About Us

What is CSZ?

Congregation Sha'ar Zahav is a progressive Reform synagogue, established in 1977. We are a vibrant kehila (Jewish community) in the San Francisco Bay Area for people of all sexual identities.

Our Members

We are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual Jews, together with partners, family and friends, both Jewish and non-Jewish. We come from a wide range of religious, ethnic, class and cultural backgrounds to worship God with egalitarian, feminist and gay-positive Jewish liturgy. Together we celebrate Shabbat, festivals and life cycle events with simcha (joy), song, laughter and compassion. We number about 500 adult members, and more than 150 children, many of whom attend Beit Sefer Phyllis Mintzer, our religious school.

Our Mission

At Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, we are committed to sustaining a safe environment to nurture and express our diverse spiritual, sexual, educational and ethical values. Our rabbi, lay-leaders and members join together to bring meaning to Torah and Jewish observance. We are committed to creative prayer, study, mitzvot and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

Our Rabbi

Rabbi Camille Shira Angel has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav since August 2000. She was ordained in 1995 from the New York campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She is highly regarded as an inspiring teacher and we are blessed to enjoy her warmth and passion for Jewish learning and living. Click here to read more about her background.

Our Cantor

Cantor Sharon Bernstein joined Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in 2007.  A graduate of the H.L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminary, she is also an accomplished teacher, composer and performer.  Read her biography here.

Connections

Congregation Sha'ar Zahav is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews (WCGLBTJ) and the San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP).