Groups, Committees & Chavurot
Whether you are exploring our community or looking for ways to get more involved as a member, you have arrived at the right place! Sha’ar Zahav sparks new friendships among people with different life experiences, and often times, people who might never meet outside of our community. We find unity in difference and our Jewish community is strengthened by our diverse beliefs and identities.
Sha’ar Zahav members organize chavurot (plural of chavurah, which means “a circle of friends”) with shared interests and they meet regularly to socialize, learn and celebrate Jewish life together. We also have many committees and groups which are at the center of our synagogue life.
Most of these groups and committee are open to Sha’ar Zahav members and non-members alike. If you are interested in exploring any of them or have questions, don’t hesitate to contact their leaders.
Tikkun Olam (Service) Committees
Social Action Committee
John Lewis Voting Engagement Group
Racial Equity Group
Climate Action Committee
Kehila (Community) Committees
Hineni Caring Community
B’yachad Neighborhoods Connectors
Education Committees
Adult Learning Committee
Education Committee
B’mitzvah Committee
Spiritual Life Committees
Ritual Committee
Chevrah Kadisha
Life Stages & Affinity Groups
Baby Chavurah
Teen Chavurah
Kaf-Lameds (Young Adults Community)
Adult Orphans
Trans Gender Non-conforming Group
Multiracial, Multicultural & Multifaith Group
We also recommend exploring Nice Jewish Boys
Wellness & Leisure Chavurot
Hiking
Meditation
Yoga
Art
Theater & Movies
12-Steps Group
Learning Groups
Mussar Group
Torah Study Group
Book Club
Congregation’s Operations
Tech Corps
Disability & Accessibility
Building Committee
Security Task Force
Membership
Quarterly Newsletter (JGF) Committee
Congregation’s Management
The following committees are an integral part of our lay-led congregation. If you are a Sha’ar Zahav member and you are interested in volunteering your expertise through any of these committees, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
- Nominating Committee
- Bylaws Committee
- Finance Committee
- Personnel Committee
- Strategic Planning Task Force
Social Action Committee
1st Monday of the month, 6:00 – 7:30 pm on Zoom
Sha’ar Zahav is committed to tikkun olam (repairing the world). Our Social Action Committee serves as a home base for community members looking for a way to engage in action, or for more support in work they’re already doing. We are currently engaged in actions concerning: Voting Rights, Immigration, Homelessness & Hunger, and Anti-Violence.
Contact: The committee co-chairs are Nancy Wecker and Neil Young.
Open to members and non-members.
John Lewis Voter Engagement Group
A sub-group of our Social Action Committee dedicated to advancing voting rights! From phone banking to post carding, to education sessions, you can be part of these efforts too.
Contact: Geri Kahn
Open to members and non-members.
Kaf-Lamed Monthly Gathering: Don’t go to Shabbat alone!
3rd Friday of each month, 7:30 pm, 290 Dolores Street
Join Sha’ar Zahav’s young adult group (The Kaf Lameds) for a monthly gathering at Shabbat Services in person.
Contact: Emily Ornelas-Dorian
Racial Equity Group
Meets bi-monthly to support our community in exploring ways to be more inclusive and to support anti-racist actions in our broader Bay Area and California political community.
Contact: Larry Best.
Open to members and non-members.
Climate Action Committee
2nd Monday of the month, 5:30 – 6:30 pm on Zoom
Support and educate ourselves and our community on the climate crisis, including climate grief, policy advocacy, and personal and community strategies to address the urgent crises of climate change and climate justice.
Contact: Deborah Levy.
Open to members and non-members.
B’yachad Neighborhood Anchors
Our member community is divided by zip code, forming neighborhood groups that meet and engage to build Jewish community with those who are physically closest. Each neighborhood group has at least one anchor who helps create cohesion through online and offline events, and supports the group as a whole.
Contact: SZ office
Open to Sha’ar Zahav members only.
Adult Education Committee
Want to help Sha’ar Zahav create and promote learning opportunities for adults? We’d love to speak with you!
Contact: Rabbi Copeland
Open to members and non-members.
Ritual Committee
Last Wednesday of the month, 7pm, on Zoom
Interested in leading services, giving a d’rash (talk), helping develop new liturgy, or sharing your ideas? Then join RitCom! You can be a ritual expert or a newbie – we all learn together.
