Congregation Sherith Israel

SF Faith Leaders Stand United Against Hate in Charlottesville and Our Backyard
August 15, 2017
by the San Francisco Interfaith Council and the Jewish Community Relations Council

San Francisco - First and foremost, we offer our prayers for the victims and the families of the dead in Charlottesville, Virginia, and all who were traumatized by the hateful violence that ensued there.

Sometimes when horrific and deadly acts are perpetrated in the name of hate, such as our nation witnessed on August 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, we are tempted to limit those incidents to the context in which they occurred. Charlottesville is a place intimately identified with our nation's painful and divisive Civil War history, and it is easy to think that such an event could only happen in that region of the country. Read full article.

Am I My Brother's Keeper?
August 14, 2017
by Rabbi Jessica Zimmerman Graf

“I have set before you blessing and curse,” we read in the first line of this week’s Torah portion, Re’eh. (Why couldn't God just have created blessing and stopped there?) The next two verses instruct us that it is human behavior that will determine whether we experience blessing or curse. As violence and bigotry seem to be consuming our society, it is time to learn... Read full Drash.

Embraced by our breathtaking historic sanctuary, Sherith Israel is a place to make Jewish friends and create Jewish memories.

We are a community that comes together to sing and celebrate our sacred holidays and festivals, mark the milestones in our lives and rededicate ourselves to social justice.

We are an innovative and open congregation that welcomes spiritual and secular Jews, Jews by choice and interfaith couples—whatever your religious background, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Whether you’re looking for a Jewish education for your children or yourself, or looking for a warm Jewish community, visit us. Look around. We look forward to welcoming you.

We don't just observe Judaism. We celebrate it.

• The J Weekly's column "Jew In The Pew": Under the dome with Carlebach and Craig, in a great temple of Reform. Click here to read the full article in the "J".
• Frances Bertetta was in her late 20s when she attended a bar mitzvah and fell in love with Judaism. Seventy years later, she is converting from Catholicism and becoming a member at Congregation Sherith Israel in San Francisco. Click here to read the full article in the "J".
• Our retrofit story is on the front page of this month’s New Fillmore! Click here to read.
• On June 7, 2017 Max A. Cherney's article "Sherith Israel cements its future with seismic retrofit" appeared in the J. Weekly. Click here to read the full article.
• Rabbi Jessica Zimmerman Graf wrote a commentary for Reform Voices of Torah. Click here to read