Shabbat starts early, Sigd is on the way, and the NY deli is back on West Portal.
It's a Torah-and-tables kind of week. Classes midweek, a Thursday sandwich run, and a Friday night with a few good rooms to pick from. Scroll down, then check Keep An Eye On, because a couple of the November events fill up fast.
Candle lighting: Friday, November 6 at 4:47 PM
Havdalah: Saturday, November 7 at 5:45 PM
Parashat: Chayei Sara
Tuesday, November 3
Ilya Akselrod Live in San Francisco
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.
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 5600 Geary Blvd
🔗 BUY TICKETS
Torah with Rabbi Joey Felsen
The relaxed, welcoming weekly class at Anshey Sfard. This week is Chayei Sara: Sarah's story closes, and a servant at a well goes looking for the next chapter.
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Anshey Sfard, 1500 Clement St
🔗 MORE INFO
Wednesday, November 4
Parsha In Focus with Rabbi Yaakov Zarchi
Chevra Thilim's weekly Wednesday Torah deep dive. Chayei Sara has a burial negotiation, a matchmaking mission, and a lot of camels. Bring questions.
🕖 7:00–8:00 PM
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO
Practical Spirituality at Emanu-El
A four-session class on Judaism as a daily practice, covering prayer, blessings, generosity, and mindfulness. You try a practice between sessions, then reflect together. Any level of observance. This is session two of four, and the price isn't listed.
🕡 6:30–8:00 PM
📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 MORE INFO
Thursday, November 5
NY Deli Kosher Pop Up
Pastrami or corned beef, piled on rye, with a pickle on the side. It's at the old Empire Theater on West Portal, and it sells out, so preorder.
🕔 5:00–7:30 PM
📍 Chabad of the Neighborhood, 85 West Portal Ave
🔗 MORE INFO
Stories of Sigd: An Evening with Chef Beejhy Barhany
The founder of Harlem's Ethiopian-Israeli restaurant Tsion Cafe, in conversation at Emanu-El. Sigd itself lands on Monday, so this is your warm-up.
🕖 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 MORE INFO
Intro to Judaism at Congregation Beth Sholom
A university-accredited, discussion-based course with no Hebrew required. It runs in three units and isn't drop-in, so register for the full course. Pricing is sliding scale, $3 to $475.
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO
UMRU/UNREST: Daniel Kahn and Jake Shulman-Ment
Yiddish versions of songs by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and Woody Guthrie, plus new originals. Part of the SF Leonard Cohen Festival with KlezCalifornia. $40, first come first served seating.
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 GET TICKETS
Friday, November 6
Candle lighting at 4:47 PM.
1st Friday: Sephardic Shabbat Dinner
Anshey Sfard's young professionals kick off with Arak and Sahbak at 6:00, then a Sephardic Shabbat service at 7:00, dinner at 8:00, and a Ja'leh post-dinner celebration at 10:00 with Shabbat songs. Full open bar. RSVP to get the location.
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Location shared after RSVP
🔗 RSVP
Oy Shabbat!
A hand-curated Shabbat dinner, back after six months. Only 20 spots, and you have to get on the list.
🕖 7:00 PM
🔗 RSVP
Shabbat at Knesset Israel Chabad
Kabbalat Shabbat 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
Kabbalat Shabbat and Dinner at The Kitchen
Services at 6:00 PM, then Shabbat dinner at 8:00 PM. The Kitchen usually meets at San Francisco Friends School, but pop-up locations happen, so check the calendar before you go.
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 San Francisco Friends School
🔗 MORE INFO
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.
Saturday, November 7: Shabbat Chayei Sara
Shabbat Morning at Chevra Thilim
Services and kiddush at Chevra Thilim, no membership needed. Just walk in. Shabbat ends at 5:45 PM.
🕤 9:30 AM–1:00 PM
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO
Community Kiddushes
Hear Sarah's story and Abraham's search for a wife for Isaac 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.
Sunday, November 8
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.
🕤 9:30 AM
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO
Hold on to Your Music: A Mother’s Legacy
The San Francisco premiere of a documentary on pianist Lisa Jura, who fled Vienna on the Kindertransport. Her daughter, pianist Mona Golabek, performs live, then there’s a conversation with the filmmakers and a reception. $30 per the JCCSF page, though J. lists $33.
🕔 5:00–8:30 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 GET TICKETS
Keep An Eye On 👀
Tea & Thinking with Eli Amsellem (Thursday, November 12, 7:30 PM): A monthly young professionals class at Anshey Sfard, with Moroccan tea and cookies. This month: "Shabbat: Understanding God's Greatest Gift." Drinks at a nearby bar after. Free, RSVP recommended. RSVP
Jewish Singles Speed Dating + Mixer (Thursday, November 19, 7:30–10:30 PM): Organized speed dating, then a relaxed mixer with one drink included. Two age groups, 27–35 and 35–45. $15 cover once you're approved, and the location is shared then. RSVP by November 15. RSVP
CYP Shabbat Dinner at Chevra (Friday, November 20, 7:00 PM): Chevra's young professionals Shabbat dinner. $36 per person, jumping to $50 at midnight on Wednesday, November 18, so book early. RSVP
That's a wrap!
Know about an event I missed?
Reply to this email or send it to [email protected].
And if someone forwarded this to you, send it to a Jewish friend who should be in the loop.