Shabbat - Pray, Sing, Learn, Eat, and Schmooze

Shabbat, which is observed from Friday evening through Saturday evening, is the culmination of the Jewish week. 

At B'nai Emunah we offer a number of opportunities to celebrate Shabbat.  These include:

• Friday Evening Services and Kiddush
• Potluck Shabbat
• Cab Shabbat
• Blues Shabbat
• Saturday Morning Services and Kiddush
• Family Shabbat
• Cookie Minyan Youth Service
• Happy Hour Havdallah

For more information e-mail office@bnaiemunahsf.org or call 415-664-7373.

Friday Evening Services and Kiddush

Friday Evening Services begin at 7 PM and last approximately one hour.  The service features communal singing, inspiring readings, and silent prayer, affording us a chance to leave the work-week behind.  There may be a brief story of word of Torah by Rabbi Mark or Cantor Linda.

Friday Evening Services are normally followed by challah, wine (or grape juice), and desert with coffee and tea.  People often stay for about forty-five minutes to schmooze.  On the last Friday of the month, services will be followed by a potluck dinner.

Learn more about Services at B'nai Emunah.

For more information e-mail office@bnaiemunahsf.org or call 415-664-7373.

Potluck Shabbat

On the last Friday evening of the month, B'nai Emunah hosts Potluck Shabbat.  This event usually attracts between 20 to 40 people.

Services begin at 7 PM and end about 8 PM.  After services the congregation moves into the Social Hall and is seated at long tables.  We chant Kiddush and HaMotzi together, and we sing about half a dozen songs chosen by the congregants.  A potluck meal follows, and the evening concludes with the chanting of Grace After Meals.

Participants are encouraged to bring dairy, vegetarian, or fish (wtih fins and scales) to share.  Please review our kashrut guidelines.

Learn more about Services at B'nai Emunah.

For more information e-mail office@bnaiemunahsf.org or call 415-664-7373.

Cab Shabbat

Come welcome Shabbat with a Carlebach-style Kabalat Shabbat service including soulful community singing, followed by wine and food pairings, including a Cabarnet.  The service begins at 7:00 PM and the tastings at approximately 8:30 PM, so have a nosh before services.  Non-alcoholic beverages will also be served.

Learn more about Services at B'nai Emunah.

For more information e-mail office@bnaiemunahsf.org or call 415-664-7373.

Blues Shabbat

Join Saul Kaye for a Friday night service with a combination of blues and more traditional melodies, followed by a kiddush.  The service begins at 7:00 PM and lasts approximately an hour and a half.

Learn more about Services at B'nai Emunah.

For more information e-mail office@bnaiemunahsf.org or call 415-664-7373.

Saturday Morning Services and Kiddush

Saturday morning is the main service of the week with between 25 to 40 people normally in attendance. 

The Preliminary Service begins at 9:45 AM, with the Saturday Morning Service (Shacharit) beginning around 10 AM.  The Torah Service begins about 10:45 AM; we read seven aliyot and maftir with the readings based on USCJ's Triennial Cycle.  The Torah reading is followed by a Drash, normally given by Rabbi Mark, and a brief Musaf service.

Every Saturday morning a group of us gather on the bimah during the Musaf Kedusha, and we dance in a circle as we sing L'Dor v'Dor declaring how G-d is glorified from generation to generation.

Services end usually between Noon and 12:15 PM and a Kiddush Lunch follows.  People often stay around for an hour of more eating and socializing.

Learn more about Services at B'nai Emunah.

For more information e-mail office@bnaiemunahsf.org or call 415-664-7373.

Family Shabbat

Family Shabbat brings families with younger children together to celebrate Shabbat in an informal atmosphere with songs and stories.  Mimi Greisman leads the festivities.

We meet in a room adjacent to the sanctuary.  Our program will include Jewish content, music, guitar, singing, stories, puppets, rainbow parachute, bubbles, and more.

Coffee and bagels will be served for the parents.

Family Shabbat has been scheduled for the first Saturday morning of the month from 10:30 AM to noon.

Please feel free to share this invitation with friends and family. Please print and distribute copies of our flyer.

For more information e-mail office@bnaiemunahsf.org or call 415-664-7373.

Cookie Minyan Youth Service

The Cookie Minyan is designed for youth 6 to 12 years old, although all are welcome.  It includes songs, stories, and, of course, cookies.

The youth service will be held on the second Saturday morning of the month from 10:45 to 11:15 AM. It will be led by Rabbi Mark in conjunction with our teenagers.

Happy Hour Havdallah

Happy Hour Havdallah is a monthly get-together for the 20ish to 40ish crowd where the kids stay home.  We're aiming to bring Havdallah out of the synagogue and into the night life.  HHH meets in bars, restaurants and at the homes of BE members to give people both a connection to their Judaism and a fun Saturday night out.  If you are interested, please contact Anna Bleviss Whitlatch at anna@bnaiemunahsf.org for access to the invite-only Facebook page.