Welcome to our What's New page! Here we list events around the San Francisco Bay Area that are of interest to those who want to learn more about Judaism.
Some Current Activities Around the Bay
Chanukah Celebration
Please join us for the annual Chanukah party at TBS. There will be delightful Chanukah songs sung by Adom, Yarok, Segol, and aftercare students. Following the performances in the sanctuary, families will feast on latkes made by members of our community. This year’s event will feature more latkes than previous years, heavier side dishes, more donuts, and even more merriment. Please stay to play dreidel and sing songs toward the end of the evening!
Date: Thursday, December 18
Time: 5:15 – 7:30pm
Place: Temple Beth Sholom, 642 Dolores Ave., San Leandro
Details HERE
Chanukah Shabbat
A Joy (and Jelly-filled) festive Chanukah Celebration
The Schedule:
5 pm: Chanukah Tot Shabbat
Calling all families with little ones ages 0–5! Come celebrate the light and joy of Shabbat and Hanukkah as a community. Together, we’ll light the menorah, spin the dreidel, and lift our voices in festive song with our clergy and musical guest from Tkiya. Enjoy a kid-friendly dinner featuring latkes, pizza, and sufganiyot. We can’t wait to brighten the evening with you! Registration required.
6 pm: Chanukah Shabbat Service
Bring your chanukiah to the sanctuary for our annual Chanukah Shabbat service and celebration with our clergy, music team and Koleynu choir.
All are welcome; registration is not required.
7:15 pm: Community-wide Dinner and Chanukah Party
Join us after a special Chanukah Shabbat service for a community dinner and Chanukah party in Newman Hall with latkes, music and dancing. Community dinners are fun, inviting and inclusive for the entire Sherith Israel community. Meet people across the generations, eat and enjoy being together.
Date: Friday, Dec 19
Time: 5-9 pm
Place: Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., San Francisco
Cost: Members, $15; Nonmembers, $20
Registration required.
Solstice Hanuka with Lunar
On December 21, come celebrate SOLSTICE ḤANUKA with the Bay Area LUNAR community. This year, the brightest and final night of Ḥanuka lands on the winter solstice, and we are marking it together. We will gather to light the candles on both traditional and fusion menorahs, followed by a vegetarian feast that brings together some of our favorite flavors. From scallion latkes with ginger applesauce to lotus paste rugelach and many more tasty treats, come hungry, come bold, and celebrate being part of the Asian Jewish community.
Date: Sunday, Dec. 21
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Place: RSVP for Address
More info and sign up here
Organized by [email protected]
Please join us for the annual Chanukah party at TBS. There will be delightful Chanukah songs sung by Adom, Yarok, Segol, and aftercare students. Following the performances in the sanctuary, families will feast on latkes made by members of our community. This year’s event will feature more latkes than previous years, heavier side dishes, more donuts, and even more merriment. Please stay to play dreidel and sing songs toward the end of the evening!
Date: Thursday, December 18
Time: 5:15 – 7:30pm
Place: Temple Beth Sholom, 642 Dolores Ave., San Leandro
Details HERE
Chanukah Shabbat
A Joy (and Jelly-filled) festive Chanukah Celebration
The Schedule:
5 pm: Chanukah Tot Shabbat
Calling all families with little ones ages 0–5! Come celebrate the light and joy of Shabbat and Hanukkah as a community. Together, we’ll light the menorah, spin the dreidel, and lift our voices in festive song with our clergy and musical guest from Tkiya. Enjoy a kid-friendly dinner featuring latkes, pizza, and sufganiyot. We can’t wait to brighten the evening with you! Registration required.
6 pm: Chanukah Shabbat Service
Bring your chanukiah to the sanctuary for our annual Chanukah Shabbat service and celebration with our clergy, music team and Koleynu choir.
All are welcome; registration is not required.
7:15 pm: Community-wide Dinner and Chanukah Party
Join us after a special Chanukah Shabbat service for a community dinner and Chanukah party in Newman Hall with latkes, music and dancing. Community dinners are fun, inviting and inclusive for the entire Sherith Israel community. Meet people across the generations, eat and enjoy being together.
