High Holidays 5787
Everything you need to prepare for the
High Holidays 5787 is just a click away
Red Thread Bracelets
Hold the High Holiday season with you from Selichot to Simchat Torah. We’ll be tying red threads on everyone’s left wrists for the High Holiday season. It’s a kabbalistic tradition and we think it’s also a good reminder of what we’re all trying to do this time of year.
Look out for our bracelet stations at every High Holiday program & service. We’ll have someone on hand to help you get in on this new Kitchen ritual. You may even make a friend or two when you spot a bracelet out in the wilds of San Francisco.
Elul & Selichot at The Kitchen
Selichot Services at The Firehouse
Saturday, September 5th at 9:00 PM
Wednesday, September 9th at 8:00 PM
Thursday, September 17th at 7:00 PM
Included in membership | $36 per non-member
Jumping into the high holidays without any preparation is kind of like trying to run a marathon without exercising first. Instead, flex your spiritual muscles and join us for these three Selichot services.
Traditionally, these services are said every day of Elul, before dawn, through Yom Kippur; we’re weaving throughout the season beginning with a service post Shabbat on Saturday, September 5th. Come and sing through the melodies and we promise by the time we’re singing on the high holidays, you’ll be warmed up and then some.
The Firehouse is a private space for community gatherings, sponsored by Kitchen-ite Anne Germanacos. Address provided upon registration.
Listen to Selichot Melodies
Hazzan Asher Shasho Levy recorded our most compelling Selichot (Forgiveness) melodies so that we can listen and sing all month in preparation for the holidays. Maybe it’s just us, but they definitely brought us way, way back to last year, in the most meaningful way.
We recommend you listen to them late and night or when you wake but we won’t tell if you listen at other times, too. (And, don’t worry about Ashkenazi faves like “Aveinu Malkeinu,” because we’ll be praying those, too!)
Mikva’ot
Men’s Mikvah at Baker Beach
Led by Rabbi Michael Lezak
Sunday, September 6th at 6 AM
Women’s Mikvah at Crissy Field
Led by Kitchen-ite Janine Okmin
Sunday, September 6th at 6 AM
Mikvah immersion is a traditional way to mark transitions. As we prepare for the High Holidays, we are offering community mikva’ot to connect to this time in the Jewish calendar, honor this past year and prepare for the Days of Awe.
We have two mikva’ot sessions, one for men led by Rabbi Michael Lezak and one for women - led by Janine Okmin. You are invited to come to the session that feels most comfortable to you. Questions? Email us at hello@thekitchensf.org.
Rosh Hashanah
ראש השנה
Erev Rosh Hashanah Banquet + Ma’ariv Service
Friday, September 11th
6:00 PM – Brief Ma’ariv Service
6:30 PM – Seder & Banquet
Terra Gallery
511 Harrison Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Back for it’s third year, we’ll start with a brief & optional service (think 20 minutes, no teaching), followed by a festive, delicious banquet by Kitchen newcomer, Chef Anthony Florian, of Seven Hills fame, who will dazzle us with his very best to reign in the new year.
The banquet will begin, as it does in Sephardi communities around the world, with a brief series of blessings and wishes. We’ll eat apples and honey and wish each other a sweet year, and then we’ll also eat a variety of fruits and foods, each one symbolizing yet another way we can grant each other wishes and hopes for the new year. You’ll not only leave full but radiant with blessing.
Supplemental charge for Members. Included in ticket price for non-members.
Rosh Hashanah Day One Schedule
Saturday, September 12th
9:00 AM – Services
1:00 PM – Lunch by Chef Anthony Florian
Terra Gallery
511 Harrison Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Rosh Hashanah Day Two Schedule
Sunday, September 12th
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
With Rabba Mor Shimonie teaching
Terra Gallery
511 Harrison Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tashlikh with Reboot
5:00 – 7:00 PM
RSVP here
New location this year! RSVP & waiver is required — location to be shared upon completion.
