This Week in Jewish SF

Selichot season is here: the city changes its Torah covers to white, and the countdown to 5787 officially begins.

Rosh Hashanah is a week from Friday, and this is the week SF starts to feel it. Monday night RTC Chabad throws a Chai Elul farbrengen with 30 years to celebrate. Thursday the girls and women take over the JCC for the Annual Sephardic Challah Bake. And Saturday night, the whole city stays up late for Selichot: candlelight at Emanu-El, white Torah mantles at Sherith Israel and Beth Sholom, melodies in the Richmond and Cole Valley. Pick a sanctuary and lean in.

Candle lighting: Friday, September 4 at 7:16 PM
Havdalah: Saturday, September 5 at 8:12 PM
Parashat: Nitzavim-Vayeilech

Tonight the Richmond celebrates Chai Elul, the shared birthday of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe, with a farbrengen and light dinner. RTC is also marking 30 years of Torah in the neighborhood, so come raise a l'chaim to that.

🕗 7:45 PM 📍 RTC Chabad, 423 10th Ave

The Days of Awe hit different when you actually know the melodies. Spend an evening learning the songs and prayers that will fill the sanctuary under the dome.

🕡 6:30–8:00 PM 📍 Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St 🔗 MORE INFO

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: Nitzavim-Vayeilech, standing together at the threshold. Regulars and first-timers equally welcome.

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

Rabbi Richman's lunchtime Zoom class on R. Kalonymus Kalman Shapira's Bnei Machshava Tovah, on balancing the people and work in our lives with our spiritual pursuits. Bring your lunch and an open notebook.

🕛 12:00–1:00 PM 📍 Zoom (Beth Sholom) 🔗 JOIN ON ZOOM

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

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

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.

🕕 6:30-9:00pm 📍 SoMa hotel lounge, address with RSVP 🔗 REGISTER

Anshey Sfard and Malka Productions gathers girls and women to bake challah for the New Year, with Rebbetzin Sarah Felsen leading an evening of community, tradition, and blessings. Sephardic buffet at 6:00, bake begins at 6:45. Baking challah is traditionally a special time to pray for refuah sheleimah, a soulmate, shalom bayit, children, and parnassah, so bring your friends and your prayers. Girls and women's event, RSVP required, 100 spots.

🕕 7:00–9:30 PM 📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St 🔗 RSVP

Cantor Arik Luck and organist John Hirten let the century-old pipe organ carry the traditional High Holy Days melodies through the Main Sanctuary. Come slow down before Shabbat starts.

🕔 5:15 PM 📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St 🔗 MORE INFO

Services followed by a warm community Shabbat dinner on Sutter Street. All are welcome, regardless of background or affiliation.

🕖 7:00 PM 📍 Chabad SF, 873 Sutter St 🔗 RSVP

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 Nitzavim-Vayeilech, the last one of 5786. Services and kiddush luncheons abound across the city. Find a shul, stay for kiddush, and eat something. You earned it.

Soul-Fi Sessions: Sounds of Elul (Thursday, September 10) The JCC slows the week down with rare vinyl spun by Smokes, local bites, and quiet reflection to close out Elul. $10–$36. 🔗 GET TICKETS

🇮🇱 FIDF Young Leadership Kickoff Soirée (Sunday, October 11) Tickets are live for the first-ever FIDF Young Leadership chapter in the Bay Area. Cocktails, remarks from Israel's heroes, live music, and an after party, with proceeds supporting FIDF's PTSD and mental health programs for IDF soldiers. Black tie, ages 21–45, 8:00–11:00 PM, downtown SF. 🔗 TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS

CYP Shabbat Dinner (Friday, September 18) Chevra's young professionals gather for the warmth and joy of Shabbat with delicious food, great people, and an incredible atmosphere. First Shabbat of 5787, so start the year right. $36 until midnight Wednesday the 16th, then $50. 🔗 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 a week from Friday, September 11. Here's your running list of events and things to handle before the chagim arrive.

RSVP for the High Holidays at Chevra Thilim. ⭐ No tickets and no seat charges, ever. One form covers services, the Rosh Hashanah dinner (Friday, September 11 at 7:00 PM, $50 adults, $25 kids), lulav sets, Tashlich at Spreckels Lake, and Sukkos dinner. 🔗 RSVP HERE

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

Erev Rosh Hashanah at Sherith Israel (Friday, September 11) Family service at 5, community dinner at 6 catered by Salt & Pepper, evening service at 7:30. Dinner tickets separate. 🔗 DETAILS AND TICKETS

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

Emanu-El's High Holy Days lineup. The full 5787 schedule is up, including ocean mikvot at Baker and China Beach on September 13. 🔗 SEE THE SCHEDULE

Beth Sholom's Erev Rosh Hashanah dinner and full schedule. Reserve dinner and grab the printable 5787 schedule. 🔗 DINNER RSVP

Fill the JFCS food bank. The JCCSF is collecting donations in its lobby through September 30. Grab an extra can or two on your next grocery run.

This list will continue to be updated.

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