Join us for the second day of festivities, on Saturday, September 7, as we officially install our new Rabbi Faryn Borella!

About a year into a rabbi's tenure at a new congregation, they are officially installed as the community's rabbi. Join us for a shabbaton to celebrate Rabbi Faryn's installation as the official Rabbi of Or Shalom! We will sing and pray together, engage in a meaningful ritual to welcome Rabbi Faryn deeper into the Or Shalom community, and learn from Rabbi Faryn's teachers, mentors, colleagues and friends.

This event will take place in-person, but we will live-stream the Friday night and Saturday morning services for all to watch. Stay tuned for livestream information.

Scroll down to RSVP for Saturday, 9/7. Click here to RSVP for Friday 9/6.

Full schedule of events:

Friday, September 6: 

5:30 – 6:00 pm Happy Half Hour

6:00 – 7:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Services & Teaching by R' Faryn

Join remotely by Zoom, PW rabbifaryn

7:30 – 9:00 pm Dinner

Saturday, September 7:

9:15 am – 9:45 am New Member Ritual

10:00 am – 12:30 pm Shabbat Morning Services and Installation Ceremony

Join remotely by Zoom,  PW rabbifaryn

12:30 – 1:30 pm Catered Lunch

1:45 – 4:00 pm Workshops*

4:00 – 7:00 pm Break

7:00 – 9:00 pm Song Circle, Havdalah, and Klezmer Dancing

Following the Installation ceremony Saturday morning, R' Faryn's colleagues and friends will be teaching workshops and leading sessions in the afternoon and evening on topics close to R' Faryn's heart.

First Workshops: 1:45-2:45 pm

Option #1, Shomeret Shalom Pilgrimage as the art of ritual in action with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb

Join Rabbi Lynn to learn how pilgrimage has become a central pillar of multifaith solidarity and activism from Gandhi to Ceasefire Pilgrimage.

Rabbi Lynn has been engaging in pilgrimage for several decades and is founded or the Muslim Jewish Peacewalk inspired by the Hiroshima Flame Pilgrimage. Includes a processional dance, stories and opportunities for sharing. 

R. Lynn is a practitioner of The Torah of Nonviolence - Shmirat Shalom. She serves as board chair of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity in California and is a master storyteller.  

Option #2, Reimagining Tefillin: Amulets for Olam Haba (the world to come) with Austin Weisgrau

Vegan tefillin maker Austin Weisgrau from Shaddai Elementals will share about the halacha (Jewish law) of constructing tefillin and the sparkling possibilities for reimagining these ancient Jewish prayer amulets to be resonant and enlivening.

Second Workshops: 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Option #1, Living as Jews on Ohlone Land with Rabbi Dev Noily

How do we live in good relationship with the land where we are, while rooted in a spiritual tradition that offers us a "traveling Jewish homeland" through our sacred texts? We'll explore a little of the Indigenous history of Ramaytush Ohlone land and look at some Jewish frameworks for understanding people's relationships to land and home.

Rabbi Dev Noily grew up in Tongva / Chumash territory in Southern California, with roots in Eastern Eurorpe (Cracow, Brzozow), and family migrations through New York and Palestine/Israel. Rabbi Dev is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and also studied at the Graduate Theological Union and SVARA. They are a proud alum of San Francisco State University, a SVARA Teachinig Fellow, and co-founder of Jews On Ohlone Land (www.jewsonohloneland.org). Back in the day, Dev played in the Sha'ar Zahav house band Gay iz Mir with Corey Weinstein.

Option #2 How our Tradition Prepares Us to Handle Crash with R’ Frankie Sandmel and Elaina Marshalek

We’ll dive into a framework for how change happens - a theology of flexibility - and how Jewish tradition teaches us to move through the world with resilience and connection. We’ll explore a little history, a little theology, and a little about the Talmud and the rabbinic revolution that gave rise to it. In particular, we’ll look at the Talmud as a text that comes from - and speaks to - those of us who exist on the margins of the society. This workshop, based on R. Benay Lappe and SVARA’s "Crash Theory", is Elaina & Frankie’s take on what makes Judaism so compelling in these times of great upheaval, insecurity, and change.

Rabbi Frankie Sandmel and Elaina Marshalek are building a vibrant, rooted, and resonant Jewish community for young adults out of their home in Oakland as Base Bay Area. Elaina is also Community & Ritual Director of Urban Adamah, an educational Jewish farm and community in Berkeley.

7:00 - 8:30 pm, Havdalah Song circle with Riv and Joni

Relax and recenter yourself in body, breath, and spirit as we sing our way into Havdalah in celebration of Rabbi Faryn’s installation!

Riv Shapiro (they/them) is a Kohenet, artist and educator making home as a 5th generation guest on Dakota land. After several years in Jewish arts and education, Riv is pursuing an MFA in social practice art at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Joni Sidharta Leibovic (any/all pronouns) is an educator, musician, and mad scientist based in Lenapehoking. When they aren’t teaching or recording music, you can likely find them cooking dinner, upcycling garbage, or befriending a local insect.

8:30 -9 pm, Or Shalom Klezmer

Join the Or Shalom Klezmer ensemble to close out the night with music and dance!

Accessibility information: Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church is wheelchair accessible. We are asking attendees of this event to remain masked when not eating and drinking. For all meals, outdoor seating will be available.