Beyt Tikkun

Community Led JeWitchy Covid Cautious Shabbat- Masking Required (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-01-23 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Masking Required
Date: January 23, 2026Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland: 685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
MORE INFO + REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
Accessibility:

Masking is required
Wheelchair accessible
Seating includes chairs with backs
Please avoid scented products
Indoor and outdoor space available for eating

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Tu B’Shvat Celebration: Shabbat, Torah Study, and Seder
2026-01-31 09:30 - 12:30
Shabbat Services, Torah Study & TuB'Shvat CelebrationWith Rabbi Cat Zavis & Musical Director Ami GoodmanSaturday, January 17th9:30am Shabbat service // 10:30am Torah study // 11:30am Tu B’Shvat Environmental Seder

HYBRID:Online on Zoom &In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612
On Saturday, January 31st, in addition to our regular Shabbat and Torah Study, we will be hosting our special Tu B’shvat Seder - the Jewish environmental holiday. We will begin with our morning celebration of the universe, study Torah, and then have a celebratory environmental seder. All with great teachings and music led by Rabbi Cat Zavis and Musical Director Ami Goodman.
The seder will involve enjoying various fruits, helping us connect with the beauty and bounty of our planet.
If you join us on Zoom, we encourage you to get some of the relevant fruit and grape juice or wine (some red and white) so you can participate fully in the experience. If you join us in person, we will provide the fruits and juice. The tradition is to move from less permeable fruit to more permeable. All you need is one fruit for each of the following stages:

First, those with tough shells and soft edible inside (e.g., walnuts, coconuts, pomegranates, or melons).
Second, fruit with a soft outside but hard inside (e.g., peaches, dates, apricots, olives, cherries, dates, plums, etc.).
Third, fruit that is soft both on the outside and the inside (e.g., strawberries, figs, blueberries, pears, grapes, apples, etc.).
In the 4th stage, we will visualize a higher level of connection to the earth and the cosmos (no fruit needed!)

You only need one fruit for each of these stages. If you don’t get them, then just imagine them when we get to each stage. And at each stage we also drink some grape juice or wine .
9:30 am PST: Shabbat celebration of the universe10:30 am PST: Torah study: Beshalach - God continues to harden Pharaoh’s heart and sends Pharaoh and his army after the Hebrews. Exodus 13:17 (sefaria.org) 11:30 to 12:30 pm PST - Tu B’Shvat Environmental Seder.
Access Information
Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland’s Uptown district, 7 minute walk from BART, and near several AC Transit bus lines. Exact location will be sent once registered.Masking Requirements: Masking OptionalScents: Please arrive scent-free or low scent.Wheelchair accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible.Seating: Wooden chairs without arms with backsParking: There is street parking, as well as several nearby car garages.

Please email Mar Munn at marissa@beyttikkun.org if you have questions or other accessibility needs.

Sweet Shabbat: A Valentine’s & Shevat Celebration (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-02-13 18:00 - 21:00
DATE: Fri, Feb 13 TIME: 6–9:00 PM COST: $18LOCATION: In-person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612 Hosted by Mar + Lia
Celebrate sweetness, connection, and creativity this February! Inspired by Valentine’s Day and the month of Shevat, a time of growth, fruitfulness, and renewal, we invite you to a Shabbat full of joy, playful connections, and a little extra sweetness for yourself and the world.
Join us for an evening of:

Fun, creative activities to express your inner sweetness
Games and mingling to spark new connections
Shabbat blessings and shared warmth
Delicious food and dessert to savor together
Come for the vibes, the friends, and the sweet moments! Please bring something sweet for a dessert potluck!

Accessibility:

Masking is optional in February; optional and required on different months (see schedule below)
Wheelchair accessible
Seating includes chairs with backs
Please avoid scented products
Indoor and outdoor space available for eating
Please email marissa@beyttikkun.org if you have questions or other accessibility needs

Mark your calendars!Monthly (mostly!) In-Person Kabbalat Shabbat SchedulePlease see the schedule below for future dates. This is subject to change; You will have to register for each event individually

January 9, 2026 - masking optional
February 13, 2026 - masking optional for special community-led Valentine's day Shabbat
March 13, 2026- masking required
April 10, 2026 - masking required
May 1, 2026 - masking optional
June 12, 2026 - masking required
July 10, 2026 - Special Members & Volunteers Shabbat - masking optional

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Co-Sponsored Event: Eyewitness Gaza Whistleblower Lt. Col. Anthony Aguilar
2026-02-17 19:00
Eyewitness Gaza: Whistleblower Lt. Col. Anthony AguilarTuesday, February 17, 2026, 7 PMHYBRID:

In-Person or OnlineSt. John’s Presbyterian Church2727 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705ADA accessible. Park in Church garage.

