Shabbat ends early, the clocks fall back, and many exciting events as usual!
Candle lighting: Friday, October 30 at 5:54 PM
Havdalah: Saturday, October 31 at 6:52 PM
Parashat: Vayera
Tuesday, October 27
Rikud By The Bay Israeli Dance
All-level Israeli folk dance night with choreographer Tovael Hagai at the JCCSF. No partner needed, no experience needed. $15, or $25 for you and a friend.
🕖 6:45–9:45 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 RSVP
Torah with Rabbi Joey Felsen
The relaxed, welcoming weekly class at Anshey Sfard. Vayera opens with Abraham sitting at his tent door in the heat of the day, and he runs toward strangers anyway.
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Anshey Sfard, 1500 Clement St
🔗 MORE INFO
The Art of Havruta: A Mishnah Study Series with Hadar
Rabbi David Kasher walks through the philosophy of havruta study and the structure of the Mishnah chapters from Hadar's Project Zug course. Free.
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 MORE INFO
Wednesday, October 28
Parsha In Focus with Rabbi Yaakov Zarchi
Chevra Thilim's weekly Wednesday Torah deep dive. This week is Vayera: three guests, one very bad city, and the binding of Isaac. Bring questions.
🕖 7:00–8:00 PM
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO
Friday, October 30
Candle lighting at 5:54 PM.
Shabbat at Knesset Israel Chabad
Kabbalat Shabbat at 7:00, followed by Shabbat dinner. Everyone is welcome, whatever your background. Reserve a spot ahead of time.
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Knesset Israel Chabad, 873 Sutter St
🔗 RSVP
Community Shabbats
Chevra Thilim, Chabad, Emanu-El, Sherith Israel, Beth Sholom, Sha'ar Zahav, and Anshey Sfard all hold their usual Kabbalat Shabbat services. Pick a room and show up.
Cha Cha Challoween
Halloween Eve on Haight. Costume contest, special cocktails and Yerdrink potions, DJs, and dancing, with music by LIVV and special guests. 21+. Free with RSVP, $100 at the door, so RSVP.
🕤 9:30 PM until late
📍 Cha Cha Cha, 1801 Haight St
🔗 RSVP
Saturday, October 31: Shabbat Vayera
Shabbat Morning at Chevra Thilim
Services and kiddush at Chevra Thilim, no membership needed. Just walk in. Shabbat ends at 6:52 PM.
🕤 9:30 AM–1:00 PM
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO
Community Kiddushes
Abraham runs to greet three strangers and sets a table before he even asks their names. Hear it 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.
Club Viva Presents: After Dark
Halloween night on Polk. Costumes required, packed dance floor, $10 cover.
🕚 11:00 PM
📍 2209 Polk St
🔗 RSVP
Sunday, November 1
Clocks fall back an hour overnight.
JLI Adult Education at Chevra Thilim
A six-session course on the mystical backstory of your soul: why you have the tastes, dreams, and recurring challenges you do, and how to use them. Sessions run on Sundays. The sticker price is $99, but nobody gets turned away, so don't let that stop you.
🕐 9:30am
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO
Z3 Conference 2026
The 12th Z3 Conference is a day-long event on the diaspora-Israel relationship, Israeli society and politics, and the Jewish future in North America, with keynotes, panels, and discussions. Worth the drive down the Peninsula if that's your thing. Cost varies, check the site.
🕗 8:30 AM–7:30 PM
📍 Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto
🔗 MORE INFO
Keep An Eye On 👀
Ilya Akselrod Live in San Francisco (Tuesday, November 3, 7:30 PM): Israeli stand-up comic, TV and radio host, and a regular on Kvartal-95. The show is in Russian, so send this one to your favorite Russian-speaking homie. BUY TICKETS
Stories of Sigd: An Evening with Chef Beejhy Barhany (Thursday, November 5): The founder of Harlem's Ethiopian-Israeli restaurant Tsion Cafe at Emanu-El. MORE INFO
NY Deli Kosher Pop Up (Thursday, November 5, 5:00–7:30 PM): The New York deli pop-up is back on West Portal Avenue at Chabad of the Neighborhood, 85 West Portal Ave. MORE INFO
Oy Shabbat! (Friday, November 6, 7:00 PM): A hand-curated Shabbat dinner, back after six months. Only 20 spots, and you have to get on the list. RSVP
StandWithUs Northern California Community Reception (Sunday, November 15, 5:00–8:30 PM): Dinner, wine, and an evening honoring Northern California student leaders and Dumisani Washington of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel, with Carly Gammill on legal remedies for fighting antisemitism. Location given on registration. MORE INFO
That's a wrap!
Know about an event I missed?
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