Cafe Simcha (Israeli Folk Dancing)
Teaching on Wednesday evenings from 7:45 to 9 p.m., followed by requests until 11:30 p.m. Admission $8. Dance parties held every fifth week.
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Arts, Media & Judaica
Art
Folk Dancing
Israeli Folk Dancing in Marin
Folk dancing classes with Israeli and world music—fun, social and active—open to all ages and taught by Bronwyn Eisenberg. Check the website for the schedule and to register for six-week packages.
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Israeli Folk Dancing in Santa Rosa
Join Robin Lowitz for Israeli dancing, 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays at Congregation Shomrei Torah and 7 p.m. the first and third Mondays at Congregation Beth Ami. Contact either synagogue for details.
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Israeli Folk Dancing in South Bay
Dance with a seasoned Israeli folk instructor with over 45 years of experience teaching beginner, intermediate and advanced classes throughout the South Bay. First visit is free. Visit the website or email for schedule.
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Café Shalom of San Francisco
Israeli folk dance party held on the third Saturday of each month. Plenty of parking, great location right off 280. More information on Facebook.
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Tuesdays in San Francisco
Tuesday night Israeli folk dance class welcomes all ages and all experience levels.
Beginners class (30 min) covers anything from basic steps all the way up to advanced dances. Followed by dancers' requests
Adults $10, students $5.
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Genealogy & History
San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society
Focusses on family history and research. Most speaker programs via Zoom. Publishes “ZichronNote,” a quarterly journal, in print and electronically
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Jewish Historical Society of Napa Valley
Highlights the contributions of Jews to the region and has commissioned two books: "Under the Vine and the Fig Tree" by Lin Weber, and "The Jews of Napa Valley" by Donna Mendelsohn and Henry Michalski.
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Judaica, Gifts & Books
Judaica can also be found at gift shops in synagogues and JCCs.
Marin
Santa Cruz / Monterey
East Bay
San Rafael
Bay Area
Peninsula
Liz Lauter Designs
Creates one-of-a-kind, hand-painted menorahs, candlesticks and platters inspired by Jewish themes, Mexican folk art and Italian pottery. Studio appointments available in Marin. Ceramics can ship within the continental United States
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Temple Beth El Gift Shop
Volunteer-run venue for Judaica shopping, serving the entire South Bay community and providing a selection of mezuzahs, tallits, ritual items, holiday items and jewelry. Open Sunday morning, Wednesday afternoon and by appointment.
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Afikomen Judaica and Bookshop
Welcoming space with deep spirituality and intellectual curiosity, reflected in its diverse range of ritual items, books and gifts—for holidays, lifecycle events, celebrations and personal exploration.
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Women of Rodef Sholom Judaica Gift Shop
Offers a wide selection of Judaica. Open Monday-Thursday 10 am-3 pm, Friday 11:30 am-2 pm, Sunday 10 am-12:30 pm. Summer and holiday hours may vary. All proceeds go to programming and social justice causes.
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The Sukkah Project®
Offers easy, affordable sukkah kits—from small family-sized options to large structures for schools or synagogues. Designed to simplify Sukkot setup with 100 percent klutz-proof construction.
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Lisa Rauchwerger, Cutting Edge Creations
Custom ketubot (Jewish marriage contracts, all styles), symbolic papercuts, Hebrew and English calligraphy, and whimsical illustration. Accepts commissions for all occasions.
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Museums & Galleries
Jewish Heritage Museum
Collection of Judaica includes ritual objects, works on paper, sculpture, stained glass, poster art, displays of Jewish holiday celebrations and special exhibits.
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The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life
One of the pre-eminent Jewish collections in a university setting, with diverse holdings including art, objects, texts, music and historical documents about Jews in the global diaspora and the American West.
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Isaacs Gallery
Rotating art and photography exhibits celebrating Jewish life. Free exhibit openings with artist receptions.
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Koch Gallery at the Schultz Cultural Arts Hall
Innovative collection of art exhibits and receptions, welcoming local and national artists to the JCC for their work to be enjoyed by all.
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Peninsula JCC Art Gallery
Showcases works by Jewish artists worldwide and presents exhibits exploring Jewish values, themes and ideas. Free and open to the public.
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The Fine Museum
Hosts a popular series of changing exhibitions on a broad range of themes, often from internationally renowned Jewish artists.
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JCCSF Katz Snyder Gallery
Featured exhibits showcase art, photography, artifacts and multimedia that illuminate history, culture and individuals. Includes guided tours, lectures and opportunities to meet the artists.
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The Contemporary Jewish Museum
Temporarily closed while the museum develops a sustainable future operating model. Visit website for information on renting the museum for special events and supporting its reopening.
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Music & Choruses
HaShirim
Chorale focuses on community outreach, bringing Jewish music—classic to contemporary—to senior facilities. Meets Mondays 7-8:30 p.m. at the Moldaw Residences in Palo Alto or on Zoom. Call or email for rehearsal information.