Contact: Ritual Committee
Open to members only
Do a mitzvah! Receive a mitzvah!
Our Hineni Caring Community matches members with needs (like errands, home visits, rides, delivering food, or making a phone call). Can you volunteer to make someone’s day?
Contact: Marla Allen
Baby Chavurah
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.
Contact: Rabbi Q
Open to members and non-members.
Nice Jewish Boys of San Francisco
A welcoming group focused on fostering Jewish identity in an inclusive social setting for gay, bi, queer, and trans men. Creating social spaces and service opportunities that foster meaningful connections and generate a positive impact in our community. Check out njb-sf.com for upcoming events.
Hiking Chavurah
2nd Saturday of the month, 9:50 am, various locations
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 Sha’ar Zahav members while exploring the city. The hikes usually last about two hours.
Contact: Hiking Chavurah
Open to members and non-members.
Meditation Chavurah
1st Saturday of the month, 10:30 am – Noon, on Zoom
Everyone is welcome. A typical session includes a short and longer silent sit, with chanting, movement, and a short teaching.
Contact: SZ office
Open to members and non-members.
Archive Committee
2nd Wednesday of the month, 10:30am, in-person at Sha’ar Zahav (SZ)
Experience the internal evolution and development of SZ up close! Improve the synagogue’s archives by labeling and organizing documents and files.
Contact: Ron Lezell
Yoga Chavurah
We explore how yoga and Judaism integrate the mind, body, and spirit as we blend traditional yoga and Judaism, Jewish prayers and chants. Stuart Dick and Rabbi Mychal Copeland alternate leading.
Contact: Rabbi Mychal Copeland.
Meets: Meetings are currently paused. Please contact Rabbi Copeland to be added to the group and be notified when our practice is re-instated.
Open to members and non-members.
Art Chavurah
Drop in for a joyful hour of free art-making and connection with other creative congregants. Everyone is welcome!
Contact: Barbara Cymrot
Open to members and non-members.
Trans*/Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) Planning Team
2nd Wednesday of the month, 5pm, on Zoom
Dream, decide and plan: for TGNC programming at SZ, and for how SZ supports and fights for the larger trans community.
Contact: Rabbi Reuben or Marty Rawlings-Fein
Theater & Movies Chavurah
1st Wednesday of the month
Would you like to watch plays and movies, and get together to discuss them with a lively and friendly bunch? If you answered yes, we are happy to have found you! Every month we decide the genres or themes together. Come anytime!
Contact: Yvette Adida.
Open to members and non-members.
Mussar Group
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. Come to learn with us. Drop-ins are always welcome!
Contact: Mark Pressler.
Meets: Weekly on Thursdays from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. Join the Zoom meetings here or enter the meeting ID: 893 4682 2203 and Passcode: 378114.
Open to members and non-members.
Israel Speakers Working Group
Providing speakers and safe opportunities for dialogue concerning Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, and the wider Middle East. We welcome the broad spectrum of interests, perspectives and concerns. Some events are open to non-members. Most of our events are mixed-access (or hybrid) and many are online-only.
Contact: SZ office
Torah Study Group
Weekly on Wednesday, 8:30-9:30am, on Zoom
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.
Contact: Rabbi Mychal Copeland
Open to members and non-members.
Book Club
First Tuesday of every other month (unless it’s a holiday or special event)
Love reading and enjoy discussing ideas with others in a diverse, inclusive and friendly environment? Want to meet others in the community? Welcome to Sha’ar Zahav’s book club! Contact us to learn about what we are reading, and drop-in anytime.
Contact: Ami Zusman.
Open to members and non-members.
Disability & Accessibility Committee
Last Thursday of every month, 2-3pm
Join to meet others with disabilities and work towards a more accessible Sha’ar Zahav. We also work towards starting programs and events centered around queer, Jewish, and disabled identities. Join us!
Contact: Ann Daniels
Open to members and non-members.
Va’ad (Board of Directors)
Third Wednesday of every month, 7-9:30pm
Our Board of Directors is responsible for expressing the voice of the community. If you’re curious about Sha’ar Zahav’s behind the scenes work, come to a Va’ad meeting!
Contact: Mike Shriver
Open to members only.