This Week in Jewish SF

The shofar hits the JCC atrium, two rabbis launch a podcast, and it's officially High Holidays homework season.

Elul is in full swing, and the city's calendar shows it. The JCC starts its weekly Shofar Shout-Out, Beth Sholom is singing niggunim and teaching High Holy Days 101, and the weekly classes are all back in their usual slots. Somewhere in between: Israeli dancing, comedy at the Fillmore, and a podcast kickoff party with pizza. Pace yourself, there are five more weeks of this.

Candle lighting: Friday, August 21 at 7:36 PM
Havdalah: Saturday, August 22 at 8:34 PM
Parashat: Ki Teitzei

Warm up your voice for the Days of Awe. Rabbi Russell leads an hour of wordless melodies, old favorites and new ones, with evening minyan woven right into the middle. Come for some or all of it.

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

The JCC opens a new Israeli folk dance session with choreographer Tovael Hagai. All ages, all levels, no partner needed. Just bring comfortable shoes. $15 solo, $25 BOGO.

🕡 6:45–9:45 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California 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

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

The first blasts of the season. Every Wednesday during Elul, drop by the atrium for fifteen minutes of shofar to wake up the soul. Runs through September 9. Free, and you can even try blowing it yourself.

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

Emanu-El's Rabbis Noah and Rena are launching a podcast, and the kickoff involves pizza, laughter, and your best and worst Hebrew school stories. Honest, irreverent, and very on brand. $12 members, $18 everyone else.

🕡 6:30–9:00 PM
📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 GET TICKETS

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

🕖 7:00–8:00 PM
📍 Zoom
🔗 MORE INFO

Adam Swig and Value Culture bring the city's longest-running monthly comedy showcase back to the Fillmore. No cover, dance party after. Doors 7:00, show 7:30.

🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Boom Boom Room, 1601 Fillmore St
🔗 MORE INFO

What actually happens during the Days of Awe? Rabbi Russell walks through the major themes, structures, and traditions of the season. All backgrounds welcome, whether you need a refresher or the full nuts and bolts. Free.

🕡 6:30–8:00 PM
📍 Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave
🔗 REGISTER

Anshey Sfard young professionals, Moroccan tea and cookies, and an interactive Machshava class on searching for truth as the High Holidays approach. Drinks at a nearby bar after. Free.

🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Anshey Sfard, 1500 Clement St
🔗 RSVP

Braid your own challah at the JCC and take it home to bake, so your kitchen smells like Shabbat before Shabbat even starts. $0–$5.

🕝 2:30–5:00 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 REGISTER

Kabbalat Shabbat services followed by a full Shabbat dinner on Sutter Street. All are welcome, regardless of background or affiliation. RSVP required.

🕕 Services then dinner
📍 Chabad of SF, 873 Sutter St
🔗 RSVP

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

Shabbat Ki Teitzei. 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.

Emanu-El closes Shabbat with popcorn, pizza, and pajamas. Pixar alum Jesse Weglein introduces his award-winning short film Shine, then Rabbi Sarah Joselow Parris and Cantor Arik Luck lead Havdalah. $12 adults, $10 kids.

🕔 5:00–8:30 PM
📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 GET TICKETS

Back to Shul at Emanu-El (Friday, August 28) Emanu-El's big welcome-back Shabbat. Connect, explore community, and find your place for the year ahead. 🔗 REGISTER

Sweet Beginnings: Rosh Hashanah Family Festival (Sunday, August 30) Shofar blasts, drum circles, crafts, and sweet treats at the JCC. 10:30 AM–12:30 PM, $0–$18. 🔗 GET TICKETS

Makor Or Meditation Retreat (Sunday, August 30) Beth Sholom's beloved day-long silent retreat to prepare for the High Holy Days. Shofar included. 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. 🔗 REGISTER

Choosing Hope: A Conversation with Luai Ahmed (Wednesday, September 2) StandWithUs NorCal hosts the Yemeni-born writer in conversation with Rabbi Amitai Fraiman of Z3 on identity, dialogue, and building bridges. 7:30–9:30 PM at the OFJCC in Palo Alto, $25. 🔗 GET TICKETS

The Annual Sephardic Challah Bake (Thursday, September 3) Rebbetzin Sarah Felsen leads an evening of challah, blessings, and a Sephardic buffet at the JCC. Girls and women's event, RSVP required. 6:00 PM. 🔗 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 tickets available now. 🔗 GET TICKETS

Elul is here, so here's your running list of things to handle before the chagim sneak up on you.

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. 🔗 RSVP HERE

Beth Sholom's full Elul lineup. Niggunim, inner-work sessions, High Holy Days 101, and the Makor Or retreat, all in one place. 🔗 FULL SCHEDULE

This list will continue to be updated.

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