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Shabbat Services

Update – March 24, 2020

Due to Covid-19, we have suspended all in-person community gatherings, including Shabbat services, until further notice.  Instead, we have switched to virtual Shabbat services and events. Please visit our Connecting in New Ways page for all the details of our virtual events. Thank you.

Connect. Pray. Unwind.

Recenter yourself in the spiritual

heart of our congregation:

Shabbat at Emanu-El

It’s so much more than services. Leave the frenzy of your week behind, connect with the Infinite, and plug into something that is both ancient and cutting edge, traditional and radical. Take a deep breath, and join us as we sing ourselves into a place of awe, gratitude, and Jewish learning.

Friday Night Shabbat Services

30 minutes before the 5:30 and 6 pm services we gather to say hello over wine and cheese (plus mac ‘n cheese for the young and young at heart!).  We aim to keep our services to about one hour so that we can send you on your way to a Shabbat dinner at home or out in San Francisco (we love our city!).

Our services always include participatory, soulful and moving music from our cantors and many musicians, heartfelt Torah teaching from our rabbis and guest teachers, and of course, a community that you can really plant roots in and grow.

Never been to a Shabbat service? Haven’t stepped foot into a synagogue since your Bat Mitzvah? That’s OK! Our Shabbat services are always open to all and we work hard to help everyone feel included–from greeting you with a big smile at the door to announcing the page numbers so you’re not lost– we warmly and enthusiastically invite you to come check us out.

We’ve got options for you!

At each and every one of our services, you will find a spiritual community that prays, sings, learns, celebrates, mourns and heals together.  Here’s a breakdown of when we do Shabbat:

One Shabbat  6:00 PM

One Shabbat is our signature service that happens most Fridays. It’s called One Shabbat because this is when we become One Emanu-El. This is a service for everyone and we’d love to see you there.

Classic Shabbat  First Fridays 6:00 PM

Classic Shabbat connects to our Reform roots and takes place in our historic Main Sanctuary and is often accompanied by the organ. It is held on the first Friday of each month.

First Friday Under Five  5:30 PM

First Friday Under Five is our monthly service for those under 5 years old (and their adults!). We gather at 5:00 pm for  a mac and cheese snack and then join together at 5:30 pm for a lively, musical service and story that usually lasts about 30 minutes. This service is open to all and is followed by a family Shabbat dinner for which registration is required. Click here to register for the next Simchat Shabbat Family Dinner. 

Late Shabbat Second Fridays 8:30 PM

Late Shabbat is the heart of our nationally acclaimed young adult community. This service, often attended by nearly 300 people, is especially for those in their 20’s & 30’s and happens at 8:30 pm on the 2nd Friday of each month.  We first gather at 8  pm for wine & cheese and follow the service with a fun cocktail hour that’s a great place to meet other young Jews.

Shabbat Morning Learning and Services

Shabbat (Saturday) morning at Emanu-El begins at 9:15 am with a deep dive into the wisdom of our tradition with clergy-led Torah study. This hour of learning explores the weekly Torah portion, festival texts and other rabbinic and modern sources.  After you’ve sparked your imagination with study, join us at 10:30 am for a full Shabbat morning service, typically lasting about 90 minutes.

Many Shabbat morning services will also include the simcha (joyous occasion) of a Bat or Bar Mitzvah.  In fact, we’ve got so many active young Jews in our community, that we often feature two simultaneous services using both of our sanctuaries.  All services are open to the community.  

TMI? Here’s a cheat sheet to help you find your way:

Remember, you are welcome to gather with us 30 minutes before the 6 and 8:30 pm services for wine & cheese

Congregation Emanu-El and Jewish Federation Align to Transport Senior Congregants to Shabbat Services

Thanks to a partnership with the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, we offer transportation to monthly Shabbat services at no cost, and to evening High Holy Day services  and the Yizkor service at a minimal cost.  Congregation Emanu-El and the Federation share the cost of hiring transportation services through SilverRide.

Shabbat services are at 6:00 pm, with a pre-Oneg at 5:30 pm. Transportation will be offered the first week of the month. The service is led by clergy and is held in the Main Sanctuary.To arrange for a ride, please contact Julie Levine.