Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco is one of many groups offering free or low-cost High Holiday services this year. (Photo/file)
Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco is one of many groups offering free or low-cost High Holiday services this year. (Photo/file)

Free and low-cost High Holy Day services around the Bay Area

This list highlights free and low-cost (under $40) Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services open to the public. Chabad services generally are free, and a number are included here, but for a complete list and more details, visit Chabad.org. Send new listings to [email protected].

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Sept. 20 and Yom Kippur begins at sundown Sept. 29.


San Francisco

Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., has free Reform family services on Sept. 21, as well as an afternoon community service led by teens. Tashlich at Baker Beach at 5 p.m. emanuelsf.org

Keneset HaLev is offering a free break-the-fast at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at the San Francisco County Fair Building on Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way in Golden Gate Park. kenesethalev.org

Or Shalom Jewish Community is offering free Reconstructionist services for kids, with music and storytelling, Sept. 20, 21, 29 and 30. At First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin St. A shofar service, vegetarian potluck and tashlich will take place at Ocean Beach (at Taraval) on Sept. 22. orshalom.org

Congregation Sha’ar Zahav Reform services are free, donation suggested, on Sept. 20, 21, 29 and 30 at Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave. Also Sept. 22 at Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., S.F. Break-the-fast at sundown Sept. 30 at the Herbst. shaarzahav.org

Congregation B’nai Emunah is free for students and for anyone who has not previously attended High Holy Days at the Conservative synagogue. Sept. 20-22, 29 and 30. At 3595 Taraval St. bnaiemunahsf.org/celebrate/high-holydays

Congregation Chevra Thilim hosts a dinner Sept. 20. $40 for nonmembers, $22 for kids. At Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave. sfshul.org

Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring presents a secular Rosh Hashonah celebration Sept. 24. Readings in English and some Yiddish, family friendly. Free for members, others $5-$10  At JCCSF, 3200 California St. RSVP [email protected] or 415-566-7235.


East Bay

Jewish Gateways holds free outdoor services (donations requested) Sept. 20, 21, 29 and 30. Includes family services for young children and holiday activities. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. jewishgateways.org

Chabad of Oakland services are free, though donations are requested, Sept. 20, 21, 29 and 30, with break-the-fast at 7:35 p.m. Tickets for a four-course Rosh Hashanah dinner Sept. 20 ($25 kids, $36 adults) are sold separately. At the Bellevue Club, 525 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. jewishoakland.org

JCC East Bay is collaborating with Rabbi Adina Allen and musician Jeff Kasowitz to offer free services Sept. 20, 21, 29 and 30, with a break-the-fast potluck after sundown. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. jcceastbay.org/high-holidays

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews hosts a Rosh Hashanah gathering Sept. 20, with apples and honey for the whole family. At Bothwell Arts Center, 2466 Eighth St., Livermore. Suggested donation $20. trivalleyculturaljews.wordpress.com

Camp Tawonga hosts a family-friendly Erev Rosh Hashanah celebration in the Oakland Hills from 4-6 p.m. on Sept. 20 (tinyurl.com/rosh-joaquin). $24 suggested donation. At Joaquin Miller Park, 3450 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland. tawonga.org/events

Chabad of Alameda hosts services on Sept. 21 and 22. Suggested donation $36. jewishalameda.com

Chabad of Contra Costa hosts a community dinner Sept. 20; $15-$25 with RSVP. Also services Sept. 20-22 at Chabad of Contra Costa, 1671 Newell Ave., Walnut Creek, and Sept. 29-30 at Clarion Hotel, 1050 Burnett Ave., Concord. jewishcontracosta.com

Minyan Dafna hosts services, including children’s programming, Sept. 21, 22 and 30. Free, but donations of $18 per day or $36 for all sessions are encouraged. At Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut St., Berkeley. minyandafna.org

Ohel Moed is a series of Jewish Renewal-style musical services on Sept. 20, 21, 29 and 30, concluding with a vegetarian break-fast potluck on Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. At Our Lady of Lourdes Church social hall, 2808 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. congregationohelmoed.com

Zohar Yisrael hosts Sephardic Yom Kippur services Sept. 29 and 30. At Thousand Oaks Baptist Church, 1821 Catalina Ave., Berkeley. $32-$40 per day, $40-$55 both days. zoharyisrael.org


North Bay

Chabad of Napa Valley is hosting Rosh Hashanah services sponsored by Touro University. Free, donations encouraged. Service and dinner (RSVP required) Sept. 20. Also services Sept. 21, 22 , 29 and 30 with break-the-fast at 7:32 p.m. At SpringHill Suites, 101 Gateway Road East, Napa. jewishnapavalley.com

Chabad of Petaluma will host services Sept. 20, 21, 22, 29 and 30 with break-the-fast at 7:34 p.m. Free with RSVP, donations encouraged. At Chabad of Petaluma, 1970 Rainier Circle. jewishpetaluma.com/highholidays

Congregation Beth Ami hosts free Conservative services, donations encouraged, Sept. 20, 21, 29 and 30. RSVPs required for pre-fast dinner Sept. 29 and break-the-fast Sept. 30. At Beth Ami, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. bethamisr.org

Kol Shofar hosts free community services Sept. 21, 29, and 30 at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. kolshofar.org


Peninsula and South Bay

Jewish Study Network hosts Sephardic Yom Kippur services Sept. 29 and 30 at Palo Alto Elks Lodge, 4249 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, and Ashkenazi services the same dates at Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Suite A-017, Palo Alto. $36 suggested donation. jsn.info

Hillel at Stanford hosts services Sept. 20, 21, 22 29 and 30. Reform services in Dinkelspiel Auditorium on the Stanford campus; Conservative at Koret Pavilion at the Ziff Center, 564 O’Connor Lane, Stanford. $36 for under 36. stanford.hillel.org/jewish-life/high-holidays-2017

Keddem Congregation Reconstructionist services are free, though an RSVP is recommended. Services Sept. 20, 21, 29 and 30. At Kehillah Jewish High School, 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. keddem.org

Oshman Family JCC is hosting Yom Kippur services in Hebrew Sept. 29 and 30. $10 general, $5 for ages 2 to 18. paloaltojcc.org

Chabad MidPen hosts free services on Sept. 21, 22, 29 and 30 and a community dinner Sept. 20 with suggested donation $20-$30. At Courtyard Marriott, 600 Bair Island Rd., Redwood City. chabadmidpen.com/highholidays

Chabad of North Peninsula will have services Sept. 20-22 and a Sept. 21 dinner at the S.F. Airport Marriott, 1770 S. Amphlett Blvd., San Mateo. Tashlich at Japanese Tea Garden in San Mateo’s Central Park from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 21. Services and a break-fast Sept. 29 and 30 at Wornick Jewish Day School, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. All free with RSVP except Sept. 21 dinner ($20-$36). chabadnp.com

Congregation Beth David hosts a variety of Conservative services, workshops and High Holy Day events. All are free, except a $25 break-fast on Sept. 30. RSVP required for many events. At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. beth-david.org/hhd-5778

Chabad Santa Clara hosts a four-course dinner Sept. 20 ($15-$26) and free services Sept. 20-22 and Sept. 29-30 at 2078 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara. jewishclara.com


Beyond the Bay Area

Congregation Beth Shalom in Modesto is hosting services Sept. 20, 21, 29 and 30. At Beth Shalom, 1705 Sherwood Ave., Modesto. cbsmodesto.org