Grantee Highlight: Gratitude Shabbat at JCCSF
On Friday, November 15, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco brought over 200 people together in community to enjoy meaningful rituals, live music, and a tasty buffet dinner from Wise Sons. This event exemplified the variety of ways the JCCSF fosters Jewish identity, connection, and purpose.
This Shabbat was all about reflecting on gratitude – for friends, family, and the blessings in our lives. There was something for everyone, from a Tot Shabbat pizza party to engaging conversation and connection over dinner, plus some creative learning over dessert. Young people could attend a shabbat lounge, where they made challah covers, played giant chess, or just enjoyed time with their friends.In addition to participating in rituals and community, participants made and delivered 200 hygiene kits for St. Anthony’s Foundation to distribute. This intentional programming meant that people of all ages attended, from toddlers to elders.
Shabbat rituals were led by JCCSF’s Rabbi Batshir Torchio, musician Jonathan Bayer, and educator Yael Kanerek of Beit Toratah.
The JCCSF partnered with a variety of other Jewish organizations including PJ Library, Jewish Baby Network, Honeymoon Israel, Beit Toratah, J. The Jewish News of Northern California, One Table, Repair the World, Value Culture, and Wise Sons at the JCCSF. These partnerships showcase the network of institutions that help make our Bay Area Jewish community thrive.