Tickets & Registration
Members
Your membership includes an allotment of tickets based on your membership level for Rosh Hashanah Day 1 & Day 2, with a supplemental cost for the Erev Rosh Hashanah Banquet of:
Adults (18+): $70
Kids + Teens (ages 2–17): $38
All members must register and reserve tickets in advance.
Non-Members
Tickets are available for each Rosh Hashanah gathering for non-members:
Adults (18+): $150 per event
Kids + Teens (ages 2–17): $60 per event
Thinking about joining The Kitchen?
Learn more about Kitchen membership →
Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur cancellation & no-show policy for Kitchen members
Our goal is to fill the most seats on our most popular dates of the year. If you have reserved High Holiday tickets and cannot attend, we require 72 hours of advanced notice in order to accommodate people on our waitlist. If you cancel within 72 hours of the service, or do not attend, there will be a $60 fee (per person / per service) charged to your member account.
To inform us of a cancellation or if there are any questions about this policy please email help@thekitchensf.org.
Yom Kippur
Kol Nidrei
Sunday, September 20th
6:30 PM Lecha Eli
6:45 PM Kol Nidrei
6:51 PM Fast Begins
Yom Kippur Morning Service
Monday, September 21st
9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Welcoming guest Rabbi Michael Lezak
Yom Kippur Afternoon Services
Monday, September 21st
4:00 PM Yizkor
5:15 PM Mincha
6:00 PM Selichot + Neila
7:50 PM Fast Ends
8:00 PM Break Fast Meal
Terra Gallery
511 Harrison Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tickets & Registration
Members
Your membership includes an allotment of tickets based on your membership level for Kol Nidrei & Yom Kippur Day.
All members must register and reserve tickets in advance.
Non-Members
Tickets are available for each Yom Kippur gathering for non-members:
Adults (18+): $150 per event
Kids + Teens (ages 2–17): $60 per event
Thinking about joining The Kitchen?
Learn more about Kitchen membership →
Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur cancellation & no-show policy for Kitchen members
Our goal is to fill the most seats on our most popular dates of the year. If you have reserved High Holiday tickets and cannot attend, we require 72 hours of advanced notice in order to accommodate people on our waitlist. If you cancel within 72 hours of the service, or do not attend, there will be a $60 fee (per person / per service) charged to your member account.
To cancel or if there are any questions about this policy please email help@thekitchensf.org.
Kids, Teens + Families
High Holiday Season
Whether it’s your first High Holiday with The Kitchen or you’ve been doing this with us for years, kids, teens, and families are an essential part of how we celebrate.
Our High Holiday programs give kids and teens time to learn, play, connect with one another, and participate in the larger Kitchen community and services. You do not need to be enrolled in our year-round programs to participate during the High Holidays — these programs are open to everyone.
New to The Kitchen?
If your family is interested in exploring Freedom School or our Teen Programs for the year, we’d love for you to experience our community during the High Holidays.
When you register, indicate that you’re interested in our year-round programs to learn about our Family Intro Offer for prospective families.
Gan Or
Birth–TK | Our Early Childhood Community
Gan Or ("Garden of Light") is where our youngest families begin their Jewish journey at The Kitchen. Part of our larger Freedom School community, Gan Or brings babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their grown-ups together through music, movement, stories, play, Jewish ritual, and joyful community.
During the High Holidays, our youngest Kitchen-ites will have dedicated, age-appropriate experiences designed to make the holidays feel welcoming, meaningful, and fun — while giving families opportunities to be part of the larger celebration, too.
Gan Or continues throughout the year on Freedom School Shabbat mornings, with programs designed specifically for Birth–2 (Gan Katan) and Preschool–TK (Gan Gadol).
Freedom School
Birth – 8th Grade | Family-Centered Jewish Learning
Freedom School is The Kitchen's family-centered educational community, where children, caregivers, and community learn and celebrate Jewish life together. Gan Or begins the journey for our Birth–TK families, with programs continuing from Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
During the High Holidays, K–8th graders will experience a mix of hands-on Jewish learning, creative activities, time with friends, and meaningful participation in services and ritual. Kids won't just learn about the holidays — they'll experience them as part of the larger Kitchen community.
