Have Fun and Get Involved! The diversity in the Beth Sholom community reflects the uniqueness and great diversity of Klal Yisrael (all of the Jewish community).
Click each link to read more about the community and social action groups at Beth Sholom:
Community Interest Groups
Dr. Ernest M. Weitz Breakfast Club
Increasing involvement in Jewish issues though monthly meetings featuring guest speakers. Meets quarterly on Sunday mornings (except during summer hiatus).
CBS Book Club
A book club for all readers: men, women, students, teenagers. Meets one Sunday morning per month at Beth Sholom.
Women's Book Group
A place to meet and discuss books of Jewish and general interest. Meets the third Thursday of the month.
Young Adults
A welcoming atmosphere for young adults to meet new friends and develop their Jewish identity. For more information or to get involved email Marnie.
Couples Kehillah A community group which brings together young professionals for fun, social action, and exploration of their Jewish heritage.
Keshet Chavurah (LGBT Community)
A group for Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Jews to gather together to create visibility, support, and awareness for issues related to LGBT.
Beth Sholom Professional Network
Provides a strong, supportive, and dynamic forum for all congregants who seek professional and business development, job searching, and informational exchange.
Social Action Programs
Chicken Soupers
Preparing and delivering kosher meals to people with AIDS, chronic illness, disabilities, and those who are homebound.
Shechinah Project
Serving the various needs of CBS' new parents, bereaved families, and the homebound, elderly, and ill.
Blood Drive
Organizing and overseeing the biannual blood donation clinic at Beth Sholom. Currently on hiatus.
The Nachamu ("Comfort") Mental Health Support Group
The Nachamu ("Comfort") Mental Health Support Group is for people whose lives are affected by mental illness, including persons with an illness, family members, and friends. We will gather in a safe and confidential setting to share our experiences and support each other.
Dr. Ernest M. Weitz Breakfast Club
Newman Fisher, President
On Sunday, June 9 starting at 9 a.m., Dr. David Gerbi, a Jungian psychoanalyst based in Rome, Italy who served as the World Organization of Libyan Jews’ representative to the Libyan National Transitional Council in 2011, will share his story and the genesis of a new theater production “Refugee Rebel – A True Story of Suffering, Love, Faith and Miracles” coming to the JCCSF in October. Breakfast and babysitting will be provided.
Speaker Biography
FROM FEAR TO FAITH
A JEWISH LIBYAN REBEL
Dr. David Gerbi, a Jungian psychoanalyst based in Rome, Italy served as the World Organization of Libyan Jews’ representative to the Libyan National Transitional Council in 2011. His goals were to promote a truly democratic process with recognition of minority rights.
His journey began in 1967 when, at the age of 12, he and his family were forced to flee their homeland after the Six-Day War between much of the Arab states and Israel. Settling in Rome, Italy, he shares an amazing story of individual and collective pain transformed over time.
Professionally, outside of being a doctor in psychology, he is an actor, playwright and dancer. His mission is to continue to fight the intolerance that still remains in his native Libya not only with politics and diplomacy of the mind but also with art and culture of the heart.
He will share his story and the genesis of a new production to be performed at the SFJCC in October “Refugee Rebel - A True Story of Suffering, Love, Faith and Miracles.”
This is the 12th season of the Breakfast Club which presents stimulating and interesting talks on Jewish themes, accompanied by a delicious breakfast prepared by Carol Weitz. The Breakfast Club will meet quarterly on Sunday mornings. Babysitting will be provided.
Dues are $25 per year for an individual, $40 for a couple, or $5 per meeting. If you have any questions please contact Marnie Krell at or 415.221.8736, ext. 110. We look forward to seeing you there!
Meetings (Sundays):
January 13: Cynthia Zeiden, board member of Sino Judaic Institute, on research documentary about the Jews in Kaifeng April 7: Update from Annual AIPAC Policy Conference June 9: Dr. David Gerbi
who served as the World Organization of Libyan Jews’ representative to the Libyan National Transitional Council in 2011
CBS Book Club
Stuart Blecher, Sol Silver, Howard Gordon, Marilyn Kohn.
We plan to meet in the Rabin Library at Beth Sholom once a month on Sundays, after morning Minyan, at 9:15 a.m. All are welcome!
Next Meeting: TBD, 9:30 A.M.
Adrian Mervish will be a guest speaker on the subject of Sartre's late thoughts on organized religion and Judaism.
We will be reading two works concerning Sartre:
1) Hope Now: the 1980 Interviews
2) New Perspectives on Sartre by Mervich and van den Hoven, one chapter, entitled "SARTRE, FRATERNITY, AND JEWISH MESSIANISM," approx. pp. 75- 95.
Future Meetings: TBD
Please join us if you are interested. We welcome the suggestion of other titles.
Women's Book Group
Jean Tepper, Coordinator
The Beth Sholom Women's Book Group recently reached a milestone membership of 12 active participants. This summer we welcomed three new members who have enhanced our meetings, and we look forward to other new members who might be interested in joining us.
The Women’s Book Group meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Rabin Library at CBS on the third Thursday of each month, unless holidays intervene. We finish our discussions around 9 p.m. We try to schedule our reading list at least two months ahead of time.
We select our reading based on group interest (we discuss what to read at our meetings), book availability (must be in paperback and also on the shelves of the local libraries), author (we like to read Jewish women authors but are never doctrinaire about it), and topic. We try to vary our discussions when circumstances permit. During the last year, we were able to discuss Rashi's Daughters with author Maggie Anton on a conference phone call, and we read Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and then watched the film as a group.