Date: Friday, Dec 19
Time: 5-9 pm
Place: Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., San Francisco
Cost: Members, $15; Nonmembers, $20
Registration required.
Solstice Hanuka with Lunar
On December 21, come celebrate SOLSTICE ḤANUKA with the Bay Area LUNAR community. This year, the brightest and final night of Ḥanuka lands on the winter solstice, and we are marking it together. We will gather to light the candles on both traditional and fusion menorahs, followed by a vegetarian feast that brings together some of our favorite flavors. From scallion latkes with ginger applesauce to lotus paste rugelach and many more tasty treats, come hungry, come bold, and celebrate being part of the Asian Jewish community.
Date: Sunday, Dec. 21
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Place: RSVP for Address
More info and sign up here
Organized by [email protected]
Spring 2026 Basic Judaism Classes
Exploring Judaism
This seven-month course is a great opportunity for those who want to begin learning about Judaism, as well as those who are seeking to deepen their learning. This is also the course for anyone considering choosing Judaism as their spiritual path and home. It covers biblical and rabbinic texts, history and culture, holy days, festivals, Shabbat, Jewish concepts of God and ethics, life cycle, dietary laws and Israel. Drawn from the Miller Introduction to Judaism curriculum from American Jewish University, it is taught by our clergy.
Students who wish to take a single class by topic may do so. The first 30-minutes of the course is dedicated to learning to read Hebrew, while topical learning begins at 10:00am.
Dates: Begins Sunday, Nov. 2 to March, 29, 2026
Time: 9:30am to noon
Place: Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon
Tuition: Free for members. $275 18-week series or drop-in $20 per class for the community.
Register here
(re)Intro to Judaism
Discover the History, Traditions and Hidden Gems of Our 4,000-Year Journey
Taught by Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff, through this course participants will learn about Jewish history, traditions, holidays, life cycle ceremonies, liturgy, music, blessings and much more. We’ll explore all the significant building blocks of Jewish life and practice through the Reform perspective. It’s a great way to learn (or re-learn) more about Judaism.
Designed for those who want a “refresher” on their faith and traditions, those who are exploring Judaism, those in interfaith relationships, and those thinking of becoming Jewish. Whether one was born Jewish, became Jewish, is in a Jewish family, or is a neighbor or friend who wants to know more about Jewish traditions, we welcome all participants.
Dates: Select Tuesdays, January 27-April 21, 2026
Time: 7 to 8:30pm
Place: Zoom
Cost: $36, register here
Hosted by Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills
Exploring Judaism
This seven-month course is a great opportunity for those who want to begin learning about Judaism, as well as those who are seeking to deepen their learning. This is also the course for anyone considering choosing Judaism as their spiritual path and home. It covers biblical and rabbinic texts, history and culture, holy days, festivals, Shabbat, Jewish concepts of God and ethics, life cycle, dietary laws and Israel. Drawn from the Miller Introduction to Judaism curriculum from American Jewish University, it is taught by our clergy.
Students who wish to take a single class by topic may do so. The first 30-minutes of the course is dedicated to learning to read Hebrew, while topical learning begins at 10:00am.
Dates: Begins Sunday, Nov. 2 to March, 29, 2026
Time: 9:30am to noon
Place: Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon
Tuition: Free for members. $275 18-week series or drop-in $20 per class for the community.
Register here
(re)Intro to Judaism
Discover the History, Traditions and Hidden Gems of Our 4,000-Year Journey
Taught by Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff, through this course participants will learn about Jewish history, traditions, holidays, life cycle ceremonies, liturgy, music, blessings and much more. We’ll explore all the significant building blocks of Jewish life and practice through the Reform perspective. It’s a great way to learn (or re-learn) more about Judaism.