Teen Programs
9th–12th Grade | Teen Club, Derech Teen Teachers + Hineni Fellowship
High school is when Jewish life becomes your own. Our Teen Programs give teens a place to build friendships, explore big questions, celebrate Jewish life, and take on meaningful leadership within The Kitchen community.
During the High Holidays, teens can join dedicated learning and community experiences — and have opportunities to help make the holidays meaningful for younger Kitchen-ites by stepping into leadership roles alongside our educators.
Our year-round teen community includes Kitchen Teen Club (KTC) as the home base for 9th–12th graders, with additional leadership pathways through the Hineni Fellowship and Derech — Teen Teachers.
Whether your teen is already part of The Kitchen or joining us for the first time, we want them here.
Program Information
The following High Holiday gatherings will have dedicated programming for Gan Or, Freedom School, and Teens. You do not need to be enrolled in our year-round programs to participate. Registration for all kids, family, and teen programs can be found on the main ticket page for each holiday.
Teens — Help Make the High Holidays Happen!
We’re looking for 9th–12th graders to volunteer alongside our educators on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur mornings — helping lead activities, support younger kids, and be role models in our community. Space is limited to 5 teens, and community service hours are available.
Rosh Hashanah Day 1
Saturday, September 12th
Gan Or + Freedom School Programming 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Teen Learning Hour 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Community lunch follows services
Yom Kippur Day
Monday, September 21st
Gan Or + Freedom School Programming 9:30 AM–1:30 PM
Teen Learning Hour 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Afternoon Childcare (ages 3–11) Beginning at 3:30 PM
At 6:00 PM, we'll gather for a special Yom Kippur story time, followed by joining the full community for Neilah and the final shofar blast!
Sukkot Shabbat Morning
Saturday, September 26th
Gan Or + Freedom School Programming 9:30 AM–12:30 PM
Simchat Torah
Saturday, October 3rd
Gan Or + Freedom School Programming 5:30–7:30 PM
Families enrolled in Freedom School + Teen Programs — your tuition covers the cost of this ticket, but registration is still required.
Bring the Whole Family!
The following gatherings do not have separate kids or teen programming — but kids, teens, and families are absolutely part of the celebration, and we want you there!
Erev Rosh Hashanah + Banquet
Friday, September 11th
Our first festival banquet of the year — bring the whole family!
Rosh Hashanah Day 2 + Tashlikh with Reboot
Sunday, September 13th
Kol Nidrei
Sunday, September 20th
Sukkot Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, September 25th
Additional Information
Have questions about Kids, Family + Teen programming during the High Holidays? Email our Director of Education, Rabba Mor Shimonie, at mor@thekitchensf.org.
We want everything at The Kitchen to be accessible to everyone. For questions about financial aid, please contact our Executive Director, Kate Glass, at kate@thekitchensf.org.
Kitchen Social Club
High Holidays
Kitchen Social Club (KSC) is The Kitchen’s community for people in their 20s + 30s. This High Holiday season, join us for gatherings designed to make the holidays feel a little more connected — with opportunities to reflect, learn, eat, and experience the season together.
KSC Selichot
Saturday, September 5th at 8:00 PM
Start the High Holiday season together with a special KSC evening of Havdalah and reflection, followed by The Kitchen’s first Selichot service of the season.
Registration is required, sign up for Saturday, September 5th to join us for this gathering.
Tashlich + Reflection Gathering
Saturday, September 19 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM at Baker Beach
Join KSC for a grounding Tashlich experience as we prepare for Yom Kippur. Together, we’ll explore teshuvah — the Jewish practice of return — and create space to release, reflect, and begin again. This isn’t your typical Tashlich: we’ll weave together meditation, breathwork, gentle yoga, reflection, and ritual.
Bring an open heart, a curious spirit, a friend, and a yoga mat or towel. We’ll bring the snacks!