Meetings (third Thursdays):
September 20 - The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
October 18 - I am Forbidden by Anouk Markovits
November 15 - The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
December - no meeting
January 17 - The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
February 21 - What We Talk about when we talk about Anne Frank by Nathan Englander
March 21 - March by Geraldine Brooks
April 18 - State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
May 23 - The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
June 20 - Nobody Said Not to Go: The Life, Loves, and Adventures of Emily Hahn by Ken Cuthbert
July 18 - Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
August 15 - Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
Congregation Beth Sholom is developing its Young Adult Community. It is a
welcoming atmosphere where people will be able to develop their Jewish
identity as well as meet new friends. This is a grassroots effort in
which we can use all possible help that we can get. Feel free to contact
Marnie Krell in the office if you are interested in assisting. We hope to see you at one of the upcoming Shabbats!
Couples Kehillah
NEXT COUPLES KEHILLAH EVENT: TBD
Please let us know if you are interested in attending future events with this group by emailing cbsck1@gmail.com.
Beth Sholom Couples Kehillah:
A community group which brings together young professionals for fun, social action, and exploration of their Jewish heritage. Couples Kehillah generally meets once a month.
Keshet
Keshet (LGBT) (meaning "rainbow"), the Gay and Lesbian Chavurah/Outreach Program of Congregation Beth Sholom, was formed in December of 1997 for the purpose of socializing and discussing issues related to being lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgendered in the context of the Conservativemovement of Judaism.
Beth Sholom Professional Network
Beth Sholom Professional Network
Chairs: Lisa Berkelhammer, Rebekah Jackson Sapirstein
In February we had a special guest presentation: Career and Business Consultant Deborah Gavrin Frangquist will discuss "Looking while Leaping: Making good enough business and career decisions when the future is hard to predict."
The Network:
The Beth Sholom Professional Network is dedicated to supporting the professional and business lives of our congregants. We offer friendly, informal networking opportunities to all interested congregants. The entire synagogue community is encouraged to actively support us by making referrals and introductions to Beth Sholom professionals and businesses.
The LinkedIn Group:
The Beth Sholom SF LinkedIn Business and Professional Group is the primary showcase of Beth Sholom's diverse wealth of talent and expertise. With over 85 active participants, the LinkedIn Group provides immediate visibility and communication within and beyond the community. Any congregant who wishes to join may do so by going to www.linkedin.com. Search under groups for "Beth Sholom SF Business and Professional."
Preparing and delivering hearty Jewish meals to people with AIDS, chronic illness, disabilities , and those who are home-bound. A joint program with Congregation Sherith Israel through Jewish Family and Children's Services.
Meeting days are generally the third or fourth Sunday of each month, either at Congregation Beth Sholom or Congregation Sherith Israel. Cooking is from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Delivery begins at 3 p.m.
Chicken Soupers' next meeting is on Sunday, June 23 at 9 a.m.
The Shechinah Project helps members in need through acts of loving kindness. Assistance for the sick and homebound, elderly, bereaved, and new parents is provided by cooking meals, leading or attending shivaminyanim, running errands, providing transportation, and conducting home and hospital visits. All members are warmly encouraged to take part with whatever time commitment they can afford and fulfill the mitzvah of caring for one's neighbors. We provide volunteers with training and ongoing support.
For more information or to make a referral, contact the Synagogue office, or for home visits, contact Vicky Prager, Home Visit Coordinator.
The Nachamu ("Comfort") Mental Health Support Group
The Nachamu ("Comfort") Mental Health Support Group is for people whose lives are affected by mental illness, including persons with an illness, family members, and friends. For more information, call 415.221.8736, ext. 101. The Nachamu (“Comfort”) Network, the mental illness support program of Congregation Beth Sholom. 24 HR CRISIS HOTLINE: 415.781.0500.
The Nachamu ("Comfort") Mental Health Support Group
Drop-In
4TH wednesdays, 7–9 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: JUNE 26
For people affected by mental illness, including those with an illness, family members and friends. We will gather in a safe setting to share our experiences and support each other. These ongoing meetings are free and open to all. For information, e-mail Maureen Samson or call the Beth Sholom office at 415.221.8736.
Upcoming Meetings in the Rabin Library (4th Wednesdays): January 23, February 27, March 27, April 23, May 22, June 26, July 24, August 28, NO September Meeting*, October 23, November 27, December 18 (3rd Wednesday)
*Because the September meeting would conflict with Sukkot prayer services at Beth Sholom, there wil be no meeting there that month. We urge people to attend the NAMI support group meeting instead. It will be on September 11 at 1010 Gough Street, San Francisco, at 6:30 p.m.
Jewish Prisoners Outreach Project
Judah Rosen, Chair
Supporting Jewish inmates in California prisons. Participation includes periodic visits to Folsom State Prison and sending letters to the prisoners. Our goal is to link prisoners to the Jewish world while they are incarcerated. For more information please contact Judah Rosen.
Next visit:TBD
For several years now, Beth Sholom has had a Prison Outreach Program, where our members interact with inmates at Folsom Prison who are part of the Jewish prison population. Our program has two separate aspects: one where our members can become "pen pals" with individual inmates; and one where we as a group visit the prison.
The Jewish program for those inmates who are interested includes courses in Jewish theology, Hebrew reading and speaking, as well as individual counseling. They of course have services and celebrate holidays as well.
Photo: Volunteers visited with inmates at Folsom State Prison before Rosh Hashanah 2011.
Get Involved 
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