A quick follow up to correct the time of tonight's Inauguration Celebration. We will gather from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Please join us tonight to celebrate the inauguration of President Joseph Biden, and the first woman of color, Vice President Kamala Harris and share our favorite moments. This celebration is hosted by the John Lewis Memorial Voter Engagement Group, and the Social Action Committee.

Join the Zoom Meeting: Zoom link

Friday Night Shabbat Service

Led by Rabbi Copeland and Ann Daniels. D'rash by Jonathon Thunderword. Register here. Meeting ID: 452 290 988.

Join the Zoom meeting. Meeting ID: 365 434 855 and Passcode: 068575.

To join by phone for either service, dial +1 669 900 9128 or find your local number.

An interactive seder for all ages. There will be stories, seasonal/edible seder symbols, and time for creativity. You will need some materials, so please use this list to prepare in advance. We encourage you to work with what you have, and get creative if you need to!

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From Tu B’shvat to Pesach: Discovering the Ecological Depths of Judaism. A Conversation with Rabbi Ellen Bernstein

Join us for Erev Shabbat at 7:30 pm and stay for a conversation with R. Ellen Bernstein, founder of Shomrei Adamah, Keepers of the Earth, the first national Jewish environmental organization, and creator of the first ecologically-centered Tu B'Shvat seder.

Everyone is Welcome! Registration Required to Join.

Saturday, January 23 | 8:45 - 9:45 am

We will blend traditional yoga and Judaism, Jewish prayers and chants. This session is part of our twice-a-month group. Join the Zoom Meeting: Zoom link

Saturday, January 30 | 11:00 - 11:30 am (PT)

Inspired by Rabbi Mychal Copeland's book “I Am the Tree of Life.” This session is part of the Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest. RSVP here.

Plant a seed, go on a different hike path, consider a new text to study, start a new environmental practice, donate to an eco-organization or join Sha’ar Zahav’s Climate Action Committee. All of these and more are included in our home guide.

In this one hour session, Rabbi Shmuly will share Torah on cultivating hope in light in difficult times. We'll explore how our inner life is interconnected with our outer life. Further, Rabbi Shmuly, through stories and texts, will open a window into developments in progressive Orthodoxy (feminism, same sex marriages, universalism, etc.).

Free for Members and $15 for Non-members. Registration Required to Join.

Jonathon Thunderword, a fellow Sha'ar Zahav member, will share his spiritual autobiography tracing a path from Christianity to Judaism, and well into Eastern traditions. His journey led Jonathon to becoming a believing non-believer, a theistic atheist, and perhaps, a “possibility model” for those who are beginning to seek their own spirituality.

Free for Members and $15 for Non-members. Learn More and Register.

Golan Moskowitz will share with us the evolution of Maurice Sendak’s artistic vision and its appeal for American, Jewish, and queer audiences. The talk will show how Sendak’s multiple perspectives as a gay, Holocaust-conscious, American-born son of Yiddish-speaking Polish immigrants informed his life and work, changed the face of children’s literature.

Free for Members and $15 for Non-members. Learn More and Register.

Have you ever asked yourself, "Am I Jewish Enough?" Wondered whether you could say a prayer or blessing in front of others? Questioned what's happening during a service? You are not alone! Join us and Rabbi Copeland for a conversation about the early Jewish notions of who's a Jew, using based on ancient text. Ideal for young adults in their 20-30s.

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A place to ask questions and discuss your ideas! This group will explore issues that arise for people who are considering, are in the process of, or have recently completed, converting to Judaism. Those with a Jewish parent (or parents), but raised with little or no Jewish experience are also welcome.

Study the weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Copeland and lay leaders. For the first half hour, we’ll talk, learn and share thoughts about the portion. In the second half, we will practice our Hebrew reading skills in a compassionate environment! Join for either or both parts of the study.

Join the Zoom Meeting: Zoom link

Thursdays, from February 18 until May 6

Would you like to be able to decode Hebrew, so that you can follow along in the prayer book? Have you always wondered how the Hebrew language works? It is never too late to start!

