Jonathan Bayer and the Adar Brass Band will perform as part of the SFJCC’s Rosh Hashanah festival on Sunday, Sept. 29.
JCCSF
With ongoing strife and tensions running high in the Middle East, and communities around the globe struggling to find pathways to peace, now is a good time to pause, take a breath and reset. And with the approaching Jewish high holiday season — beginning with its New Year’s celebration, Rosh Hashanah — there are many opportunities to do just that.
Greet friends with shanah tovah (wishes for a good year) as this holiday season approaches. Welcome the start of Jewish New Year 5785 on Rosh Hashanah, with celebrations observed from the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 2, through Friday, Oct. 4.
How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?
Break out the brisket and noodle kugels as the holiday is typically celebrated with a festive meal in the company of family, loved ones and neighbors. And eating things that are sweet, like special round loaves of challah bread and apples dipped in honey, are among the ways in which those who observe the holiday can symbolically wish for a sweet year ahead.
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What’s a tashlich?
A tashlich is a somewhat lesser known ceremonial holiday activity. Literally meaning “to cast off,” it involves tossing bits of bird seed or bread crumbs into bodies of flowing water, symbolizing letting go of the regrets and mistakes of the past year. There is often a trumpeting of the shofar (a ram’s horn) at these events to ring in and welcome a new year.
Round braided sweet challah bread symbolizes sweetness in the new year.
Che Fico Alimentari
How does Yom Kippur fit into the holidays?
Rosh Hashanah’s lighter tone is followed by the more solemn Yom Kippur holiday, which occurs this year from Friday through Saturday, Oct. 11-12. With a distinctly sober tone, this Jewish high holiday focuses on prayerful introspection and reflection, and typically includes a one-day fast. There is beauty in the observance of Yom Kippur as well, with services featuring soulful musical offerings including the much loved “Kol Nidre.”
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Check out the Chronicle’s guide to local events and happenings honoring Jewish New Year.
Sweet Beginnings: Rosh Hashanah Festival
Enjoy high holiday traditions and family-friendly crafts, laughter yoga, an SF Beekeepers exhibit, a mahjongg lounge and live music from Jonathan Bayer and the Adar Brass Band. Donations of non-perishable items for the JCCSF’s annual food drive — happening through October — are appreciated.
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. Free-$18, reservations required. Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. 415-292-1200. www.jccsf.org
Rosh Hashanah Extravaganza
Jewish Baby Network and the PJ Library host a celebration featuring song and dance in the meadow, apples and honey, sweet challah, shofar sounds and more. Bring a blanket and snacks. Geared toward families with children, newborn through 36 months. All are welcome, including unaffiliated, single and multi-parent, multi-faith, multi-abled and LGBTQ+ families.
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3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. Free, $18 suggested donation; registration required. Mothers Meadow, Golden Gate Park, 573 MLK Jr. Dr., S.F. 650-688-3080. www.jewishbabynetwork.org
Israel at the Crossroads: Where Do We Go From Here?
In the midst of deep domestic disagreements and an evolving multi-front war, Israel is at a historic crossroads. Join an engaging and timely conversation with former Israeli Vice Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and professor of Israeli studies Amichai Magen.
6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30. $36-$40.25, reservations required. Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 650-223-8700. www.paloaltojcc.org
Clockwise from top left: Producer-pianist Ronny Michael Greenberg, violinist Elizabeth Castro Greenberg, cantor-baritone Simon Barrad and countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum will perform live as part of “Taste of Talent” event on Tuesday, Oct. 1, in San Francisco.
JCCSF
Taste of Talent: A Musical Celebration
Producer-pianist Ronny Michael Greenberg leads a musical event featuring cantor of Congregation Sherith Israel, baritone Simon Barrad; countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen and violinist Elizabeth Castro Greenberg. The group will perform festive Klezmer and traditional Jewish songs, classical works by Mahler and Vaughan Williams and a “Hamilton” remake of the “Adon Olam” sabbath hymn.
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1:15-2:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. Free, reservations required. Pottruck Family Atrium, SFJCC, 3200 California St., S.F. 415-292-1200. www.jccsf.org
Tawonga Erev Rosh Hashanah Celebration
The family-friendly outdoor program set in a redwood grove will feature traditional prayers and holiday songs led by former Camp Tawonga Director Deborah Newbrun and award-winning song leader Isaac Zones. Live music with Roger Sideman, Gordon Allen and Casey Cohen round out the program. Bring your own shofar to participate in a community sounding of the horn heralding in a new year.
3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2. Free-$118, reservations required. Joaquin Miller Park, 3600 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland. 415-543-2267. www.tawonga.org
Rosh Hashanah Dinner Under the Stars
Chabad SF is set to sponsor a community event, with morning and evening holiday services, an evening cocktail hour and dinner featuring the tastes and traditions of Rosh Hashanah.