Designed for those who want a “refresher” on their faith and traditions, those who are exploring Judaism, those in interfaith relationships, and those thinking of becoming Jewish. Whether one was born Jewish, became Jewish, is in a Jewish family, or is a neighbor or friend who wants to know more about Jewish traditions, we welcome all participants.
Dates: Select Tuesdays, January 27-April 21, 2026
Time: 7 to 8:30pm
Place: Zoom
Cost: $36, register here
Hosted by Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills
Online Learning Options
There are a LOT of online Jewish educational opportunities. Naturally, not all of them are good. Here are some that I trust.
New Lehrhaus
One of you mentioned that Lehrhaus is one of your favorite places to learn. I agree! This program, Becoming Jewish, originated at Lehrhaus Judaica as the result of a grant! Lehrhaus was founded by Fred Rosenbaum in 1974. It has morphed into New Lehrhaus and continues to offer stellar adult learning opportunities.
Valley Beit Midrash
Is an educational organization currently run by Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz. Classes typically cost $18.
Hadar
In person and online classes around the USA. This is the site where I find classes by Rabbi David Kasher. Rabbi Kasher was a the UC Berkeley Hillel rabbi for several years and worked upstairs from me when I was at Lehrhaus Judaica.
My Jewish Learning
This site has a wealth of information AND a newsletter with articles and workshops. Browse around it. I like that they have writers from different streams of Judaism so you get a broader view of Jewish thought and practice.
The Hub from My Jewish Learning
An email listing online classes. The downside is that they are always very short notice. So you have to check it on a day you know you'll be free. Still, there are some fun topics.
Aish
This site is Orthodox and offers a traditional view on Judaism. What I like is that it is a good foundational viewpoint on the Parsha and Jewish practice.
Jewfaq
This looks like a bare bones site - no pictures or fancy graphics. But it is phenomenal. A vast amount of information carefully spelled out. AND! Each page is ranked as: Gentile, Basic, Intermediate or Advanced. If you're finding a concept difficult then perhaps it is an Advanced page and you need to speak with your rabbi about it.
Send us YOUR suggestions for this list to [email protected]
New Lehrhaus
One of you mentioned that Lehrhaus is one of your favorite places to learn. I agree! This program, Becoming Jewish, originated at Lehrhaus Judaica as the result of a grant! Lehrhaus was founded by Fred Rosenbaum in 1974. It has morphed into New Lehrhaus and continues to offer stellar adult learning opportunities.
Valley Beit Midrash
Is an educational organization currently run by Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz. Classes typically cost $18.
Hadar
In person and online classes around the USA. This is the site where I find classes by Rabbi David Kasher. Rabbi Kasher was a the UC Berkeley Hillel rabbi for several years and worked upstairs from me when I was at Lehrhaus Judaica.
My Jewish Learning
This site has a wealth of information AND a newsletter with articles and workshops. Browse around it. I like that they have writers from different streams of Judaism so you get a broader view of Jewish thought and practice.
The Hub from My Jewish Learning
An email listing online classes. The downside is that they are always very short notice. So you have to check it on a day you know you'll be free. Still, there are some fun topics.
Aish
This site is Orthodox and offers a traditional view on Judaism. What I like is that it is a good foundational viewpoint on the Parsha and Jewish practice.
Jewfaq
This looks like a bare bones site - no pictures or fancy graphics. But it is phenomenal. A vast amount of information carefully spelled out. AND! Each page is ranked as: Gentile, Basic, Intermediate or Advanced. If you're finding a concept difficult then perhaps it is an Advanced page and you need to speak with your rabbi about it.
Send us YOUR suggestions for this list to [email protected]
Got a baby?
Get support from the Bay Area's Jewish Baby Network
Connect Today!
The JBN Newsletter says, "We would love for you and your family to become part of the Jewish Baby Network community. Please let us know a little bit about you so we can help you connect to other families and resources near you.
Our programs are designed for families with children aged 0 – 36 months. We welcome everyone, including non-affiliated, interfaith, multi-ethnic, single parent, and LGBTQ families.
Find your region here"
This is a lovely group; I encourage you to get in touch.