This Week in Jewish SF - Rosh Hashanah Edition

Shanah Tovah. 5787 arrives Friday night.

This is the week. Rosh Hashanah begins Friday at sundown, and the whole city is moving: challah rising, brisket braising, machzorim coming off the shelves. One quirk of this year: Day One falls on Shabbat, so the shofar waits until Sunday. That means two full days of services, dinners, Tashlich by the bay, and even a sunrise dip in the Pacific. Wherever you land, land somewhere.

Candle lighting: Friday, September 11 at 7:05 PM (Erev Rosh Hashanah)
Second night candles: Saturday, September 12 after 8:01 PM
Yom Tov ends: Sunday, September 13 at 8:00 PM
Torah reading: Rosh Hashanah (no weekly parashah this Shabbat)

Last one before the big days: sit and sing the melodies of the High Holy Days with Rabbi Russell in the chapel. Minyan is woven right into the hour, and you're welcome for some or all of it.

🕠 5:45 PM
📍 Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO

Cantor Sharon Bernstein's introductory course on the Jewish calendar, Shabbat, holidays, prayer, and lifecycle. Perfect timing if you want to walk into 5787 knowing what's going on.

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

The relaxed, welcoming weekly class at Anshey Sfard, this week landing right before the New Year. Come learn something to bring to your Rosh Hashanah table.

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

A moving communal ritual of remembrance before the New Year, honoring those we loved, laughed with, and looked up to. Free and open to all.

🕚 11:30 AM–12:00 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 MORE INFO

The final session of Rabbi Richman's lunchtime Zoom series on R. Kalonymus Kalman Shapira's Bnei Machshava Tovah. One last hour of inner work before the Days of Awe.

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

Chevra Thilim's weekly Wednesday Torah deep dive, this week your last learning stop before 5787.

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

Opening today at the JCC: Samantha Grant's art installation, a vintage phone booth that prompts an honest conversation with the Divine. Free, running through September 23. Perfect Elul material.

🕛 All day
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 MORE INFO

The JCC slows the week down: an uninterrupted rare-vinyl set by Smokes, a guided herbal tea experience from Sun Glow Botanicals, local bites, lounge seating, and room to reflect before the year turns. The set moves through six phases of the Elul journey, from Awaken to Celebrate. $10–$36.

🕖 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 GET TICKETS

Chabad SF's order deadline is today. Place yours now and your set will be ready a few days before Sukkot.

🔗 ORDER HERE

Candle lighting at 7:05 PM. Wherever you go tonight, go. Every table below would be glad to have you.

No tickets and no seat charges, ever. Services at 7:00 PM, then the community Rosh Hashanah dinner ($50 adults). One RSVP form covers the whole holiday season, Tashlich at Spreckels Lake included.

🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 RSVP

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.

🕡 6:30 PM
📍 Anshey Sfard, 1500 Clement St
🔗 RSVP

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.

🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Trellis, details with RSVP
🔗 RSVP

Community dinner at 6 catered by Salt & Pepper, then the beloved traditional evening service under the dome at 7:30. Dinner tickets separate.

🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St
🔗 DETAILS AND TICKETS

A traditional service with music at 6:00, led by Rabbi Russell and Rabbi Richman with Jonathan Bayer and musicians, followed by the community dinner in Koret Hall (registration required).

🕕 6:00–7:15 PM
📍 Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave
🔗 DINNER RSVP

Two chances to welcome 5787 in the Main Sanctuary: an early service at 5:30 and a late service at 8:00, each led by the full clergy team. HHD ticket required.

🕠 5:30 PM & 8:00 PM
📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 MORE INFO

Sha'ar Zahav (7:00 PM, free), Ner Tamid (6:00 PM, pay what you can), Mission Minyan (7:00 PM), Keneset HaLev (6:00 PM, sliding scale), and Chabad of Cole Valley (6:45 PM service and dinner) all have room. JWeekly's full Bay Area roundup has every option.
🔗 FULL LIST

Day One falls on Shabbat this year, so no shofar today. It gets its moment tomorrow.

Pick your sanctuary: Chevra Thilim and Beth Sholom start at 9:00, Sha'ar Zahav takes over the Herbst Theatre at 9:30, and Emanu-El and Sherith Israel begin at 10:00. Every community listed Friday continues through the morning.

