Meet Our Staff!
Mira Stern
Head of Youth & Family Education
mira@orshalomsf.org
Hi! I’m Mira Stern—a queer, white Jewish mama, a fourth-generation San Franciscan, and a lifelong educator. After 15 years working in K–12 schools as a classroom teacher (10th grade World History!) and a program manager, I launched my own consulting practice focused on liberation education and advising. I work with tech companies, organizations, and school systems to develop equity strategies that have long-term impact, all rooted in racial justice and community building.
I’m a Jewish ritualist and love drawing from ancestral practices and weaving them together with body-based, pleasure-centered approaches to create spaces of belonging, healing, and collective liberation. I lead retreats, workshops, and online courses—all with the goal of cultivating real human connection, vulnerability, and room for each of us to step into our highest selves.
When I’m not chasing after my fiery, bold toddler on some epic Bay Area adventure, you can find me on my mat in hot yoga or pilates, tending to my 24 fruit trees in East Oakland, hosting delicious Shabbat dinners (Martha Jewart is my alter ego!), or planning my next getaway on this wild and beautiful planet.
I’m so excited to step into this role and bring my whole self—educator, parent, ritualist, and community curator—to the work ahead. I’m especially eager to build out robust programming that centers deep embodiment of Jewish magic and ritual for young people and families, helping instill the incredible medicine we’ve inherited—and the tools to reshape it for the chaos and beauty of right now. I’m also deeply honored to help build a teen program that roots our next generation in social justice, community interconnectedness, and fierce self-love.
Natalie Boskin
B' Mitzvah Program Instructor
natalie@orshalomsf.org
Natalie Boskin (they/them) is a Torah enthusiast who learns in both the academic world and in Jewish community. They hold an MA in Jewish Studies from the Graduate Theological Union, are an incoming faculty fellow for SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva, and have over a decade of experience as a Jewish educator for folks of all ages. Natalie is particularly passionate about guiding young people through transformative B' Mitzvah experiences, and they are thrilled to join the team that guides Or Shalom's class through these powerful rites of passage! Natalie was born and bred in Oakland, where they continue to live today with their cat, Rosemary.
Ben Lieberman
Community School & Sunday Family Program Instructor
ben@orshalomsf.org
Ben Lieberman (he/him) is originally from Southern California, but has been living in San Francisco since 2018 after moving here attend SF State! He earned degrees in Jewish Studies and Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. The perfect combination for someone who wanted to bring his love of Jewish summer camp into academic life, and eventually his career. He attended Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa from age 13 until age 22, with his last year being the Education and Programs Director for the summer. That was the jumping off point for where he is in his career today! Since then, he has worked for several Jewish organizations in the city, and continues to work part-time teaching at Congregation Beth Sholom and at Wise Sons Deli as their Jewish Community Liaison.
Helping kids discover what being Jewish means to them is his passion. When he’s not doing that you can usually find him riding his bike in the park, enjoying live music, or reading some cool comic books.
Molly Seligman
Family Alef-Bet Instructor
molly@orshalomsf.org
Molly Seligman (they/them) grew up and became a B' Mitzvah here at Or Shalom! They previously taught 3rd/4th grade at the Or Shalom Community School and are so happy to return again to teach the Family Alef-Bet Class this year. Molly is fascinated by the way that each individual letter and word of Biblical Hebrew contains a history of Jewish history and culture.
Molly is also a Clinical Health Educator at La Clinica de la Raza's School-Based Health Center at Oakland Tech High School (i.e., a fully-functioning health clinic based on a high school campus). They provide reproductive health care, nutrition counseling, healthy relationships counseling, and gender-affirming care in English and Spanish and lead a clinic internship for teens.
Outside of work, you can find Molly swimming laps in the pool, floating in the Bay, or reading a book under a tree.
Learn About Our Programs!
At Or Shalom, we believe that we are not just passing the next generation the beauty of Judaism, but also giving them the opportunity to remake it as their own—creating the Judaism that our world, our individual communities, and our own spirits need in this moment in time.
Through engaged community action, critical thinking, creative expression, and opportunities for deep spiritual blossoming, our children develop positive Jewish connections to tradition, family, friends, and themselves. This year, our core Or Shalom Community School curriculum will dive into the beauty and mystery rooted in the elements around us, allowing young people to embody and sense into the Jewishness that bridges mind, body, and spirit.
Our programs cater to different needs—from immersive weekly learning for kids, to field trips and family participation, to B’Mitzvah preparation and Hebrew language learning.
All families are embraced, including unaffiliated, single- and multi-parent, multi-faith, multi-ethnic, multi-abled, and LGBTQ+ families. Financial aid is available, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All of our programs are open to members and non-members—we welcome you to join this beautiful, ever-evolving community!
Click here to find out more about Reconstructionist Judaism.
Here's a quick breakdown of our 2025-2026 programming:
Or Shalom Community School
Designed for: Youth in grades 1st - 6th.
Program runs: 4:30 – 6:00 pm, Weekly on Tuesdays, October 2025 - May 2026 (23 sessions).
Focus: Hands-on learning with a progressive curriculum. Immersive activities include art and outdoor classes. We hold two Shabbat services (one in fall and one in spring). Multi-age groups and small class sizes support friendship/mentorship across ages.
Location: Bernal Heights, both in the office and outdoors.
Cost: $1,050 for members, $1,350 for new members (tuition and membership are bundled together).
Learn more about our Community School
Sunday Family Program
Designed for: Families with children aged 4-10.
Program runs: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Monthly on Sundays, Sept 2025 - May 2026 (9 sessions).
Focus: Building Jewish community and experiential practice through field trips and hands-on collaborations! From making diverse Jewish foods to celebrating holidays together, we explore contemporary Jewish life through activities and accessible adventures.
Location: Various locations throughout San Francisco, rotating monthly.
Cost: $360 per family regardless of membership status.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SUNDAY FAMILY PROGRAM
B’Mitzvah Program
Designed for: 7th graders and older students pursuing a B’ Mitzvah in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Program runs: Two Wednesdays a month from 4:30 – 6:00pm, Sept 2025 - May 2026, with additional family education and one-on-one sessions with Rabbi Faryn.
Focus: A joyful journey of Jewish identity and rites of passage, Torah learning, and community collaboration! Students and families will prepare for their individual B' Mitzvah ceremonies while collectively designing and carrying out a social justice Mitzvah project.
Location: Bernal Heights.
Cost: $3,300 for members, $3,800 for new members (tuition and membership are bundled together).
Learn More about our B'Mitzvah Program
Family Alef-Bet Class
Designed for: Families with children in 4th-7th grades
Program runs: 6:30 – 7:30 pm, Wednesday nights, Sep – Dec 2025 (11 sessions).
Focus: Young people and their grown-ups (parents, godparents, grandparents, etc!) learning to read through the Hebrew alphabet together. Our class is also open to members in our community without children, making this a super special space to build across age and difference!
Location: Bernal Heights.
Cost: $550 per family regardless of membership status.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR FAMILY ALEF-BET CLASS
Shabbat Shalomies
Designed for: Families with children aged 1-4.
Program runs: 10:00am - 12:00pm, on the first Saturday of each month, starting in August 2025.
Focus: Join us for a monthly toddler Shabbat boogie, designed for families with children ages 1–4, where we warmly welcome the whole mishpucha—grandparents, older siblings, and extended family too!
Location: Precita Park & Day Street Park
Cost: Free!
LEARN MORE ABOUT SHABBAT SHALOMIES
Or Shalom Jewish Community
333 Cortland Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: (415) 469-5542
admin@orshalomsf.org
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