Register here for zoom link

Introduction by Professor Ussama Makdisi

Lt. Col. Anthony Aguilar is a retired U.S. Army Green Beret who earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Valor. In 2025, he led security efforts for the American Israeli outfit, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. When he realized the mission of GHF was anything but humanitarian, he resigned and became a whistleblower. Lt. Col. Aguilar will share his firsthand experience and why he chose truth over silence.

Dr. Ussama Makdisi is Professor of History and Chancellor’s Chair, Palestinian and Arab Studies, UC Berkeley.

Sponsored by:

NorCal SabeelSt. John’s Presbyterian Church of BerkeleyJewish Voice for Peace – Bay AreaMt Diablo Peace CenterSt. Columba Catholic Church of OaklandBerkeley Women in BlackBeyt TikkunEcumenical Peace InstituteChristians for a Free Palestine (CFP)

Shabbat Service & Torah Study w/ Rabbi Cat | Parsha Terumah (HYBRID)
2026-02-21 09:30 - 12:30
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Parsha Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19)With Rabbi Cat Zavis Saturday, February 21st9:30am Shabbat service // 10:30am Torah study
HYBRID:Online on Zoom &In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share with others.
You can watch last year's Terumah Torah Study here.

Access InformationLocation: First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland’s Uptown district, 7 minute walk from BART, and near several AC Transit bus lines.Masking Requirements: Masking OptionalScents: Please arrive scent-free or low scent.Wheelchair accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible.Seating: Wooden chairs without arms with backsParking: There is street parking, as well as several nearby car garages.
Please email Mar Munn at marissa@beyttikkun.org if you have questions or other accessibility needs.

Shabbat Service & Torah Study w/ Rabbi Cat | Parsha Tazria-Metzora (HYBRID)
2026-02-24 08:00 - 17:00
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Parsha Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1 – 15:33)With Rabbi Cat Zavis DATE: Saturday, April 18thNEW START TIME! 10:00am Shabbat service // 11:00am Torah studyHYBRID:Online on Zoom &In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612QUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org

You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share with others.

A kid-friendly art area with paper, crayons, and markers will be available during the service, welcoming artists of all ages.

Access InformationLocation: First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland’s Uptown district, 7 minute walk from BART, and near several AC Transit bus lines.Masking Requirements: Masking OptionalScents: Please arrive scent-free or low scent.Wheelchair accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible.Seating: Wooden chairs without arms with backsParking: There is street parking, as well as several nearby car garages.

Community led Anti-zionist covid-cautious Kabbalat Shabbat service - Masking Required (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-02-27 19:00 - 21:00
Masking Required
Date: February 27, 2026Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland, a wheelchair accessible low fragrance venue located at 685 14th StreetTime: 7:00 PMFinger Food Potluck: If able, bring a finger food or dessert item to share for an outdoor potluckQuestions?: Please email Susala at JewitchyRitualist@gmail.com if you have any questions
Event Description:Join Beyt Tikkun’s monthly community led Anti-zionist covid cautious Kabbalat Shabbat service. It will be a traditional egalitarian songful service followed by an outdoor dessert potluck.
COVID-Cautious Requirements:Well fitting KN95 or better masking and rapid testing are required. Attendees will be asked to covid test ahead of time. All eating will happen outdoors. Some covid rapid tests and masks will be available onsite.
Accessibility:

Wheelchair accessible
Air filters: at least 2
Bathrooms: wheelchair accessible and gender neutral
Scents: The venue is low scent. Fragrance free soap will be available Please come fragrance free
Seating/Standing: wooden chairs without arms available for seating
Service animals welcome
Public Transportation Access: 4 blocks west of 12th St BART station in Oakland between Martin Luther King, Jr. Way and Castro St. Several AC Transit bus lines, including the 14 and the 62, pass near the church.
Parking: Parking is usually available on Castro St., some on 14th St., and around the corner on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. You can also park at the Clay St. garage at 14th & Clay. The entrance is on Clay.
Accessible Parking: There is one curb-side parking space designated for handicap use in front of the church and one on Castro St. just North of the light at 14th St.
Please email Susala at JeWitchyRitualist@gmail.com if you have questions or other accessibility needs.

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Shabbat Service & Torah Study w/ Rabbi Cat & Ami Goodman | Parsha Ki Tisa(HYBRID)
2026-03-07 10:00 - 13:00
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35)With Rabbi Cat Zavis and Music Director Ami GoodmanSaturday, March 7HYBRID:Online on Zoom &In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 9461210:00am Shabbat service // 11:00am Torah studyQUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share with others.
A kid-friendly art area with paper, crayons, and markers will be available during the service, welcoming artists of all ages.
You can watch Torah Study of Ki Tisa from last year 2025/5785.

