Community

About Our Community

Shir Hadash is a warm, inclusive community that creates lasting friendships. We have a wide range of social events taking place year round, from Happy Hour and Havdallah to Backyard Shabbat.

Finding and Building Community

Adult Groups and Programs:

• Young Adults: All young adults in the synagogue are welcome. This group meets monthly for a diverse array of social, cultural, and religious events. Another program for young adults is College Connection, where we keep in touch with our college-age members. Programs are also offered during the year for parents of college age students.
• Sisterhood (Women of Reform Judaism): All women in the synagogue are welcome. Learn more about our Sisterhood's social and educational events.
• Men's Club: All men in the synagogue are welcome. Learn more about the Men's Club's opportunities to participate in service projects and social events.
• Seniors: We have multiple programs aimed at seniors. Retirees Lunch & Learn is for Shir Hadash members in their senior years, caregivers, and anyone else who is interested. This group meets monthly at Shir Hadash for lunch and a lecture, film, or other program. Our Grandparents' Circle holds regular discussion sessions and events designed to help grandparents of interfaith children.

Youth and Family Groups and Programs:

• Shir Family (Toddler-3rd grade): These events are places where kids can be kids, and parents can chat, relax, and make friends.
• Club 456 (4th-6th grade): This fun group meets several times during year.
• Youth Group (7th-12th grade): Engaging and fun events!

Additional Community-Building Information:

• Caring Committee: This committee supports members through many ways, such as friendly phone calls, caring cards or notes, visits at home or in the hospital, mitzvah meals for the ill or bereaved, transportation to Shir Hadash events.
• Havurot:  This is one of Shir Hadash's most successful and important community-building programs! A havurah is a small group of congregation members or families (generally 10-15 individuals or 5-9 families) who meet regularly throughout the year for companionship and to explore Jewish and other interests. We currently have more than two dozen groups of different ages! Learn more about havurot.
• Choir and Band: Joining one of our choirs is a great way to share your love of music with others. Members age 13 and older are invited to participate in the Shir Hadash Adult Choir. Elementary-school-age students can participate in our Children’s Choir. Our services often include musicians playing a variety of instruments, such as percussion, trumpet, bass, symbol, piano, and more! Love to play a musical instrument? Please join our community of musicians who play together!
• Interfaith: At Shir Hadash we welcome families that include non-Jewish members and those who consider themselves half-Jewish to actively participate in our congregation. We regularly hold discussion sessions and events designed to help interfaith couples and families share common experiences and explore solutions to typical challenges.
• LGBTQ: Our community welcomes and values our many LGBTQ members! Each year, our congregation hosts or attends a Bay Area Pride Shabbat, and every year at Sukkot we hold a special gathering  with our LGBTQ members, families, and allies in support and celebration of the LGBTQ community.