Free for Kitchen-ites | $15 for friends
Seudah Mafseket: Pre-Fast Dinner Matching
Sunday, September 20 | Before Kol Nidrei
The meal before Yom Kippur is about more than preparing for the fast — it’s also an opportunity to gather around a table before entering a day of reflection and prayer.
This year, we’re helping match KSC folks who would like to host or join a Seudah Mafseket (pre-fast meal) before heading to Kol Nidrei. It’s a simple way to make the High Holidays feel a little more intimate and connected.
Interested in hosting or being a guest? Email Rabba Mor Shimonie at mor@thekitchensf.org.
KSC Yom Kippur Learning
Monday, September 21 | Following Yom Kippur Morning Services
Stay after morning services for a special KSC learning session as we spend Yom Kippur in community.
No additional registration required.
Stay Connected with KSC
Want to know more about KSC High Holiday gatherings or join our lay-led KSC WhatsApp group? Email Rabba Mor Shimonie at mor@thekitchensf.org.
High Holiday Kitchen Audio
Every service direct to your home via Kitchen Radio. Tune in (click on ‘High Holidays Audio button’ ) during service times (Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur) to pray and celebrate with the Kitchen community from a distance.
Note that if you click on the link above outside of service times, our station is “off air”.
Sukkot
Tradition calls sukkot, literally, zeman simchateinu, season of our joy. We’ll be in the sukkah, singing a full morning tefillah / service plus festive Hallel and hosha’anot prayers and chant a special torah reading for the holiday, all outside in the sukkah.
Don’t forget to order and bring your lulavim and etrogim – we’ll be enjoying the sounds of the palm branches shaking and the sweet scent of the etrog / citron.
Sukkot Banquet
Friday, September 25th
6:30 PM Brief Ma’ariv/Evening Service
7:00 PM Festive Sukkot Banquet
Banquet catered by Chef Chris
Jewish Community High School
1835 Ellis St
San Francisco, CA 94115
Way back when the Temple was still standing, we used to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem three times a year: Sukkot (fall), Passover (spring), and Shavuot (summer). We would bring our fruit or grain to the temple to demonstrate our gratitude for that season’s harvest. And, importantly, we would all get to see each other.
At the Kitchen, we’re connecting to that same cycle by adding three banquets every year to our calendar (we also added an extra one for Rosh Hashanah, see above), to create special occasions to just be together, enjoy some good food, and appreciate all we’ve been given.
For our Festive Sukkot Banquet this year, we will host a brief shabbat service in the sukkah (think 20 minutes, very short teaching), followed by a delicious banquet. Chef Chris has been tasked with helping us savor the foods of the season and we hear there might also be excellent wine (because you will be bringing it, ha ha!).
Please dress in festive, fall attire (think dinner party), consider bringing sweaters, coats or wraps (we’ll be outside in our sukkah), and bring wine or your favorite drink!
Members
$58 per adult
$18 per child
Non-members
$72 per adult
$28 per child
Festive Sukkot Service
+ Shabbat Morning
Saturday, September 26th
9:30 AM Shabbat Services + Hallel
12:30 PM Sukkot Lunch
Jewish Community High School
1835 Ellis St
San Francisco, CA 94115
Shabbat in our sukkah means you get to be one part kid (who doesn’t love a fort?), one part outdoors-y (praying under a roof made of palm fronds and sky), and one part full of our particular kind of jewish joy.
Not only will we be gathering for a beautiful shabbat, surrounded by a courtyard made of Jerusalem stone and legit etrog trees, we’ll be singing hallel, special melodies we only get to sing a few times a year. Come and see why we call it “the season of our joy.” Want your own lulav + etrog? Click here to order.
Registration is required for everyone. There is no fee for this service.
Shemini Atzeret
+ Shabbat Morning
Saturday, October 3rd
9:30 AM Shabbat Services + Hallel + Yizkor
The Kitchen Office
Location available upon RSVP
Included in Kitchen membership
$36 per non-member
It is customary to gather at the end of Sukkot, on Shemini Atzeret, a day the tradition says God asks us to linger and celebrate sukkot one more day. We will pray our morning service with a celebratory Hallel for the end of the festival, and start asking for rain as the winter months approach.