Access Information

Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland’s Uptown district, 7 minute walk from BART, and near several AC Transit bus lines. Exact location will be sent once registered.
Masking Requirements: Masking Optional
Scents: Please arrive scent-free or low scent.
Wheelchair accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible.
Seating: Wooden chairs without arms with backs
Parking: There is street parking, as well as several nearby car garages.

Co-Sponsored Event: Purim for Palestine - Masking Required -(IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-03-07 14:00 - 19:00
Purim for Palestine
​It is so exciting to have Purim for Palestine for the second year in a row, both in celebration of the iconic Jewish holiday and in solidarity with Palestine! Co-sponsored with Beyt Tikkun + JeWitch Collective.

Family Kabbalat Shabbat & Potluck with JVP Kids (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-03-13 17:15 - 19:00
Date: March 13, 2026Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland: 685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612Time: 5:15pm- services; 6:30 - vegetarian potluckPotluck: Following family services, we’ll share a community meal. Please bring a vegetarian dish to contribute.
Join Beyt Tikkun, JVP Kids & Families and Acorn Shabbat for an evening of song, crafting, and Shabbat ritual! We will provide a youth-centered Kabbalat Shabbat, including a sing-a-long, painting the Shabbat candles, and celebrating a sense of “hereness” as part of Diasporism - building community where we are right now, and in this particular movement moment.
This short-but-sweet interactive Kabbalat Shabbat is best geared towards families with young folks aged 3-8. However, all ages are welcome and encouraged to join us in community. Potluck dinner to follow, with an opportunity to meet other young families, and envision the future of youth and family programming in the Bay Area.
Accessibility:

Masks optional
Wheelchair accessible
Seating includes chairs with backs
Please avoid scented products
Indoor and outdoor space available for eating

Please email marissa@beyttikkun.org if you have questions or other accessibility needs

Bearing Witness: Writing Memory and Change, Led by Abby Caplin (ONLINE)
2026-03-18 18:00 - 20:00
DATE: March 18, 2026TIME: 6pm-8pm PTLOCATION: Online (Zoom link sent after registration)PRICE: Members: $18 // Non-Members: $2718% of all donations will go to our Beyt Tikkun fund for Palestine QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please contact marissa@beyttikkun.org
EVENT DESCRIPTION:This is an online generative poetry and writing workshop exploring memory, belief, and moral awakening. Through shared poem examples and gentle guided reflection, we will write into those moments when we became aware that the narratives taught to us about Israel and zionism no longer matched our lived experiences. Participants will be invited to share what they have written afterward. No prior writing experience is necessary, and sharing is always optional.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:Abby Caplin is the author of the poetry chapbook A Doctor Only Pretends (Ocean Light Press, 2022), praised for its wisdom, wit, and compassion. A Pushcart Prize, Best New Poets, and Best of the Net nominee, her poems have appeared in AGNI, North American Review, Spoon River Poetry Review, The MacGuffin, The McNeese, New Verse News, and Tikkun, among others. Abby is a retired physician and counselor, living in San Francisco, CA, and is a board member of Beyt Tikkun. www.abbycaplin.com.
TICKETS:Members: $18 // Non-Members: $2718% of all donations will go to our Beyt Tikkun fund for Palestine.No one turned away for lack of funds. Email lia@beyttikkun.org for a different ticket price.

Liberation Shabbat: Songs of Resistance with Rabbi Cat and Rev Leah Martens - MASKS REQUIRED (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-03-20 18:00 - 20:30
*Photo credit: Vera Chang
MASKS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS SHABBAT
Date: March 20, 2026Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland: 685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612Time: 6:00pm- doors open; 6:30 - service followed by potluckPotluck: Following services, we’ll share a community meal. Please bring a vegetarian dish to contribute.
With Rabbi Cat Zavis and Reverend Leah Martens, one of the founders and leaders of Singing Resistance, Bay Area, and Sean Potts on drums.
Join us for a celebratory Kabbalat Shabbat, where will blend traditional Jewish prayers with inspiring songs of resistance that many of us have been singing at protests. We will dance, sing, and celebrate Shabbat as we call in the world to come.
Rev. Leah Martens is a singer-songwriter, musician, and the founding pastor of Haven Berkeley Faith Community, an inclusive, progressive independent spiritual community in Berkeley rooted in the Christian tradition. Over the last year, she had also been leading song regularly in the streets at vigils and actions in collaboration with Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. She is one of the founders and leaders of Singing Resistance, Bay Area. Rabbi Cat and Rev Leah traveled together to MN, have been arrested together, and love making good trouble together!
Accessibility:

Masks required (K/N95 or equivalent)**Please note that facilitators Rabbi Cat, Rev. Leah, and drummer Sean will not be masked, and will COVID test prior to the event**
Wheelchair accessible
Seating includes chairs with backs
Please avoid scented products
Indoor and outdoor space available for eating

Please email marissa@beyttikkun.org if you have questions or other accessibility needs.