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Yiddish Choristers of Congregation Etz Chayim
Join singalongs primarily in Yiddish, with occasional songs in Hebrew, Ladino, Russian and English. The adult group meets on Zoom twice monthly at 7:30 p.m.Thursdays during the school year. Email director for the schedule.
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Jewish Folk Chorus of San Francisco
This chorus sings primarily in Yiddish. The full chorus sings in harmony, rehearsing in San Francisco on Tuesday nights, and a unison group mostly practices on zoom.
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Performing Arts
Arts, Culture and Civic Life
Programming features music, holiday celebrations, older adult activities, learning, and volunteer opportunities. Moving to new Oakland location as of July 2026.
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PJCC Cultural and Performing Arts
Presents concerts, thought-provoking lectures, award-winning art gallery exhibitions, cultural events and more.
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Schultz Cultural Arts Hall at the Oshman Family JCC
Cultural arts venue hosts internationally acclaimed performers, authors and thought leaders across a season of music, drama, dance, lectures, cinema, art and more.
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JCCSF Arts & Ideas
Enlightening lectures and conversations with ground-breaking thought leaders and intellectuals, star chefs and food mavens, up-and-coming authors and speakers whose ideas are reshaping the world.
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Sports
Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
Recognizes distinguished achievements of Northern California Jewish sports figures. Supports Jewish athletes in need, places books on Jewish sports history in libraries and facilitates Jewish Heritage Nights with local professional teams.
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Yiddish
KlezCalifornia
Free monthly e-newsletter of Yiddish cultural events. Annual Yiddish culture festival in the fall. Online resources to help find klezmer bands, Yiddish classes and translators of family letters across Northern California.
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Workers Circle/Arbeter Ring, Northern California
Free, biweekly beginner and intermediate Yiddish classes held online on Friday afternoons. Spring semester runs January to June; fall semester, September to December. No classes July and August. Yiddish-Hebrew alphabet knowledge required. Alphabet resources available.
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Jewish Media
East Bay International Jewish Film Festival
Independent film festival serving the Contra Costa and Tri-Valley regions with an annual festival and year-round programming.
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Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival
Annual film festival in Sonoma County showcasing new, award-winning films that celebrate Jewish life worldwide. Presented by the Jewish Community Center of Sonoma County, the festival offers screenings and events that inspire, educate and entertain.
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Sacramento Jewish Film Festival
This Sacramento festival brings the community together to share thought-provoking, entertaining films that inform, inspire, educate and enlighten, while celebrating the richness of Jewish life and culture.
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Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival
Annual series held in the fall features award-winning international films and documentaries on Israel, Jewish heritage and tradition. Additional films presented throughout the year.
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J. The Jewish News of Northern California
Covering Bay Area Jewish news since 1895, J. publishes daily and weekly email newsletters, a daily website and a biweekly print edition. Sign up for newsletters at jweekly.com/newsletter. Print subscriptions are $46.50/ year.
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Jewish Community Library
Home to Northern California’s largest publicly circulating collection of Jewish books, films and music. Offers reference assistance, services to book clubs, cultural programming (in person and online) and a Palo Alto JCC satellite branch.
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Jewish Film Institute
Presents year-round events, screenings and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival—the oldest and largest festival of its kind and a leader in Jewish film and media curation. Offers support to filmmakers.
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Film & Video
East Bay International Jewish Film Festival
Independent film festival serving the Contra Costa and Tri-Valley regions with an annual festival and year-round programming.
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Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival
Annual film festival in Sonoma County showcasing new, award-winning films that celebrate Jewish life worldwide. Presented by the Jewish Community Center of Sonoma County, the festival offers screenings and events that inspire, educate and entertain.
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Sacramento Jewish Film Festival
This Sacramento festival brings the community together to share thought-provoking, entertaining films that inform, inspire, educate and enlighten, while celebrating the richness of Jewish life and culture.
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Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival
Annual series held in the fall features award-winning international films and documentaries on Israel, Jewish heritage and tradition. Additional films presented throughout the year.
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Jewish Community Library
Home to Northern California’s largest publicly circulating collection of Jewish books, films and music. Offers reference assistance, services to book clubs, cultural programming (in person and online) and a Palo Alto JCC satellite branch.
Learn More
Jewish Film Institute
Presents year-round events, screenings and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival—the oldest and largest festival of its kind and a leader in Jewish film and media curation. Offers support to filmmakers.
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Periodicals
J. The Jewish News of Northern California
Covering Bay Area Jewish news since 1895, J. publishes daily and weekly email newsletters, a daily website and a biweekly print edition. Sign up for newsletters at jweekly.com/newsletter. Print subscriptions are $46.50/ year.
Learn More