ELUL 5785

Reengage with teshuvah — repentance and return — as we begin our High Holy Days season with the month of Elul.

Sing, learn, reflect, listen and more! Rejuvenate yourself as we begin yet another season together in community.

  • Erev Shmia: An Evening of Listening

    Tuesday, September 16, 6:30 p.m.
    Following evening minyan at 6:00 p.m

    The world is full of bad news. Before we process one crisis, another one strikes. The news feels like whiplash. We try to be so many things to so many people. It is exhausting.

    Are we listening to each other? 

    Join us for our second listening circle in the month of Elul: sharing, heart-opening, connecting and listening through the lens of teshuvah.

    Registration Appreciated

  • High Holy Days

    After our month of preparation during Elul, we hope you will join us for the High Holy Days. At Beth Sholom, we are committed to offering meaningful programming for everyone during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. From traditional services, to meditation, to spiritual outdoor experiences, to community dinners, to musical prayer, to multi-sensory childcare programming — we welcome everyone to enter 5786 feeling spiritually rejuvenated.

    Details & Registration

  • Judaism’s Best Ideas

    Mondays After Minyan, ~8:20 –9:10 a.m.
    In-Person and on Zoom

    In a chaotic world, it is critical to remember who we are at our very core. Based on Rabbi Arthur Green’s book Judaism’s 10 Best Ideas, Rabbi Russell with help prepare us for this season with our High Holy Days Top 3:

    August 25 — Teshuvah*
    September 8 — Tefilah
    September 15 — Tzedakah

    *Rosh Hodesh Elul! Come for minyan at 7:15 a.m. to sing in and celebrate the new month.


    Thank you to all who joined us!

  • Selichot

    Saturday, September 13 in the evening
    Congregation Beth Sholom

    Join in this meaningful tradition that emphasizes themes of forgiveness and introspection, and feel the energy of those final days that lead us into Rosh Hashanah. We welcome you to join us in changing the Torah covers to white as part of our spiritual preparation. Following Havdalah, the Selichot service creates an atmosphere of solemnity and anticipation as our Jewish community begins its spiritual journey toward the Days of Awe.


    Thank you to all who joined us!

  • The Place of All Possibility by R. Adina Allen Book Group

    Wednesdays, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. on Zoom

    How is human creativity part of our blessing and responsibility as humans? How can we meet our Creator in creativity? How might this help us do teshuvah? Join Rabbi Richman for four sessions exploring Rabbi Adina Allen’s rich book exploring Torah as creativity and creativity as Torah. As we read, we will look more deeply at some of the Torah sources Allen brings and reflect on our own creativity and teshuvah. 

    August 27
    September 3
    September 10

    Come to one session, come to all sessions. All are welcome.


    Thank you to all who joined us!

  • Makor Or Retreat

    Sunday, August 24, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    A Makor Or tradition — and one of our favorite retreats of the Jewish year — a day of preparing for the High Holiday season.

    Join Norman Fischer and R. Dorothy Richman for a day-long soak in Jewish meditation practice on the first day of the month of Elul. Listen to the still small voice of your soul. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome. Please join us in person at Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco or on Zoom. A recording of the retreat will be sent to everyone who registers.

    Thank you to all who joined us!