Shabbat Service & Torah Study w/ Rabbi Cat | Parsha Vayikra (HYBRID)
2026-03-21 10:00 - 13:00
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26)With Rabbi Cat ZavisSaturday, March 21stHYBRID:Online on Zoom &In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 9461210:00am Shabbat service // 11:00am Torah study
QUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share with others.
You can watch Torah Study of Vayikra from last year 2025/5785.

Access InformationLocation: First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland’s Uptown district, 7 minute walk from BART, and near several AC Transit bus lines. Exact location will be sent once registered.Masking Requirements: Masking OptionalScents: Please arrive scent-free or low scent.Wheelchair accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible.Seating: Wooden chairs without arms with backsParking: There is street parking, as well as several nearby car garages.

Co-Sponsored Event w/ Jewish Progressive Coalition: Solidarity Seder (IN-PERSON in San Francisco)
2026-03-29 18:00 - 20:00
Date: Sunday, March 29th, 2026Time: 6:00pm-8:00pmLocation: IN-PERSON in San Francisco.First Unitarian Church of San Francisco, 1187 Franklin St., San FranciscoMore Information here: https://www.jewishprogressivecoalition.org/Questions: Email jewsofconscience.bayarea@gmail.com

Liberation Seder: We Get There Together (HYBRID - Online & In-Person in Oakland)
2026-04-04 16:00 - 20:00
Date: Saturday, April 4thTime: 4pm PT / 7pm ET (We will begin the online portion at 4:30pm PDT / 7:30pm EDT)HYBRID location: Online and In-person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612**There will be a satellite San Diego seder, where community will gather in person and stream our virtual seder. More information below. To join with others in San Diego, email rabbi@beyttikkun.org for a 50% off PROMO code**
What to Expect: This Seder is a psycho-spiritual journey — woven with music, embodied ritual, meditation, storytelling, and the rich tastes and textures of the Passover table. We gather not simply to remember, but to confront the forces shaping our world and to cultivate the resilience, courage, and imagination required to transform it.
Food: In addition to the traditional ritual foods for the seder, we will also provide a delicious Sephardic-inspired catered vegetarian dinner, with gluten-free and nut-free options available.
Seder & Dinner Cost:In-Person: $80 Beyt Tikkun members // $95 non-members // $36 student // $50 volunteerOn Zoom: $18 Beyt Tikkun members // $36 non-membersA limited number of free and low cost tickets are available – please email rabbi@beyttikun.org to reserve one of these.
Event Description:We are excited to invite you to join Rabbi Cat Zavis, Musical Director Ami Goodman, and the Beyt Tikkun Community for Our Liberation Seder.
Passover calls us to remember that we were slaves — not as metaphor, but as moral foundation. Our Seder invites us to enter that story deeply and honestly, so that memory becomes responsibility.
Together, we will draw connections between liberation struggles past and present:

What does it mean to honor the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in this moment of ongoing genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and East Jerusalem?
What actions can we take to prohibit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from kidnapping, detaining, and separating families?
How can we challenge the systems and structures—patriarchy, capitalism, imperialism, and zionism—that perpetuate oppression and block the path toward collective liberation?

Open to Jews and beloved community of all backgrounds, this is a Seder that is joyful and defiant, politically progressive, environmentally conscious, and spiritually alive. We gather not only to recall the Exodus, but to renew our sacred obligation to stand with all who seek freedom. May this night strengthen our spirits, deepen our solidarity, and send us back into the world ready to build the liberation we pray for.

“It is the first Seder I attended where I feel the true spirit of Passover - liberation of all peoples (and you added in care for the planet also). In the past I had to stop myself from saying 'Liberation for everyone except for Palestinians'. So thank you for a thoroughly liberating, uplifting event, with incredible food and music. You are who I want to spend Passover with 🙂” - AC

We will be both in person and on Zoom so those of you who cannot join us in person can still participate in a meaningful way. We encourage you to invite friends and family to join you at our seder, whether you participate in person or on Zoom.
Accessibility:

Masks optional
Wheelchair accessible
Please avoid scented products

PHOTOGRAPHY RELEASE By attending this event, you consent that recordings or photos of you may be used by Beyt Tikkun. If you do not want to be photographed, please let us know at the event and we will be sure not to include you. If you have any questions, please contact rabbi@beyttikkun.org

