room. Nova festival survivor Rom El-Hai shares his testimony, followed by remarks from community leaders, candle lighting, and memorial prayers. Government ID required, and the location goes out after you're approved, so RSVP right now if you haven't.

🕡 6:30 PM
📍 San Francisco, location sent with RSVP
🔗 RSVP

A fall hike through the Presidio with the JCCSF crowd. Good company and fresh air before a heavy evening. Free.

🕠 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 The Presidio, meeting spot with registration
🔗 REGISTER

Researcher Matt Reingold walks through how Israeli cartoonists have drawn their way through October 7 and everything since. Presented with SF Hillel. Free.

🕡 6:30–8:00 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 GET TICKETS

The relaxed, welcoming weekly class at Anshey Sfard.

🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Anshey Sfard, 1500 Clement St
🔗 MORE INFO

The big Israeli tech conference of SF Tech Week: 1,200 founders, investors, and operators, co-hosted with a16z speedrun. Speakers from Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Nvidia, Palantir, Greylock, and more across AI, cyber, defense, and going global. 8 tickets left! Grab yours with 18% off with JEWISHSCOOP at checkout

🕘 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
📍 The Hibernia, 1 Jones St
🔗 GET TICKETS

Emanu-El's clergy lead a Yizkor service, then Avi Issacharoff sits down with Rabbi Ryan Bauer to talk about rewriting Fauda's fifth season after October 7 and what it takes to put that day on screen honestly. Presented with the Federation. Free.

🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 REGISTER

Chevra Thilim's weekly Wednesday Torah deep dive, and this is the week to start. It's Bereshit: creation, the garden, Cain and Abel, all in one portion.

🕖 7:00–8:00 PM
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO

MORE INFO

Malka Productions takes over a spot in the Mission for an evening with Chef Bae. Malka events fill up, so grab a ticket early.

🕖 7:30pm
📍 The Mission, details with ticket
🔗 GET TICKETS

A university-accredited course built around questions and discussion. No Hebrew needed. Great if you're exploring, converting, or just filling in what Hebrew school skipped.

🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave
🔗 REGISTER

Tech Week, Shabbat style. Founders and investors trade the pitch decks for challah, wine, and a real dinner. Bring a friend and unwind after a long week of panels.

🕡 6:30 PM
📍 San Francisco, location with RSVP
🔗 RSVP ($26)

After a month of holidays, Friday night is back to the simple version: davening, singing, and familiar faces. Chevra Thilim, Chabad, Emanu-El, Sherith Israel, Beth Sholom, Sha'ar Zahav, and Anshey Sfard all hold their usual Kabbalat Shabbat services. Find one near you and walk in. Or check X to find a trending tech shabbat:)

Hear the first words of the Torah read from the scroll, then stay for the food. Chevra Thilim, Beth Sholom, Anshey Sfard, Adath Israel, and Chabad all put out a kiddush after davening. If you've been meaning to try a Shabbat morning somewhere new, Bereshit is a good place to start.

Rosh Chodesh morning with instruments. Hallel is the set of psalms we sing on a new month, and Chevra is doing it with live music. Come sing in Cheshvan.

🕘 8:30am, Hallel at 9:00am
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO

FIDF launches its first Bay Area young leadership chapter with a black-tie night at a historic SF venue: reception, guest speakers, appetizers, and an after-party. Ages 21–45. Proceeds go to mental health and PTSD support for IDF soldiers. Registration closes Friday, October 9 at noon and space is limited.

🕗 8:00 PM
📍 San Francisco, venue shared with attendees
🔗 RSVP

Rikud By The Bay: Young Adults (Wednesday, October 14, 7:00–10:00 PM): The monthly Israeli dance night for ages 18–40 doubles as Jason's birthday, so there's cake and arak. Social hour, basic steps, then open dancing. No experience needed. Sponsored by Moishe House Marina. $18, or $30 for two. RSVP

CYP Shabbat Dinner (Friday, October 16, 7:00 PM): Chevra's young professionals are back at the table with great food and great people. $36 until midnight Wednesday, October 14, then $50, so lock it in early. RSVP

Men's Banya Night (Tuesday, October 20, 3:00–7:00 PM): The Schneerson Center takes the guys to Archimedes Banya. Schvitz until 5:45, then beer and taranka, then more schvitz. Steam rooms, hot and cold jacuzzis, and the full broom treatment. $65 at the front desk covers two towels, a robe, and slippers, so just bring a bathing suit. Stay until 10 for $7 more. No outside food or alcohol, they've got the kosher side covered.

No Easy Answers: An Evening with Haviv Rettig Gur (Wednesday, October 21): One of the sharpest Israeli journalists working today, live at Emanu-El. This will fill up. MORE INFO

Club Viva Presents: After Dark (Saturday, October 31, 11:00 PM): Halloween night, costumes required, packed dance floor. $10 cover. 2209 Polk St. RSVP

Thats a wrap!

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