This Week in Jewish SF: Sukkot Edition

Yom Kippur is behind us and the sukkahs are going up.

Sukkot starts Friday at sundown, and this year the first night lands on Shabbat, so Friday is a double celebration. Before that there's Israeli dancing, mahjong, and your usual weeknight Torah classes. Then the weekend fills up with sukkah dinners, a young professionals mixer on Nob Hill, bagel brunches, and a full Sunday of sukkah hopping. Eat in a sukkah at least once this week. It's a mitzvah and the food is usually great.

Candle lighting: Friday, September 25 at 6:43 PM (Erev Sukkot + Shabbat)
Candle lighting: Saturday, September 26 after 7:39 PM (Sukkot II, from an existing flame)
Havdalah: Sunday, September 27 at 7:37 PM
Parashat: No weekly portion this Shabbat. It's Sukkot I, with the holiday reading from Leviticus 22-23.

An all-levels Israeli folk dance night at the JCCSF with choreographer Tovael Hagai. No partner or experience needed, and the BOGO ticket makes it easy to drag a friend.

🕖 6:45-9:45 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 REGISTER ($15, $25 for two)

The relaxed, welcoming weekly class at Anshey Sfard, back on after the Yom Kippur week.

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

Chevra Thilim's weekly Wednesday Torah deep dive. A good way to get your head in the game before the holiday.

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

Never played? This is your night. Learn the tiles and the rules, then keep coming back for weekly social play (next one is Thursday).

🕡 6:30-9:30 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 REGISTER ($36-$150)

Samantha Grant's art installation at the JCCSF wraps today. Step into a vintage phone booth and have an honest conversation with the Divine, yourself, or whoever picks up. Free, drop in anytime the building's open.

📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 MORE INFO

Weekly open play for first-timers and regulars alike. Grab a table and make some new friends.

🕡 6:30-9:30 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 REGISTER

Candle lighting at 6:43 PM. Sukkot and Shabbat begin together tonight.

Chevra opens Sukkot the way it does every holiday: warm services, then a community dinner in the sukkah. No affiliation necessary, and there's a children's program too. RSVP so they save you a seat.

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

Chabad SF's young professionals kick off Sukkot with kiddush, challah, cocktails, and an open bar under the stars. Note the location: it's at the Knesset Israel sukkah on Nob Hill, not SoMa.

🕖 7:00-10:00 PM
📍 Knesset Israel Sukkah, 873 Sutter St
🔗 RSVP

Braid a seasonal challah at the JCCSF and take it home to bake before candles. Round challahs are traditional through Sukkot, so ask about the shape.

🕝 2:30-5:00 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 GET TICKETS ($0-$5)

A spirited holiday service led by Rabbis Sarah Parris and Ryan Bauer with Cantor Arik Luck, sermon by Rabbi Beth Singer. Afterward everyone moves into the sukkah and courtyard for a festive buffet dinner.

🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 MORE INFO

Regular Friday night services continue across the city, and most shuls are welcoming Sukkot tonight with festival prayers and kiddush in the sukkah. Chevra Thilim, Emanu-El, Sherith Israel, Beth Sholom, Sha'ar Zahav, Anshey Sfard, and Chabad all hold Kabbalat Shabbat. Families with little ones can catch Sherith Israel's Tot Shabbat from 5:00-6:30 PM.

First day of Sukkot, and Shabbat too, so no lulav and etrog shaking today. That starts Sunday.

Morning services across the city are festival services this week, with Hallel and the Sukkot Torah reading. Most kiddushes move outside into the sukkah. Stay for lunch. Dedicated Kiddush and Shul page coming soon!

Morning services at 9:30, then a festive lunch in the sukkah at 12:30. Evening services at 7:00 PM carry you into the second day of Yom Tov.

🕤 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 7:00 PM
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO

Sherith Israel's Saturday morning Torah study moves outdoors for the holiday.

🕘 9:15-10:15 AM
📍 Sherith Israel, 2266 California St
🔗 MORE INFO

Emanu-El's rooftop sukkah, Wise Sons bagels and babka, live music with Jonathan Bayer, and sing-alongs led by Rabbi Madeline Budman. Built for families with young kids. Free.

🕙 10:00-11:30 AM
📍 Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 REGISTER

A family-friendly Havdalah in the sukkah, plus a welcome for new members. A nice low-key way to meet the Sherith crowd.

🕡 6:30-8:00 PM
📍 Sherith Israel, 2266 California St
🔗 REGISTER

Second day of Yom Tov. Lulav and etrog are back in play today, and the holiday ends at 7:37 PM.

Morning services at 9:30, lulav and etrog in hand, followed by a festive lunch in the sukkah at 12:30.

🕤 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM
📍 Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave
🔗 MORE INFO

The JCCSF's big Sukkot day: live music, crafts, harvest bites, and a whole lot of lulav shaking. All ages welcome.

🕚 11:00 AM-2:00 PM
📍 JCCSF, 3200 California St
🔗 GET TICKETS ($0-$18)

Filmmaker Theo Rigby and Rabbi Rena Singer lead a conversation built around Rigby's documentary If I Could Stay, connecting the sukkah's theme of shelter to the immigrant experience.

🕐 1:00-3:00 PM
📍 Diller Hall, Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St
🔗 REGISTER

Get your lulav and etrog. Chabad SF is selling kosher sets for $54. Order early in the week so it's in hand by Sunday morning. ORDER HERE

Last call for the food drives. The JCCSF is collecting for the JFCS food bank in its lobby through September 30, and Sherith Israel is collecting nonperishables through October 2.

Pizza Sukkah Party (Monday, September 28, 7:30 PM): Chabad SF makes gourmet pizza on the spot in the sukkah, with music and l'chaims. RSVP

A Sweet Sukkot with Leah Koenig (Wednesday, September 30, 6:30 PM): The cookbook author launches The Dessert Table at Emanu-El with a live demo, then tastings in the sukkah. $45 includes a signed copy. REGISTER

Songs of Sukkot (Wednesday, September 30, 7:00 PM): The Jewish Music Collective performs at the Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St. Free. MORE INFO

Young Adult Sukkot Trivia Night (Thursday, October 1, 6:30 PM): Emanu-El's sukkah, Mexican food, drinks, and Jewish trivia for folks in their 20s and 30s. REGISTER

Nosh With Your Neighbors (Friday, October 2, 9:30 AM): Free bagels, coffee, and tea in the JCCSF sukkah on the last day of Sukkot. MORE INFO

Simchat Torah at Chevra Thilim (Saturday, October 3, 6:30 PM): Chevra's Simchat Torah Celebration & Dinner, with hakafot, dancing with the Torahs, and a full dinner. MORE INFO