San Diego Satellite Seder:Rabbi Alexis Pearce and UU minister Sarah Gibb Millspaugh are hosting an in-person Liberation Seder at First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego (Hillcrest). The food and fellowship will be live, and we'll be linked online with Beyt Tikkun's in-person celebration in Oakland. To join and receive 50% off online ticket prices, email rabbi@beyttikkun.org to receive a promo code.
REGISTRATION BELOW - Please select ONLINE or IN-PERSON tickets ** If you are able to donate more, we’d be most grateful. Our costs (the venue, food, staff, etc.) exceed the fees we are charging for the Seder. We are also using this Seder as a fundraiser to help cover our expenses for the remainder of the year before the High Holidays. If you can contribute double or triple the amount above, we’d be most grateful. Any donations above the amounts listed are tax deductible.**

Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Cat (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-04-10 18:15 - 20:30
📅 Date: Friday, April 10th⏰ Time: Doors open at 6:15pm. Services begin promptly at 6:30 PM. 📍 Location: In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612QUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
Join us for a warm and welcoming in-person Kabbalat Shabbat and Potluck Oneg. Rooted in a commitment to global liberation and spiritual growth, our gatherings offer a sacred space to connect, reflect, and celebrate Shabbat together.
At the April 10 gathering, you’re also invited to meet our newly formed Immigrant Justice Social Action group — come hear about their plans, share your ideas, and explore ways to get involved. Can’t make it but want to learn more? Feel free to email immigrantjustice@beyttikkun.org
Accessibility:

Wheelchair accessible
Bathrooms: wheelchair accessible and gender neutral
Scents: The venue is low scent. Please come fragrance free
Seating/Standing: wooden chairs without arms available for seating
Public Transportation Access: 4 blocks west of 12th St BART station in Oakland between Martin Luther King, Jr. Way and Castro St. Several AC Transit bus lines, including the 14 and the 62, pass near the church.
Parking: Parking is usually available on Castro St., some on 14th St., and around the corner on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. You can also park at the Clay St. garage at 14th & Clay. The entrance is on Clay.
Accessible Parking: There is one curb-side parking space designated for handicap use in front of the church and one on Castro St. just North of the light at 14th St.

Collective Resilience: Mindfulness & Self-Compassion for Activists (ONLINE)
2026-04-15 12:00 - 13:00
sDate: Third Wednesday of Every Month April - JuneApril 15 · May 20 · June 17 We will reassess and continue after our first three months together.Time: 12pm - 1pm PT (3–4pm ET)Location: Online (Register to receive zoom link)Questions: marissa@beyttikkun.orgTICKETS:Members & Students: $9 // Non-Members: $18No one turned away for lack of funds. Email lia@beyttikkun.org for a different ticket price.
Event Description:
A monthly drop-in practice circle to sustain the long haul. In these intense and uncertain times, many of us carry grief, anger, urgency, and fatigue alongside our commitment to justice. The work is sacred — and it is demanding.
Collective Resilience is a monthly space to pause together.To breathe.To soften what has hardened.To remember that none of us carries this alone.
Rooted in Buddhist meditation, Jewish spiritual wisdom, and gentle embodied practice, this online space offers grounded tools to help metabolize stress, tend grief, and restore energy for sustained engagement. This is not “wellness” as escape — it is practice in service of collective liberation.
Each session may include:

Guided meditation and breathwork to regulate the nervous system
Self-compassion practices to meet burnout and inner criticism with care
Gentle, accessible movement (inspired by yoga and tai chi) to release tension - optional and can be done seated
Jewish spiritual grounding and reflection
Practical tools to bring into organizing spaces
Time for shared reflection and connection

Open to activists, organizers, and spiritually grounded justice-seekers of all backgrounds. Come once or come regularly — each session stands on its own. No prior meditation or mindfulness experience is required.
Sample Themes

Self-Compassion in Difficult Moments
Rest as Renewal
Working with Anger and Activation
Cultivating Sustainable Energy
Honoring Our Shared Humanity

About the Facilitator, Mar Munn:
Mar Munn (they/them) serves as the Program and Outreach Manager at Beyt Tikkun and has been teaching mindfulness, meditation, and embodied practice since 2017. With over two decades of experience in educational and nonprofit settings, Mar works with communities of adults and youth navigating stress, transition, and collective struggle. Their work weaves together Buddhist practice, trauma-informed facilitation, and social justice education. Mar is particularly devoted to supporting activists and big-hearted humans in cultivating resilience, self-compassion, and grounded presence — not as retreat from the world, but as nourishment for sustained engagement. Learn more about Mar and their current offerings at www.meditatewithmarissa.com

