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 the second Sunday of the month (except during summer hiatus).

Women's Book Group
A place to meet and discuss books of Jewish and general interest. Meets the third Thursday of the month.

Young Adult Shabbat
A welcoming atmosphere for young adults to meet new friends and develop their Jewish identity.
This program will kick-off in January 2012. For more information or to get involved email Marnie. 

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.

Jewish Prisoners Outreach Project
Visit and exchange letters with Jewish incarcerated peoples in the Bay Area.

Blood Drive
Organizing and overseeing the biannual blood donation clinic at Beth Sholom.

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

The Dr. Ernest M. Weitz Breakfast Club meets the second Sunday of each month (except summer months). Meetings begin with a sit-down breakfast, there is a brief business meeting followed by an informal presentation on topics of interest to the Jewish Community. Speakers have included many community leaders of the San Francisco Jewish Community, along with members of Beth Sholom. A delicious breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. when the meeting begins. 

Dues: $25/year individual, $40/year couples, $5 single visit

The next meeting is Sunday, February 11.  

Additional dates for 2012 (second Sundays except where noted):

March 11, 2012
April 15, 2012 (3rd Sunday)
May 13, 2012
June 10, 2012

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. 

Upcoming Meetings (third Thursdays):
February 16: The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain
March 15: Last Night at the Lobster, by Stewart O'Nan

Please do not hesitate to contact longtime members Jean Tepper Segal, and Harriet Sollod with any questions. 

Young Adult Shabbat

Mark Your Calendars!

Shabbat Services and Dinner
Friday, February 24, 7:30 p.m.
Beth Sholom is partnering with the San Francisco Interfaith Council for the first Young Adult Event of 2012. For more details or to help out, contact Marnie.

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! 

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. Sanford Friedman, chair. 

Please contact Kenny Altman if you are interested in the Keshet program. 

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."

For more information please contact Lisa Berkelhammer and Rebekah Jackson Sapirstein. 

Chicken Soupers

Judy Leash, Chair

Preparing and delivering hearty Jewish meals to people with AIDS, chronic illness, disabilites, and those who are homebound. 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, January 22, 9:30 a.m. 

For more information contact Judy Leash.   

Schechinah Project

Vicky Prager, Home Visit Coordinator

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

beginning 2012: 3rd wednesdays,  7–9 p.m. 

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. You can download the flyer here: Mental Health Support Group. Meets the 3rd Wednesdays beginning January 2012 (a few 2nd Wednesdays due to holidays).

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: Spring 2012

Photo: Volunteers visited with inmates at Folsom State Prison before Rosh Hashanah 2011.

Blood Drive

Marsha Glantz, Coordinator

Watch this space for announcement of the Spring 2012 Blood Drive.
Congregation Beth Sholom holds biannual blood drives. You may call the office for more information or leave a message for an appointment to donate blood by calling 415.221.8736, ext. 121, or e-mail Marsha Glantz.