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6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2. Free-$108.55, reservations required. 620 Jones, 620 Jones St., S.F. 415-668-6178. www.chabadsf.org
Camp Tawonga’s Erev Rosh Hashanah celebration will include a performance from Isaac Zones on Wednesday, Oct. 2, in Oakland.
Courtesy of Camp Tawonga
Rosh Hashanah Community Dinner
Join friends and family in the East Bay for a traditional Rosh Hashanah supper, spiced up with songs and holiday insights.
7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2. $25-$36, reservations required. Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 3014 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. 510-545-6770. www.jewishoakland.org
Chabad Oakland: Shofar at the Lake
Participate in a community tashlich ceremony and shofar sounding. Themes of renewal and rejuvenation and a spirit of communal solidarity prevail, as participants cast off that which does not serve the greater good.
3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. Free, reservations recommended. Lake Merritt Pergola, 599 El Embarcadero, Oakland. 510-545-6770. www.jewishoakland.org
Rosh Hashanah in the Park
The Oshman Family Jewish Community Center presents a new year celebration out in nature. Connect with the meaning of the holiday through activities for children and adults. Bring a picnic to enjoy. Challah, grape juice, wine and honey will be provided. Limited to 80 families.
4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. $41 per family, reservations required. Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills. 650-223-8700. www.paloaltojcc.org
Reboot and the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco host the community “Ctrl Alt Del: Tashlique 2024” featuring tashlich activity and horns trumpeting in a joyful new year on Thursday, Oct. 3, in San Francisco.
Reboot SF
Ctrl Alt Del: Tashlique 2024
Celebrate tashlich with a modern twist, presented by Reboot and the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. Organizers plan to offer environmentally friendly bird seed for casting away negative energy from the previous year. Participants are encouraged to bring their own shofars to trumpet in a joyful year alongside some of San Francisco’s finest musicians, including members of the Jazz Mafia, the Irish Pipers Band and the African Orthodox Church of John Will-I-Am Coltrane.
5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. Free, reservations required. Crissy Field, 1199 East Beach, S.F. 415-292-1200. www.rebooting.com
Community Tashlich and Picnic
Join the progressive Chochmat HaLev synagogue, Urban Adamah community farm and Base in celebrating Rosh Hashanah with a picnic followed by a Tashlich ceremony at East Berkeley’s Codornices Creek. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch or potluck item to share. Light food and beverages will be provided.
1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Free-$36, reservations required. Urban Adamah, 1151 Sixth St., Berkeley. 510-649-1595. www.urbanadamah.org
Dip an apple honey and celebrate a sweet new year for Rosh Hashanah.
Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle
Healing Through Art-Making
Join the JCCSF and Jewish Studio Project for an art-making workshop to help process grief and honor healing from the complex challenges of Oct. 7 and the past year.
4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. $18-$54, reservations required. Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. 415-292-1200. www.jccsf.org
October 7 Yizkor Memorial Service
Congregation Emanu-El will host a community memorial service in partnership with the Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest and led by Rabbis and Cantors from congregations around the Bay Area. Come together as one to remember, honor and mourn the victims of the deadly attack.
7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7. Free, security screening and reservations required; Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. www.jccsf.org
An Evening of Remembrance and Hope
Join a solemn memorial event marking the one year anniversary of the October terror attack at a music festival in Israel. Gather and honor the victims through moments of silence and stories of resilience, bringing the community together in solidarity, prayer and reflection.
7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7. Free, reservations required. Freidenrich Community Park, Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 650-223-8700. www.paloaltojcc.org
Sound practitioner Serena Malkani (pictured) will lead “Immerse: A Sound Bath and Water Ritual for the New Year” at the Osher Marin JCC on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Serena Malkani/Osher Marin JCC
Immerse: A Sound Bath and Water Ritual for the New Year
Cleanse your mind and soul for the new Jewish year with a sound bath and water ritual led by sound practitioner Serena Malkani. Start on land then move into the water (an indoor pool) with crystal bowls and other sound tools. Light snacks will be served. Wear a bathing suit with comfortable clothes over it. Bring a towel, water bottle and journal/pen.
6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. $18-$54, registration required. Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road., San Rafael. 415-444-8000. www.marinjcc.org
Tawonga ‘Kol Nidre’ Service
Camp Tawonga’s annual Rosh Hashanah celebration branches out this year with an Erev Yom Kippur event. Starting with the famed “Kol Nidre” musical service, this early service is set in a redwood grove.
3:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 11. $36-$118, reservations required; for ages 13 and older. Joaquin Miller Park, 3600 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland. 415-543-2267. www.tawonga.org
Jewish Gateways ‘Kol Nidre’ Service
This erev (early) Yom Kippur service has a focus on creating an open environment for participants of all backgrounds to connect with Jewish traditions in ways that are personal and meaningful. No previous experience with the Jewish community or knowledge of Hebrew is required to attend.
7-9 p.m. Oct. 11. $70 suggested donation; reservations required. Jewish Community Center of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 510-545-9977. www.jewishgateways.org
Reach Anne Schrager: [email protected]
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