Community led Anti-zionist covid-cautious Kabbalat Shabbat service - MASKS REQUIRED (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-04-17 19:00 - 21:00
Masking Required
Date: April 17, 2026
Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland, a wheelchair accessible low fragrance venue located at 685 14th Street
Time: 7:00 PM
Dessert Potluck: If able, bring a dessert item to share for outdoor dessert potluck
Questions?: Please email Susala at JewitchyRitualist@gmail.com if you have any questions
Event Description:
Join Beyt Tikkun’s monthly community led Anti-zionist covid cautious Kabbalat Shabbat service. It will be a JeWitchy songful service that includes an Anti-zionist observance of Yom HaZikaron, the Jewish holiday of remembrance for those killed in war and through terrorism. An outdoor finger food snacks and desserts potluck will follow
COVID-Cautious Requirements:
Well fitting KN95 or better masking and rapid testing are required. Attendees will be asked to covid test ahead of time. All eating will happen outdoors. Some covid rapid tests and masks will be available onsite.
Accessibility:

Wheelchair accessible
Air filters: at least 2
Bathrooms: wheelchair accessible and gender neutral
Scents: The venue is low scent. Fragrance free soap will be available Please come fragrance free
Seating/Standing: wooden chairs without arms available for seating
Service animals welcome
Public Transportation Access: 4 blocks west of 12th St BART station in Oakland between Martin Luther King, Jr. Way and Castro St. Several AC Transit bus lines, including the 14 and the 62, pass near the church.
Parking: Parking is usually available on Castro St., some on 14th St., and around the corner on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. You can also park at the Clay St. garage at 14th & Clay. The entrance is on Clay.
Accessible Parking: There is one curb-side parking space designated for handicap use in front of the church and one on Castro St. just North of the light at 14th St.Please email Susala at JeWitchyRitualist@gmail.com if you have questions or other accessibility needs.

Shabbat Service & Torah Study w/ Rabbi Cat | Parsha Tazria-Metzora (HYBRID)
2026-04-18 10:00 - 13:00
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Parsha Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1 - 15:33)With Rabbi Cat ZavisDATE: Saturday, April 18thNEW START TIME! 10:00am Shabbat service // 11:00am Torah studyHYBRID:Online on Zoom &In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612QUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share with others.
A kid-friendly art area with paper, crayons, and markers will be available during the service, welcoming artists of all ages.

Access InformationLocation: First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland’s Uptown district, 7 minute walk from BART, and near several AC Transit bus lines.Masking Requirements: Masking OptionalScents: Please arrive scent-free or low scent.Wheelchair accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible.Seating: Wooden chairs without arms with backsParking: There is street parking, as well as several nearby car garages.

POSTPONED - The Path to Ecological Justice Travels Through a Free Palestine with Gopal Dayaneni (ONLINE)
2026-04-19 11:30 - 13:30
This Program has been postponed. New date will be announced via email and put on the events calendar.
Event Description:Genocide and Ecocide are two edges of the same sword. This workshop will explore the long relationships between ecological warfare and attempts to destroy and erase Palestine and the Palestinian people through settler-colonial occupation and war. We will also explore the how ecological resilience is a form of resistance; from seed saving to farming cooperatives to fisher-folk in Gaza maintaining their traditional life ways. This timely workshop (when Earth Day, Nakba Remembrance and the establishment of the State of Israel come together) will be informative, interactive, and offer opportunities for reflection.
About the Facilitator, Gopal Dayaneni:
Gopal Dayaneni (he/him) has been involved in working for social, economic, environmental and racial justice through organizing & campaigning, teaching, writing, speaking and direct action since the late 1980’s. He teaches in the Race and Resistance Studies Department at San Francisco State University, where his focus is on Ecological Justice. He is a co-founder of Movement Generation: Justice and Ecology Project which inspires and engages in transformative action towards the liberation and restoration of land, labor, and culture. He has been active in many people powered social movements, including the Global Justice/Anti-Globalization Movement, Direct Action to Stop the War, the Climate Justice movement, Take Back the Land, Occupy, as an ally with Black Lives Matter, Indigenous Sovereignty struggles and the movement for a Free Palestine.
TICKETS:Members: $18 // Non-Members: $27No one turned away for lack of funds. Email lia@beyttikkun.org for a different ticket price.

Year-Long Jewish Learning & Conversion Program Info Session
2026-04-19 14:00 - 14:30
Date: April 19, 2026Time: 2pm PT (5pm ET)Location: Online (Register to receive zoom link)Questions: rabbi@beyttikkun.org
Event Description:Join Rabbi Cat for an information session about Beyt Tikkun's year-long virtual Conversion and Jewish Learning Cohorts. Beginning in May, these programs begin a year-long journey of deepening Jewish learning and conversion.
We are offering two unique year-long, cohort-based programs for people seeking depth, integrity, and relationship-centered Jewish learning within an explicitly anti-Zionist framework.
These programs are for people who are longing for continuity, accountability, and learning that integrates into daily life. Both programs are rooted in community, lived practice, and a commitment to justice-oriented Judaism.
All programming is online, with an orientation in late April and a full learning rhythm from May 2026 through April 2027.
Click here to learn more about the programs.

