Click Here for Ticketing Information

Purchasing tickets for High Holy Days includes:

Both evening and morning services

Family services

All workshops (Yizkor and Ne'ilah)

Childcare

Erev Rosh Hashanah – Wednesday, October 2

Rosh Hashanah Day One – Thursday, October 3

Rosh Hashanah Day Two – Friday, October 4

Kol Nidre – Friday, October 11

Yom Kippur – Saturday, October 12

Scroll below for event details

How are honors given during the High Holy Days?

Wondering how folks get invited to do a reading or open the ark during the High Holiday services? These are honors bestowed on members of our community who have given significant amounts of time, energy, or leadership to Or Shalom in the past year. We want to show appreciation to those who have, for example, served on the Board and led committees, hosted happy half hours and traveling shabbats, led services and walks, spearheaded programs like a museum visit, and helped in the office. As you see them come up to the bimah, please send them your thanks. Hope to see you up there next year! 

How does parking work at the High Holy Days?

This year we will NOT be distributing any parking permits for use during the high holiday services. However SFMTA has agreed to not enforce residential time parking limitations in the area around the Unitarian Church. This means that you may park in the residential parking zones without the applicable residential permit and you should not get a ticket for overstaying the two hour limit. 

As usual, you MUST pay for any metered parking and cannot park in restricted areas.  SFMTA does not want us to put any type of permit on our dashboards, so please don't use a permit you may still have from last year.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact Julie Brook at juliebrook@hotmail.com.

COVID Policy for High Holy Days 2024

In order to allow all, including the most vulnerable, to attend Or Shalom’s High Holy Days services, our COVID policy includes:

• No one with COVID or flu symptoms may attend in-person services.

• Masks are highly recommended for all attendees and will be provided, if need be.

• Testing before attendance is highly recommended.

• There will be a mask-only seating section.

• All who unmask and speak on the Bimah will have tested negative for COVID.

• All members of the choir/ensemble and Bimah team must test negative before evening services.

We will monitor reports of circulating virus in the community and adjust our recommendations accordingly. Stay tuned for updates.

All services will be streamed online, so we encourage you, if you are sick, to attend services with us remotely.

ELUL PROGRAMMING

SJC Elul Series

Thursday, September 12, 19, and 26, 7:00 – 8:00pm, Zoom links forthcoming

Join the Southside Jewish Collaborative for an Elul Learning Series in preparation for the High Holy Days, Thursdays on Zoom from 7-8 pm.

• Thursday, September 12 with R' Shana
• Thursday, September 19 with R' Jason
• Thursday, September 26 with R' Chayva

Shofar on Bernal Hill

Sundays: Sept. 15, 22 and 29 at 9 am, the labyrinth near the south parking area at the end of Bernal Heights Boulevard (see here in Google Maps)

It is customary to blow the Shofar every day during the month of Elul, to help us wake up and be ready for the High Holy Days. We’ll gather each Sunday morning during Elul at 9:00 am on Bernal Hill to sound the shofar in community.

We'll  take a short walk together up the hill (a paved path on an incline) to blow the shofar with a view of the city.

Bring your shofar if you have one. Everyone is welcome.

The Do-It-Yourself Soul Exam: A Writing Workshop with Charlie Varon

Wednesday, September 25, 7:00 – 8:30 pm at 333 Cortland Ave

As we approach the High Holy Days, let's explore the state of our lives and our souls. This workshop includes writing exercises that will help us to more fully understand ourselves, our moment, and the work we need to do to be the people we want to be. Note: The workshop occurs during the Hebrew month of Elul, a traditional time of introspection, but is appropriate for people of any or no religion and is open to everyone. Limited to 20 participants.*

Register here

A Holocaust Survivor's Journey Home

Saturday, September 21, 3:00 – 5:00 pm at Sports Basement Stonestown, 3251 20th Ave Suite 390

Join George Rothman (Father of Liz Isaacs) as he recounts his Holocaust story -- living in a Parisian orphanage -- hiding in plain site. At 91, George recently returned to Paris and was able to visit the orphanage, the church where he had his first communion and confirmation, as well as recount his story (in French!) to the Memorial de La Shoah in Paris. Learn more about this emotional journey home.

Register here

Leil Slichot

Saturday, September 28, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at 333 Cortland Ave

Gather for a vegetarian potluck meal (seudah shlishit) and Selichot service at 333 Cortland Ave!  Please bring a vegetarian dish and your own reusable dishware.  At this service, we will sing songs of forgiveness, reflect on our years, and write down ways we missed the mark this year, which will then be shared out over the course of our High Holy Day services.*

• Meal: 7:00 – 7:30 pm
• Havdalah at 7:36 pm
• Service: 7:45 pm

Gaza: Past and Present with Dr. Joel Beinin

Sunday, September 29, 1:30 – 3:00 pm at 333 Cortland Ave

For many Israelis and Diaspora Jews, Hamas’s horrific October 7, 2023 attack on Israel suddenly thrust the Gaza Strip into the forefront of our consciousness. Come learn about the history of the Gaza Strip from 1967 to today to help us better understand our current political moment.

Dr. Joel Beinin is the Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. He has written or edited twelve books. In 2001-02 he served as president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America.

Register here

*Events marked with an asterisk are held at 333 Cortland Ave, a building which requires climbing 21 steps to access. If this poses a barrier to entry for you, please email rabbifaryn@orshalomsf.org with at least 5 days notice. Read our full accessibility notice here.

SUKKOT

Guests on Indigenous Land: Opening Night in the Sukkah

Wednesday, October 16, 6:30 – 8:00 pm at USF's Welch Field JSSJ Sukkah, 2130 Fulton St

Join Or Shalom Jewish Community and the Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice for an Erev Sukkot gathering. In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, we will be learning about and discussing how we can be good guests on indigenous land, and how Jewish tradition beckons us forth to the work of solidarity with indigenous peoples. We will gather, celebrate the festival, learn, and most of all, eat!

Happy Half Hour, Kabbalat Shabbat Musical Service & Potluck in the Sukkah

Friday, October 18, 5:30 – 8:30 pm at USF's Welch Field JSSJ Sukkah, 2130 Fulton St​​​

Join Or Shalom Jewish Community and the Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice for musical Kabbalat Shabbat services in the Sukkah with R' Faryn and the Or Shalom Music Ensemble. Bring a potluck dish to share so we can fulfill the mitzvah of eating and dwelling in the sukkah.

Sunday Family Program: Sukkot Edition

Sunday, October 20, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Location TBA

More information coming soon!