Saturday, October 3rd
Kids
5:30 PM Dinner + making flags!
6:00 PM Unrolling the Torah
Adults + Kids
6:30 Maa’riv
7:00 Hakafot
8:15 Kids Aliyah (All 7th graders)
Potrero Hill Neighborhood House
953 De Haro St,
San Francisco, CA 94107
Simchat Torah
First we will open our entire torah, with kids allowed to sit literally inside the scroll unfurled and engage with the stories and letters.
Then, after a very brief evening service (10 minutes!) we will begin the dancing, seven dances, each one faster and longer with different people carrying and dancing with our sifrei torah (now we have three!) and expressing gratitude that we are alive, together, we have our torah, and we have made it to this moment. Rumor has it that the dancing really goes there, now with a DJ and, of course, a band that doesn't quit.
We will end with reading our Torah and beginning it right away once again, so that we are always in the midst of reading our torah. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day – with those words 5786 really begins.
Non-members
$36 per adult ticket
$18 per kid ticket
Members
$26 per adult ticket
$12 per kid ticket
Freedom School Families
Ticket prices are included in your tuition; registration is still required.
Additional Information
Volunteer for High Holidays
We always say you make the best connections at The Kitchen when washing dishes after Shabbat dinner, so here’s your chance to start the new year with new friends. We’re looking for volunteers to help us with event set-up/breakdown, check-in, greeting & passing out machzorim, and probably a few other things. Sign up here to volunteer!
Financial Accessibility Commitment
We want everything at The Kitchen to be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if cost is a barrier to participating — contact our Executive Director, Kate Glass, at kate@thekitchensf.org to discuss financial assistance.
About Terra Gallery
Terra Gallery is located in the SOMA district on Rincon Hill at 511 Harrison Street, at the corner of Harrison and First Street in San Francisco. The main entrance is on Harrison Street. Both parking and public transportation/BART is nearby.
Getting to Terra Gallery
BART – MONTGOMERY STATION
Take BART to Montgomery Street Station. Upon exiting the station, walk NE on Market Street. Turn right on First Street. Continue on First Street until you reach Harrison Street. Terra Gallery is at the SE corner of First and Harrison Street.
MUNI & BUS
Muni lines M, N, J, KT, and L all stop at Montgomery Street BART Station. Upon exiting the station, walk NE on Market Street. Turn right on First Street. Continue on First Street until you reach Harrison Street. Terra Gallery is at the SE corner of First and Harrison Street. This is about a 15 minute walk. The 14, 14R, 12, 30, 45 stop within a few blocks of Terra Gallery.
CALTRAIN
Take Caltrain to the San Francisco Station at 4th and King Street in Zone 1.
MUNI FROM CALTRAIN
Muni lines N, KT, and E all pick up at 4th and King Street. For lines N and KT, off board at Folsom Street and The Embarcadero. Walk SW on Folsom Street and turn left on First Street. Terra Gallery is at the SE corner of First and Harrison Street. For line E, off board at Harrison and the Embarcadero. Walk SW on Harrison Street until you reach First Street.
WALK FROM CALTRAIN (20 MIN)
Head NE on Townsend Street for .4 miles. Turn left on Second Street. Continue on Second Street for .3 miles. Turn right on Harrison Street. Terra Gallery is on the right.
BICYCLE
There is no designated bicycle parking, but you are welcome to bring your bike inside the building.
Parking Garages
Please call or research to confirm open hours as timing is always changing per citywide events.
JASPER PARKING GARAGE
514 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Open 24/7 | 415.639.9585
PARKING 2ND & HARRISON
574 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Open 24/7 | 650.393.0811
600 HARRISON PARKING
600 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94107
7am-7pm | 415.351.4386
DELTA PARKING
404 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Open 24/7 | 650.393.0811