Songs and Poetry of Solidarity with Palestine with Ami Goodman (ONLINE)
2026-04-25 13:00 - 14:30
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 1pm-2:30pm PT
Location: Online (Register to receive zoom link)
Questions: rabbi@beyttikkun.org
Event Description:
Join us for a heart-opening workshop where we will explore songs and poems in solidarity with Palestine, deepening our awareness of this vital cultural dimension of the struggle. Together, we will learn and reflect on songs and poems by Palestinians, as well as new works written by Jewish songwriters in solidarity with Palestine — including many in Yiddish. Through music and poetry, we’ll engage with the histories, identities, and lived experiences carried in these traditions.
All materials will be provided in transliteration, so no prior knowledge of Arabic or Yiddish is required. Come ready to listen, learn, share, and raise your voice in a spirit of connection and solidarity.
About the Facilitator, Ami Goodman:
Ami Goodman has had a lifelong love of music and the Jewish liturgy. He enjoys giving musical life to the prayers, aiming to enhance their meaning and messages via the melody. He has been leading the musical portions of the Beyt Tikkun High Holiday and Shabbat morning services since 2015, and is honored to co-lead with Rabbi Cat Zavis. He has also been learning and leading songs of protest, resistance and solidarity since his Bar Mitzvah, and has recently been gathering poems and leading songs in solidarity with Palestine. Ami is a retired physician in San Francisco.
TICKETS: Members: $18 // Non-Members: $27
No one turned away for lack of funds. Email lia@beyttikkun.org for a different ticket price.

Jewish Learning & Conversion Cohort Orientation
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:30
Curious about joining our Year-Long Jewish Learning & Conversion Cohort?
This orientation is a final chance to learn more and get a feel of it before making a commitment.
Our cohort is a year-long journey (May 2026 – April 2027) for those seeking deeper connection—to Jewish learning, ritual, community, and themselves. Whether you’re exploring conversion, reconnecting to Jewish identity, or longing for grounded, justice-rooted spiritual practice, this space is designed to support meaningful transformation over time.
If you’re feeling curious but not yet sure, you are warmly invited to join this orientation. Come get a feel for the community and decide by May 1st if it’s right for you; no pressure!
During the orientation, Rabbi Cat will guide us through:

A glimpse into the heart and intention of the cohort
Connection with fellow participants and shared motivations
An overview of the structure, rhythm, and commitments
Space for questions, reflections, and honest conversation

This is also a chance to experience the tone of our learning space: relational, thoughtful, and rooted in care.
We are intentionally cultivating a small cohort, allowing for depth, trust, and real relationship-building over the course of the year.
Questions? Email rabbi@beyttikkun.orgLearn more about the Cohort programs here.
If you are already signed up for the cohort, you do not need to register below. Registration below is only for participants still undecided.

May Day Kabbalat Shabbat Rabbi Cat (Masks Required, IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-05-01 18:15 - 20:30
📅 Date: Friday, May 1st⏰ Time: Doors open at 6:15pm. Services begin promptly at 6:30 PM. 📍 Location: In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612QUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
This Kabbalat Shabbat, we come together to celebrate May Day–a celebration of international workers' rights and solidarity. Our parsha this week, Emor, institutes a day off of work for everyone–the Shabbat. No one shall work on Shabbat, even servants and animals get the day off, even the land. It is a call for complete rest. Our ancient text instituted rights for workers regardless of social status. Come join us and as we celebrate a day of rest, restoration, and call for justice.
We hope you’ll join us for a vegetarian potluck Oneg afterward. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share, or consider making a donation if you’re unable to bring food.
Please register ahead of time to avoid needing to register on-site.
Accessibility:

Masks Required
Wheelchair accessible
Bathrooms: wheelchair accessible and gender neutral
Scents: The venue is low scent. Please come fragrance free
Seating/Standing: wooden chairs without arms available for seating
Public Transportation Access: 4 blocks west of 12th St BART station in Oakland between Martin Luther King, Jr. Way and Castro St. Several AC Transit bus lines, including the 14 and the 62, pass near the church.
Parking: Parking is usually available on Castro St., some on 14th St., and around the corner on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. You can also park at the Clay St. garage at 14th & Clay. The entrance is on Clay.
Accessible Parking: There is one curb-side parking space designated for handicap use in front of the church and one on Castro St. just North of the light at 14th St.