🕘 9:00–10:00 AM starts
📍 All over SF
🔗 FULL LIST

After morning services, Sherith Israel heads to the water: a free community lunch at the West Bluff Picnic Area, then Tashlich with song and stunning views as the community symbolically casts its sins into the bay.

🕜 1:30 PM
📍 Crissy Field West Bluff Picnic Area
🔗 MORE INFO

A service and concert on the sand: cast your regrets into the sea, then sing and dance as a community. Parking is very limited, so carpool or catch a ride.

🕟 4:30–6:00 PM
📍 Baker Beach
🔗 MORE INFO

The first kiddush of 5787. Services and festive luncheons abound across the city today. Find a shul, stay for kiddush, and eat something sweet. You earned it.

Today is shofar day. A hundred blasts, wherever you are.

Beth Sholom and Chevra Thilim blow at services starting 9:00 AM, Mission Minyan at 9:00, Emanu-El's second-day service starts at 10:00 with Rabbi Ryan Bauer and Cantor Arik Luck, Ner Tamid at 10:00, and Sha'ar Zahav gathers back home on Dolores Street. If you hear one thing all year, hear this.

🕘 9:00–10:00 AM starts
📍 All over SF
🔗 FULL LIST

Start the year in the Pacific. Men's mikvah with Rabbi Ryan Bauer at 6:30 AM at Baker Beach, and the Women's Lounge mikvah with Rabbi Rena Singer at 8:30 AM at China Beach, complete with meditation, chanting, and a bagel brunch after. Bring warm clothes, a towel, and an open heart.

🕡 6:30 AM (men) / 8:30 AM (women)
📍 Baker Beach & China Beach
🔗 REGISTER

Beth Sholom wraps Day Two by the lake: a lunch-and-learn with Rabbi Richman around 1:00 on Eva Gunther Plaza, then Tashlich and Mincha at 3:00. Option to walk over together from the shul at 2:45.

🕒 3:00 PM
📍 Mountain Lake Park
🔗 MORE INFO

The Chevra community heads to Golden Gate Park to cast off the old year at the water's edge. Meet at Spreckels Lake, 36th and Fulton.

🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Spreckels Lake, 36th Ave & Fulton St
🔗 MORE INFO

Rabbi Jessica Zimmerman Graf leads a special second-day visit to Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, touring the historic cemetery, including the row of rabbis, as part of the congregation's 175th anniversary year.

📍 Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, Colma
🔗 DETAILS

Tzom Gedaliah (Monday, September 14) The Fast of Gedaliah follows right behind the chag: fast begins 5:32 AM, ends 7:51 PM.

🍎 WrapFest SF (Wednesday, September 16) After much demand, WrapFest is coming to San Francisco. Yossi Farro hosts alongside Joe Teplow and Joshua Sirota, in connection with Chabad SF, bringing together Jewish founders, investors, and builders for an evening of apples and honey, honey cake, and some learning between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. If that's you, DM me for an invite.

CYP Shabbat Dinner (Friday, September 18) Chevra's young professionals gather for the first Shabbat of 5787 with delicious food, great people, and an incredible atmosphere. $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. 🔗 GET TICKETS

🕺 Electric Bloom: A Club Viva x Domi Dayger (Sunday, September 20) The Haight Ashbury street fair gets a whole lot of groove: an afternoon dance floor from Club Viva and the Domi collective, 11 AM–5 PM, with a lineup including El Vish, JOATÉ, MALKI, and more. Come in your grooviest outfit; best fit gets a prize. 🔗 RSVP

Kol Nidre & Yom Kippur (Sunday–Monday, September 20–21) Yom Kippur is one week after Rosh Hashanah begins. Most congregations use the same RSVP or ticket as this weekend, so if you're registering anywhere, cover both now.

Order your Lulav and Etrog by Thursday. Chabad SF's deadline is September 10. Place your order now and your set will be ready a few days before Sukkot. 🔗 ORDER HERE

Lock in Yom Kippur now. Kol Nidre is Sunday, September 20 and Yom Kippur is Monday, September 21. Most shuls use the same RSVP or ticket as Rosh Hashanah, so cover both in one go: Chevra Thilim's one form covers everything through Sukkos dinner, and JWeekly's roundup lists every free and low-cost option.

Fill the JFCS food banks. The JCCSF is collecting donations in its lobby through September 30, and Sherith Israel is collecting nonperishables through October 2. Grab an extra can or two on your next grocery run.

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