Volunteer & Giving Opportunities

Whether you volunteer to welcome visitors to services,  visit the sick, assist in our school or lead services, it is the effort that we put in that brings us closer.  At Sha’ar Zahav you will have the opportunity to be one of many people working together or you may choose to lead your own project. By participating actively at Sha’ar Zahav, we build a close-knit community that sustains us.

If you’d like to volunteer – we’re interested in hearing from you!

Cemetery Services
Greeting or Announcing
High Holidays Logistics
Makom Sha’ar Zahav: Housing Initiative
Religious School for Children, Beit Sefer Phyllis Mintzer
Shabbat Refreshments Set-Up (Oneg)


Cemetery Services

Contact: James Carlson

Interested in learning from Hills of Eternity Memorial Park Executive Director? Do you need information about a Jewish cemetery? Sha’ar Zahav has a reserved space at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park. You can help him maintain the congregation’s cemetery site. Upon request, watch over graves of members of the congregation who are buried in local cemeteries other than the congregation’s site. Our long time member, James Carlson, is here to help and answer any questions you may have.

 

Greeting or Announcing

Contact: Sara Haber

Say hello to our service attendees! Every Friday night, one or two members greet folks as they come in the door to attend Shabbat services. Our aim is to create a welcoming atmosphere and help inspire that feeling of Shabbat sweetness. This activity is as easy and fun as it sounds. If you’re looking for a good way to ease into engagement activities, and meet both old and new friends, participate as a greeter during Shabbat Services.  If you’d like a small challenge, take on the announcer role and share weekly updates to the congregations just after services wrap up.

 

High Holidays Logistics

Contact: Sara Haber and Steve Mazer

Did you enjoy High Holidays at the Herbst? It takes several small actions to bring everything together and make High Holidays happen, successfully. Sara Haber has been majestically coordinating logistics, with the help of many other members. If this sounds like an interesting project, give her a call now so she can get you set up with a fun task!

 

Makom Sha’ar Zahav: Housing Initiative

Contact: Michael Chertok

A new, short-term emergency housing program. The Initiative matches congregants experiencing a housing crisis with members who can open their home and serve as a temporary host. If you or someone you know needs urgent housing, please contact [email protected]. If you may be able to offer short-term housing, please contact Michael at [email protected].

 

Religious School for Children, Beit Sefer Phyllis Mintzer (BSPM)

Contact: Liz Jaroslow

Would you like to learn more about our religious school (BSPM)? Are you passionate about supporting our youth by providing classroom help, mentoring? Our school’s first teacher, Phyllis Mintzer (z’’l), believed that every person and every word contained sparks of holiness. Beit Sefer Phyllis Mintzer is guided by her spirit. Weekly, we provide children K-7th grade with a Jewish education that includes Torah, ethics, ritual, Hebrew and history with an emphasis on Jewish diversity and social justice in an LGBT/queer-positive community. We say that the children of the synagogue are all our children, and we encourage adults — both parents and those who are not parents — to participate in the classroom. Students attend Sept-May, Saturdays 9am-12pm.

 

Shabbat Refreshments Set-Up (Oneg)

Contact: The Administration Office

Do you like food? Do you love baking or cooking? Every week we enjoy delicious treats after services. How does that happen? It’s in large part thanks to you and other volunteers who sign up to purchase the treats (which Sha’ar Zahav reimburses you for) for Onegs and Kiddush. This activity is a great way to collaborate with members of our community! We also invite you to make your favorite dish and share with your community!

Recent blog posts

What’s Happening at Sha’ar Zahav

Learn to Read High Holy Day Prayers in Hebrew One hour evening class (4) sessions Tuesdays, August 30th through September 20, 7-8pm Welcome in Elul with a mini course of Hebrew and get prepared for High Holy Days! Have you sat in High Holy Day services wishing you had a bit more comfort with the…

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Hybrid Services – In-person and on Zoom 02/2022

  An Update on In-Person Events and Services Dear Sha’ar Zahav Community, We hope that you are healthy and well. We would like to update you on Sha’ar Zahav’s plans regarding meeting in person at 290 Dolores. Our Reopening Task Force met again on Thursday, February 10 and had a spirited conversation about returning to…

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Wingsong: for all the friends who died of AIDS

Wingsong: -Maggid Andrew Ramer      I carry you on my back I carry every one of you who has died on my back        You are not a burden      your weight is exalting      each one of you      is another feather      in my arched wings      You carry me     …

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