Link of the Week: Congratulations to Eli Andrew Ramer whose new book, Ever After, has just been released. There's a 40% discount till May 31st from the publisher. The discount coupon code is CONF40.

Contact office@shaarzahav.org to sponsor Oneg or Flowers for Shabbat.

Friday Night Services for Parshat

Behar-Bechukotai:

May 12th at 7:30pm.

Hybrid: On Zoom and In-Person.

Led by Rabbi Copeland and Alyss Weissglass

Drash by Rabbi Copeland

Meeting ID: 886 7131 3838

Saturday Morning Service:

May 13th at 10:00am.

Hybrid: On Zoom and In-Person.

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.

Shavuot

Sitting at the Foot of the Mountain

Thursday, May 25, 6-10pm at Sha'ar Zahav

Shavuot commemorates the moment Moses comes down Mt. Sinai with the 10 commandments, and to celebrate, we busy our minds with Torah study as a community.

6-7pm: Families with kids! (In-person only, no Zoom sessions)

7-10pm: Learning with our clergy and lay teachers! (Hybrid: in-person and on Zoom)

Sessions:

Revelations Revealed: Ancient and Modern Sources-Rabbi Yoel Kahn
Coming Out of the Closet of Moab-Robin Cohn
Whole Torah-Franco Martinez
Reading and Writing the Psalms with Howard Steiermann
Angels in America- Morey Lipsett
The Creation of Family Via Alternative Reproduction in Torah-Ora Prochovnick
Zoom Session with Britta Pomrantz

If you're joining us in person, please register here so we know how much food to make! Registration is not required but highly appreciated.

More information to come next week, including workshop descriptions and Zoom links.

Celebrate Pride with Sha'ar Zahav!

Transgender Nonbinary Celebration Shabbat

Friday, June 2

Kick-off Pride month with a celebration of transgender, nonbinary, and genderqueer Jews and friends! We will rejoice and learn with our special guest speaker, Maggid Jhos Singer, founder of QueerCore Talmud at JCCSF– a queer normative, SVARA method beit midrash study program. He is an out transman, a parent of three, devoted spouse, craft cocktail mixologist, neophyte straight razor shaving nerd, and a skillful home chef. Our service leaders are Rabbi Mychal Copeland, Cantor Sharon Bernstein, and M Eifler.

We are grateful to JCCSF for their co-sponsorship.

More Coming Soon!

Keep an eye out for a Pride email highlighting all of our wonderful events happening!

Learn with Us!

Looking Beyond the Shadow:

Exploring Our Relationship to Racism with Love, Compassion and Courage

Thursdays starting June 29-July 27, 7:00-9:00pm on Zoom

Sha'ar Zahav Members Only

Join SZ Member Claudia Bernard in this five week class. This is a journey to look beyond the shadow of our ignorance to see what our conditioning has not allowed us to see: our part in internalizing, maintaining and benefitting from the system of racism in America.

For more information, click here.

To register, click here.

Community Get Together!

A B’yachad Picnic Invitation

Sunday, May 21, 12:00-2:00pm

All SZ members are invited to join our 94114 neighborhood B’yachad at Duboce Park under the big tree at 14th and Noe by the N-Judah stop. Bring something to sit on.

For more info please contact: Bob Gordon, Paisha Rochlin or Marvin Lehrman.

Music in the Mishkan

Long-time member, Randall Weiss, and The Bridge Players present the 23rd season of Music in the Mishkan on May 21 - mark your calendars for the last concert of the season! Concert begins at 4:00 p.m. Don't miss this beautiful concert in our lovely sanctuary!

Order your tickets today!

OPEN YOUR HEARTS AND HANDS

Our Sha’ar Zahav B’Mitzvah Chavurah is leading a food drive for Jewish Family & Children Service clients who are food insecure. For specific needs click here.

Please bring provisions to place in the barrel in our lobby. Our drive will conclude Sunday, May 21st. The Torah commands, "you shall not harden your heart, and you shall not close your hand."

Travelogue:

Israel, Jordan, Oman and Palestine

with EcoPeace and family

Tuesday, May 30, 6:30-8:00pm on Zoom

Join Deborah Levy for her slides and commentary on her February/March 2023 Middle East travels.

2023 Labor Day Weekend in the Marin Headlands

Friday, September 1st at 5pm-Sunday, September 3rd at 1pm

Join congregation members and families for a weekend of Shabbat peace, learning and fun.

In addition to a Friday Kabbalat Shabbat, Saturday morning services and Havdalah, there will be good food, hikes, sports, crafts, music, Torah study, yoga/meditation, campfires, and lots of schmoozing . We’ll be based at the Point Bonita Conference Center with dazzling views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific coastline.

Email the retreat committee if you have any questions.

Sha’ar Zahav’s Israel Trip Sign-up Site is Live!

Open to Members and loved ones of members

We’re excited to announce that registration for the Israel trip is Open! The official website for the October 13 to 22, 2023 trip is up and running with information about our trip and registration details. Please sign up soon! Join us as we explore the reality we don’t always see on the news: the winding streets of Jerusalem and the sidewalk cafes of Tel Aviv, ancient Jewish sites, Palestinian fields, and Jewish settlements. If you have disability concerns or other questions about the trip, please email us.

Click here for our trip website.

Recurring Gatherings and Meetings

Kaf-Lamed Monthly Gathering

Don't go to Shabbat alone!

Friday, May 19th, 7:30pm

Join Sha'ar Zahav's young adult group (The Kaf Lameds) for a monthly gathering at Shabbat Services in person! Perfect for those who've ever felt intimidated to go to Shabbat in person services alone. Or perfect for those who just want a few buddies to join on Friday night services! This is a monthly gathering, where we'll do "Shabbat Together" the 3rd Friday of each month.

Contact Emily Ornelas-Dorian.

Social Action Committee

Monday, June 5, 6:00-7:30pm on Zoom

Together we can create a more Just and Peaceful World. Act to Welcome the Stranger, Secure Housing and Food, End Gun Violence, Protect Fair Voting, and more!

What’s on your mind? Come to our next meeting or contact Nancy Wecker or Geri Kahn.

Join the Meeting: Zoom Link

L'Havin: Understanding Israel and Its Neighbors

4th Monday of the month, 6:00-7:00pm on Zoom

L'Havin: Understanding Israel and Its Neighbors is a Sha'ar Zahav working group that provides our members and community friends with support, knowledge, and dialogue skills that deepen our relationship with the land and peoples of Israel and Palestine, and to advance understanding and healing within our Jewish community. You do not need to come with any previous knowledge of the topics we may discuss or with any set viewpoints. In fact, we encourage all to come with open ears and a learner’s mindset.

For more information, contact Rachel Nilson-Ralston.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Climate Action Committee

2nd Monday of the month, 5:00-6:30pm on Zoom

The CAC gathers monthly to support and educate ourselves and our community on climate issues, including climate grief, policy advocacy, and personal and community strategies to address the urgent crises of climate change and climate justice.

Contact Deborah Levy.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Racial Equity Committee

2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:00-7:30pm on Zoom

Come help assure that SZ is always a place of welcome, inclusion and equity for all.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Disability and Accessibility Committee

If you identify as disabled, are exploring that identity, or have a loved one with a disability and are interested in joining the Disability and Accessibility Committee, please reach out to Eliana Smithstein for more information. If you are interested in learning more about disability and how you can become a better ally, stay tuned for educational events to come!

Remember When

1st Wednesday of the Month

6:30-8:00pm

Hitch a ride on the wayback wagon for a trip down memory lane. Let’s reminisce about the 40’s thru the 70’s together! Different topics each month. We will gather on the first Wednesday of every month. Email Marv Lehrman.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Weekly Torah Study Group

Weekly on Wednesday

8:30-9:30am

Rabbi Copeland and lay leaders lead discussions about the weekly Torah reading. Drop-ins welcome, no experience with Torah nessecary!

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Mussar Discussion Group

Bi-weekly on Thursdays 7:00-8:00pm

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! Contact Mark Pressler.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Meditation Chavurah

1st and 3rd Saturday of the month

10:30am-Noon

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.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Hiking Chavurah

2nd Saturday of the month, 9:50am

Join other Sha’ar Zahavniks on monthly urban hikes – mostly in SF but we sometimes venture farther afield. This is a great way to get to know other SZ members while exploring the city and beyond. The hikes usually last about two hours. Email Karen Schiller and Ellen Murland.

12-Step Meetings by and for SZ Members

Weekly on Sundays On Zoom

1:00-2:00pm

The meeting will be run in the usual 12-step format but will also feature some thoughts and reflections from members bringing Judaism into their 12-step practice. Contact Erika Katske.

For Sha'ar Zahav Members Only. Register Here to Attend.

Weekday Morning Prayer

Weekly on Tuesdays

8:30-9:00am

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. Contact Cantor Bernstein.

Join the Meeting: Zoom link

Birthdays this week!

Chaltu Bernstein 5/10

Maxine Preisch 5/10

Qianya Vinson 5/10

Daniel Loftus 5/11

Kailin Koch 5/12

Benjamin Malakoff 5/12

Zephaniah Bensaid 5/14

Leah Hammond 5/16

While we strive for all our events to be mixed-access, this is not always possible. Some events are only in-person, and some are Zoom only. If you have any questions about a particular event, please contact the office, or the contact listed for the event.

Health and Safety Policies at 290 Dolores

For the health and safety of our community, it is Sha’ar Zahav's expectation that all members and visitors who attend in-person services and events will be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. If you are unvaccinated, sick or experiencing any symptoms of illness, please enjoy services and events via Zoom.

Masks are no longer required at in-person services and events. But we are mask-friendly and fully supportive of visitors, members and service leaders who choose to wear masks for their own personal protection.

Sha’ar Zahav is a scent-free environment. Because keeping our synagogue safe for those with scent and chemical sensitivities is part of our commitment to accessibility, please refrain from wearing perfume/cologne or using other scented products.

For more information, email the Accessibility Committee.

Thank You to Our Grantors

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.

You are receiving this email because you expressed interest in Sha'ar Zahav. Be sure to add office@shaarzahav.org to your (email) contacts list so that our communications land in your inbox! All our events take place at Sha'ar Zahav 290 Dolores Street, unless noted otherwise. To unsubscribe, please click on the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of this email.

Visit Our Website