This Week in Jewish SF

Emanu-El throws open the doors, YJP pours the drinks, and the JCC kicks off Rosh Hashanah a full two weeks early.

We're halfway through Elul and the calendar is starting to lean hard toward the holidays. Thursday the women of Chevra Thilim bake challah with wine and a violin. Friday is the big one: Back to Shul at Emanu-El and YJP Shabbat Dinner on Sutter Street with an open bar. Sunday morning Beth Sholom goes silent for a full-day meditation retreat. Pick your lane.

Candle lighting: Friday, August 28 at 7:26 PM
Havdalah: Saturday, August 29 at 8:23 PM
Parashat: Ki Tavo

Wordless melodies to get your voice ready for the Days of Awe. Rabbi Russell leads, evening minyan is woven into the middle, and you can come for some or all of it.

🕠 5:45 PM 📍 Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave 🔗 SIGN UP

Cantor Sharon Bernstein's introductory course on the Jewish calendar, Shabbat, holidays, prayer, and lifecycle. Great for anyone new to Jewish practice or looking to reconnect.

🕖 7:00–9:00 PM 📍 Zoom 🔗 JOIN AND LEARN MORE

A relaxed, welcoming weekly Torah class on the week's parashah. This week: Ki Tavo, the blessings and the curses. Regulars and first-timers equally welcome.

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

Fifteen minutes of shofar in the atrium, every Wednesday through September 9. Listen, or try a blast yourself. Free, and a very good excuse to be late to work.

🕤 9:30–9:45 AM 📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St 🔗 MORE INFO

Chevra Thilim's weekly Wednesday Torah deep dive. Thoughtful, grounded, and a solid midweek reset.

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

Sherith Israel kicks off its Protect Our Vote season with a crash course in how this city actually works, taught by the former supervisor himself. One hour, no prior civics knowledge required.

🕡 6:30–7:30 PM 📍 Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St 🔗 MORE INFO

The women of Chevra Thilim gather to bake challah for the High Holidays, with a light dinner, wine, a live violin performance by Loren, and a designer tote and apron to take home. Come bake, celebrate, and welcome the New Year together. $45.

🕖 6:30pm 📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave 🔗 RSVP

Emanu-El's big welcome-back Shabbat. Come early for food from their chef, henna-style Judaic body art from artist Amir Magal, and a walk-through of every community group in the building, from Millenni-El to Tribe for Men to the 40s, 50s and 60s crew. Clergy-led Shabbat service with the cantors from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Free.

🕔 5:00–7:00 PM 📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St 🔗 REGISTER

SF's Jewish young professionals take over Sutter Street for the monthly big one: Kabbalat Shabbat at 7, then a cocktail-style buffet, open bar, and a room full of people you haven't met yet. Bring a friend.

🕖 7:00–10:00 PM 📍 Chabad SF, 873 Sutter St 🔗 GET TICKETS

The city is full of tables on Friday night, and most of them would be glad to have you. So many incredible communities around SF, so go out, explore, and see what resonates!

Saturday morning in the Richmond: services, then the kiddush everyone stays for. Beginners and regulars equally at home.

🕤 9:30 AM–1:00 PM 📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave 🔗 MORE INFO

Shacharit morning services followed by Shabbat lunch. Come as you are, stay for the food.

🕙 10:00 AM–1:30 PM 📍 Chabad SF, 873 Sutter St 🔗 MORE INFO

Shabbat Ki Tavo. Services and kiddush luncheons abound across the city, from the Richmond to SoMa. Find a shul, stay for kiddush, and eat something. You earned it.

Beth Sholom's beloved day-long silent retreat with Norman Fischer and Rabbi Dorothy Richman: sit, sing, walk, and learn your way into the High Holy Days. In person and on Zoom.

🕙 10:00 AM–5:00 PM 📍 Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave 🔗 REGISTER

JFE Pre-Rosh Hashanah Startup & Tech Mixer ([CONFIRM DATE]) Jews For Entrepreneurship brings founders, technologists, and investors together for a New Year toast in a SoMa hotel lounge. Appetizers included, cash bar, 21+. Capacity is capped and nothing sells at the door, so register early. From $20. 🔗 REGISTER

Rosh Hashanah Dinner at Chevra Thilim (Friday, September 11) Evening services at 7:00, then the community dinner. No tickets, no seat charges, every Jew welcome. $50 adults, $25 kids, RSVP required. 🔗 RSVP

Sephardic Rosh Hashanah Dinner at Anshey Sfard (Friday, September 11) First night of 5787 done Moroccan-style: candle lighting at 6:30, service with Cantor Avyatar Alfassi at 6:45, then a full simanim seder and homemade Sephardic feast from Chef Ronit at 7:30. Built for young professionals. 🔗 RSVP

Jew Year's Eve at Chabad SF (Friday, September 11) Chabad SF opens Rosh Hashanah at Trellis with a cocktail hour at 6, services at 7, and the holiday dinner at 7:30. Open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and a four-course Yom Tov feast. 🔗 RSVP

🪩 Rosh Hashanah NYE Party (Saturday, September 19) Malka Productions throws SF's biggest Rosh Hashanah New Year's party for the second year running. Full club takeover, bottle service, Israeli and American hits, white nightclub attire. Ages 21–45, 9:00 PM–2:00 AM. Early bird pricing won't last. 🔗 GET TICKETS

Rosh Hashanah starts Friday, September 11. Here's your running list of things to handle before the chagim sneak up on you.

RSVP for the High Holidays at Chevra Thilim. No tickets and no seat charges, ever. One form covers services, the Rosh Hashanah dinner, Sukkos dinner, lulav sets, and Tashlich at Spreckels Lake. 🔗 RSVP HERE

Order your Lulav and Etrog. Chabad SF is taking orders now. Place yours before September 10th and your set will be ready a few days before Sukkot. 🔗 ORDER HERE

RSVP for High Holidays services and meals. Chabad SF's High Holidays mini site is live with services and meals across the city, from Trellis to the Fairmont. 🔗 RSVP HERE

Emanu-El's High Holy Days lineup. Their full 5787 schedule is up. 🔗 SEE THE SCHEDULE

Sherith Israel High Holidays. Services, family programming, community dinner, and Tashlich at Crissy Field. 🔗 DETAILS AND TICKETS

Beth Sholom's full Elul lineup. Niggunim, inner-work sessions, and the Makor Or retreat, all in one place. 🔗 FULL SCHEDULE

This list will continue to be updated.

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