For information on High Holy Days services, visit www.bayjews.org/highholidays
friday | 16
Apple and honey tasting. Tasting with local farmers followed by vegetarian Shabbat community dinner. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 5:30 p.m. $7-$13 for dinner. (510) 848-0237. Preparing for the High Holy Days with Rabbi Adam Rosenwasser. Part of the Best of the Rabbis series. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 12 p.m. Free. (650) 223-8602.
saturday | 17
Havdallah bonfire and dance party. Urban Adamah will host event with home-brewed beer, local apple cider and campfire singing. Bring a kosher dessert to share. At 1050 Parker St., Berkeley. 7 p.m. $10. Free for children under 13. RSVP to [email protected].
sunday | 18
Rosh Hashanah gift bag decorating. Jewish Family and Children’s Services hosts Family Volunteer Projects. At JFCS, 1360 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa. 10 a.m. Free. RSVP to (707) 303-1510.
High Holy Days preparation course. With Rabbi Stuart Kelman. Followed by a barbecue. At Congregation Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City. 12 p.m. Free. (650) 366-8481.
monday | 19
“Birthday of the World.” Rabbi Lavey Derby explores universal themes of Rosh Hashanah. At Peninsula JCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. 2 p.m. $4. www.pjcc.org.
Family fun day. Rosh Hashanah family celebration. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 3 p.m. Free. (408) 357-7411.
thursday | 22
“Elul 5771: Awaken, Reflect, Return.” Preparing for the High Holy Days with Rabbi Katie Mizrahi. At Or Shalom Jewish Community, 1250 Quintara St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. (415) 242-9992.
“RitLab: Cycles and Renewal.” Arts and crafts holiday Judaica workshop. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos . 7 p.m. Free, with suggested $5 donation. [email protected].
friday | 23
“High Holidays 101.” Rabbi Lavey Derby explains Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. At Peninsula JCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. 9:15 a.m. Free. www.pjcc.org.
sunday | 25
“Soulful Day of Contemplation.” Led by Rabbi Lavey Derby. At Marin Headlands Institute Retreat Center, 1033 Fort Cronkhite, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Sausalito. 9:30 a.m. Free. [email protected]
Teshuvah lecture. Louis Newman discusses teshuvah (repentance) and signs copies of his book “Repentance: The Meaning & Practice of Teshuvah.” At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. 10:30 a.m. Free. (650) 257-3333.
Rosh Hashanah family event. Women’s International Zionist Organization presents a new year family festival. Dancing, games, art, children’s activities. At Serra Park, Sunnyvale. 11 a.m. $5-$10. [email protected].
Drop-in art workshop. Contemporary Jewish Museum’s New Year–themed art workshop is do-it-yourself kinetic mosaics. At CJM, 736 Mission St., S.F. 1 p.m. Free with museum admission. (415) 655-7800.
Pre–Rosh Hashanah community potluck. JIMENA hosts vegetarian seder/picnic. In Golden Gate Park, Fulton Street and 30th Avenue, S.F. 1:30 p.m. Free. RSVP to [email protected].
Family celebration. Apple and honey tasting with local farmers, holiday crafts and more. At JCC East Bay, 5811 Racine St., Oakland. 3 p.m. Free. (510) 848-0237 ext. 148.
Family seder. Addison-Penzak JCC hosts a community Rosh Hashanah seder. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 3 p.m. RSVP to (408) 357-7411 or [email protected].
Apples and honey cook-off. Jews’ Next Dor presents its annual cook-off. Bring drinks to share. All attendees are judges. At private residence in Cupertino. 5 p.m. [email protected].
Free High Holy Day services around the Bay Area
Several Bay Area synagogues and organizations are hosting free services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this year. Here are some options (a more complete listing can be found online at http://www.bayjews.org):
Berkeley community High Holy Days annual free services will be held for Rosh Hashanah at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 and 10 a.m. Sept. 29, with Kol Nidre services at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7 and Yom Kippur services beginning 10 a.m. Oct. 8 and concluding with a break-the-fast potluck. Rabbi Jay Krause and Cantor Sandra Lipsman will officiate. All services take place at the JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. For details, visit http://www.highholydayservices.org or call (510) 604-0664. To RSVP for the potluck, call (510) 705-2135.
Chabad of the East Bay hosts free Rosh Hashanah services at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 28 and at 10 a.m. Sept. 29. Free Yom Kippur services start at 6:13 p.m. Oct. 7 and 10 a.m. Oct. 8. All services are at the Chabad House, 2730 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. For details, visit http://www.chabadberkeley.org.
Congregation Beth Ami hosts free Rosh Hashanah services at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and 9 a.m. Sept. 29 at the Friedman Event Center, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. For details visit http://www.bethamisr.org.
Chabad of Oakland will host free services at Chabad Jewish Center, 3718 Grand Ave., Oakland, beginning with Rosh Hashanah evening prayers and dinner at 6:37 p.m. Sept. 28 and continuing with services starting at 10 a.m. Sept. 29. Free Yom Kippur services start at 6:16 p.m. Oct. 7 and 10:30 a.m. Oct. 8. Visit http://www.jewishoakland.org.
Chabad of San Francisco hosts Rosh Hashanah services at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 28 at the S.F. School of Digital Filmmaking, 925 Mission St. Suite 108, S.F., and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 29 at the Fairmont Hotel, 925 Mason St., S.F. Yom Kippur services begin at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 7 and 9:30 a.m. Oct. 8 at the Fairmont Hotel, 925 Mason St., S.F. For details, call (415) 668-6178.
Nistar Yeshiva has organized free, egalitarian services with Chochmat HaLev founder Rabbi Avram Davis and Rabbi Daniel Lev, beginning with Rosh Hashanah observance at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 and 12:30 p.m. Sept. 29 and continuing with Yom Kippur services at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 and 10 a.m. Oct. 8 at the San Francisco Baha’i Center, 170 Valencia St., S.F. For details, visit http://www.nistar.org.
Congregation B’nai Torah has free Rosh Hashanah services beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and 10 a.m. Sept. 29 at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 301 E. 13th St., Antioch. Free Yom Kippur services start on Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. For information, call (925) 754-2545.
Jewish Gateways hosts free Rosh Hashanah services start at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 29. Yom Kippur services are at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7 and 9:30 a.m. Oct. 8 in a temporary facility outside the JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. The agency also will help match those interested in a synagogue service with a compatible local synagogue. RSVP at http://www.jgate.org/node/197/signup.
Temple Israel in Alameda is offering complimentary worship tickets throughout the High Holy Days, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28. RSVP is required. For tickets and event details, call (510) 522-9355. Temple Israel is located at 3183 Mecartney Road, Alameda.
Chabad of Napa Valley will host free services at Touro University, 1750 Club Drive, Vallejo, beginning with Rosh Hashanah evening prayers and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and continuing with services starting at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 29. Free Yom Kippur services start at 6:15 p.m. Oct. 7 and 9:30 a.m. Oct. 8. For more info email [email protected].