This class is intended for first time Hebrew students, and will begin at the very beginning by learning the letters and the sounds that they make. This class provides a friendly and supportive learning environment, and patience and sensitivity will be shown to adult learners with limited time for study. Questions? Email the class instructor Michael Lederman.

$54 for Members and $126 for Non-members. Email Liliana Peliks to Register.

4 Weekly Sessions, Starting on Monday, February 22

In today's world, discussions about Israel and Palestine can quickly devolve into inflammatory disagreements and personal attacks that leave everyone angry and unheard – even in a loving community like ours! We often won’t succeed at convincing others to see things our way. But can we create a culture of resilient and respectful learning about Israel and Palestine at Sha'ar Zahav? There is a participant fee but anyone who needs assistance will be aided.

For Members Only. Fee: $54 for 4 Sessions. Learn More and Register.

Va'ad meetings are open to everyone in our member community. We meet the third Wednesday of every month. Join us!

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Drop in for a joyful hour of free art-making and connection. Everyone is welcome! The group meets every Thursday. For more information, contact Paisha Rochlin, Barbara Cymrot or AJ Turpen Fried.

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Mussar is a very practical and flexible spiritual discipline to help you balance soul-traits (Middah/Middot) such as Humility, Loving-Kindness, Generosity, and Silence. Drop-ins are always welcome! For more information, contact Mark Pressler.

Join the Zoom Meeting: Zoom link

Songs and prayers to set our hearts and minds! This service takes place every Tuesday morning, and is led by community lay leaders and Cantor Bernstein. For more information, contact Cantor Bernstein.

Join the Zoom Meeting: Zoom link

Everyone is welcome. And you will not regret it! A typical session includes a short and longer silent sit, with chanting, movement, and a short teaching. The group meets on the first and third Saturday of every month.

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Be a part of this monthly gathering of kids age 0-2 and their families. Connect about parenting thrills and fears, share tips and tricks, laugh and cry together. Email Sue Bojdak to get on the list, but you may also join anytime.

Join the Zoom Meeting: Zoom link

This monthly puppet-led gathering is for kids ages 3-5 & their grown-ups. We are building Jewish community through play while we learn about Shabbat & other holidays. Please contact Sue Bojdak if you would like to join on a regular basis.

Join the Zoom Meeting: Zoom link

Everyone welcome! Let's plan what we want to see happen in the next 100 days! Our ongoing topics are post-elections actions, hunger, immigration, homelessness, racial justice, and gun violence. We meet every month but you may contact Geri Kahn or Nancy Wecker anytime.

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Zoom with us to get an update on CSZ’s solar panels, discuss plans for 2021 and learn about the upcoming federal Farm Bill. New people and new ideas welcome!

Join the Zoom Meeting: Zoom link

Brought to you by the Hineni Caring Community, and led by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from the Family Caregiver Alliance, this group is open to members who are caring for older adults or adults with disabilities. There is a participant fee but anyone who needs assistance will be aided. If you have any questions, please contact Rabbi Mychal Copeland.

For Members Only. Fee: $125. Learn More and Register.

JFCS’ Seniors At Home invites you to the film screening of the new documentary, Caregiver: A Love Story - a film about one man’s struggle to care for his dying wife. Discussion with Dr. Jessica Zitter to follow.

Learn More and Register.

Caring for an adult with memory loss can be challenging. JFCS’ Seniors At Home invites you to their virtual support group.

Learn More and Register.

Do you have a professional practice, a business or a community resource that you would like to share with fellow Sha'ar Zahav members? We are curating a list of health and wellness resources, social services, products, or just community offerings! Anything useful during and post-Covid from which the community can benefit.

Please email Liliana Peliks with your ideas.

Contact sharonh@shaarzahav.org to sponsor a Shabbat

Programs at Sha’ar Zahav are supported by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, the Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus Initiative for Immigrant and Refugee Justice of the Religious Action Center, San Francisco Humanities, and the National Center to Encourage Judaism.

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