This Week in Jewish SF

Tu B'Av, a Western Addition happy hour, 10,000 singles on a video call, and the film festival's last call.

Six days after Tisha B'Av the calendar flips all the way over to Tu B'Av, the Jewish day of love, landing Wednesday. The back half of the week is stacked: a Noh play at Z Space, a young professionals Shabbat dinner on Nob Hill, SFJFF46 closing across the bay on Saturday night, and the Bay Area's biggest summer party on Sunday. If you've been meaning to get out more, this is your week.

Candle lighting: Friday, July 31 at 8:01 PM
Havdalah: Saturday, August 1 at 9:02 PM
Parashat: Eikev

A relaxed, welcoming weekly Torah class covering the week's parashah. Whether you're a regular or it's your first time, everyone is welcome.

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

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

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

The best thing happening in the city this week. Sherith Israel is hosting a happy hour on the history of the Western Addition, with a tasting menu from Wise Sons, Nijiya Market, and Minnie Bell's Soul Movement. The conversation brings together Howard Freedman of the Jewish Community Library, Dr. Kim Nalley of Cal State East Bay, Seba Chang of the Japantown Task Force, and Evan Bloom of Wise Sons. Free, but registration is required.

🕠 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St
🔗 REGISTER

A weekly Torah deep dive at Chevra Thilim. Thoughtful, grounded, and a great midweek reset.

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

Tu B'Av has been the Jewish matchmaking day since the Mishnah, and this is the modern version at absurd scale. Partners in Torah, Aish, and CoronaCrush are running what organizers expect to be the largest Jewish speed dating event ever held, with over 10,000 singles worldwide and 100+ partner organizations. You fill out a questionnaire in advance and get matched for up to seven dates in one evening. Free, and you can do it from your couch.

🕕 Evening, online
📍 Zoom
🔗 REGISTER

A play in the classical Japanese Noh tradition, built around a Viennese Catholic woman who gave up her status to flee Hitler's Europe with her Jewish husband. Masks by Kitazawa Hideta, an original score for noh ensemble plus piano, cello and piccolo, and an accompanying art installation. Opens Thursday and runs through Saturday, with 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM showings each day.

🕒 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM
📍 Z Space, Steindler Stage, 450 Florida St
🔗 TICKETS + INFO

The monthly gathering for Jewish young professionals in their 20s and 30s, hosted by Chabad SF. Kabbalat Shabbat at 7:00 PM, then a cocktail-style buffet, open bar, and a room full of people worth meeting.

🕖 7:00–10:00 PM
📍 Knesset Israel Chabad, 873 Sutter St
🔗 RSVP HERE

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!

The festival closes with a loving portrait of the Catskills resort that shaped a century of Jewish American identity, built by three generations of Jewish women and staffed by the tummlers and waiters who became Milton Berle, Joel Grey, and Joan Rivers. Director Paula Eiselt is expected to attend. Worth the trip across the bridge.

🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Landmark's Piedmont Theatre, Oakland
🔗 TICKETS

JFCS NextGen invites young adults to sit down with residents of Rhoda Goldman Plaza and decorate postcards to send to seniors in Israel. Presented with Young Adult Emanu-El, Repair the World, and Yahel Israel. Free.

🕑 2:00–4:00 PM
📍 JFCS San Francisco, 2150 Post St
🔗 MORE INFO

The Bay Area's biggest young Jewish professionals summer event is back, celebrating Tu B'Av at a beautiful Palo Alto mansion. Premium open bar, dinner, a live DJ, and great people from across the Bay Area, with Chabad SF (SoMa Shul) among the co-hosts. Come with friends or come solo. Exact address is provided upon registration, and it sells out.

🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Palo Alto, address upon registration
🔗 RESERVE YOUR SPOT

Kabbalat Shabbat + Dinner at The Kitchen (Friday, August 7) The Kitchen is back on for August after a summer pause. 6:00–9:00 PM at Potrero Hill Neighborhood House. 🔗 REGISTRATION + INFO

Club Viva: Amelie Takeover (Friday, August 7) Malki and Dantz spin a funky house set at Amelie wine bar on Polk. Wine, dancing, and a much better use of your money than an Outside Lands ticket. 7:00 PM. 🔗 RSVP

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