Liberation Theology Class with Rabbi Cat
2026-05-06 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-05-13 16:30 - 18:30
Date: Four Wednesdays | May 6, 13, 20, 27 Time: 4:30pm-6:30pm PT / 7:30pm-9:30pm ETLocation: Online (Register to receive zoom link)Questions: rabbi@beyttikkun.orgRegistration Fee: $360 Members // $500 Non-MembersNo One Turned Away for Lack of Funds. Email lia@beyttikkun.org for discounted registration
Event Description:
Developed and taught by Rabbi Cat Zavis, this four-week course explores liberation theology as a spiritual and moral framework for confronting injustice and transforming society. Rooted in the belief that the Divine stands with the oppressed, liberation theology reads sacred texts through the lens of those most marginalized and encourages us move from contemplation to courageous action.
Participants will examine the historical development of liberation theology, its core concepts—including structural sin, solidarity, and prophetic witness and rebuke—and its contemporary expressions through writers and in movements for racial, economic, climate, and social justice. The course integrates study, reflection, and discussion, inviting participants to connect theology with lived experience and collective transformation.
We will read excerpts from Black, Womanist, Latinx, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Palestinian liberation theologists, as well as sacred texts.
Learn more about Rabbi Cat here.
This class is also included in the year-long Jewish Learning and Conversion cohort beginning April 26th. Learn more about the cohort and sign up here.

Saturday Morning Shabbat Services and Torah Study with Aufruf to Celebrate the Upcoming Marriage of Sarah Goodman and Owen Strain
2026-05-09 10:00 - 13:00
Shabbat Services and Torah Study: Parsha Behar Bechukotai With Rabbi Cat ZavisDATE: Saturday, May 9TIME: 10 AM - 12:30 PM followed by Oneg ShabbatHYBRID:Online on Zoom &In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612QUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we will enjoy an oneg to celebrate Sarah and Owen.
Access InformationLocation: First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland’s Uptown district, 7 minute walk from BART, and near several AC Transit bus lines.Masking Requirements: Masking OptionalScents: Please arrive scent-free or low scent.Wheelchair accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible.Seating: Wooden chairs without arms with backsParking: There is street parking, as well as several nearby car garages.
If you'd like to arrange a carpool, you can offer or request a ride here from local community members.

Community led Anti-zionist covid-cautious Kabbalat Shabbat service - MASKS REQUIRED (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-05-15 18:30 - 21:00
Masking Required
Date: May 15, 2026Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland, a wheelchair accessible low fragrance venue located at 685 14th StreetTime: Doors open at 6:30. Services start at 7:00 PM.Finger Food Potluck: If able, please bring a finger food item to share for outdoor snack and dessert potluck.Questions?: Please email Susala at JewitchyRitualist@gmail.com if you have any questions
Event Description:Join Beyt Tikkun’s JeWitchy monthly community led Anti-zionist covid cautious Kabbalat Shabbat service. We will be observing the 78th anniversary of the Nakba (the catastrophe in Arabic), Palestine’s national day of remembrance for the ethnic cleansing that began then and continues today.
On May 15th 1948 Zionist forces attacked major Palestinian cities and destroyed more than 530 Palestinian villages killing approximately 13,000 Palestinians and expelling more than 750,000 Palestinians from their homes rendering them refugees. Israel celebrates May 15th, 1948 as the birth of Israel.
At this shabbat service we will be casting a spell to rid Judaism of trauma based violent behavior, zionist propaganda, dehumanization of Palestinians. The goal will be to recenter Judaism on the sanctity of life, justice and tikkun olam, repair of the world.
COVID-Cautious Requirements:Well fitting KN95 or better masking and rapid testing are required. Attendees will be asked to covid test ahead of time. All eating will happen outdoors. Some covid rapid tests and masks will be available onsite.
Accessibility:

Wheelchair accessible
Air filters: at least 2
Bathrooms: wheelchair accessible and gender neutral
Scents: The venue is low scent. Fragrance free soap will be available Please come fragrance free
Seating/Standing: wooden chairs without arms available for seating
Service animals welcome
Public Transportation Access: 4 blocks west of 12th St BART station in Oakland between Martin Luther King, Jr. Way and Castro St. Several AC Transit bus lines, including the 14 and the 62, pass near the church.
Parking: Parking is usually available on Castro St., some on 14th St., and around the corner on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. You can also park at the Clay St. garage at 14th & Clay. The entrance is on Clay.
Accessible Parking: There is one curb-side parking space designated for handicap use in front of the church and one on Castro St. just North of the light at 14th St.

Please email Susala at JeWitchyRitualist@gmail.com if you have questions or other accessibility needs.

Shabbat Service & Torah Study w/ Rabbi Cat | Parsha Bamidbar (HYBRID)
2026-05-16 10:00 - 13:00
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Parsha BamidbarWith Rabbi Cat ZavisDATE: Saturday, May 16thNEW START TIME! 10:00am Shabbat service // 11:00am Torah studyHYBRID:Online on Zoom &In-Person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612QUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person.
After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share, or consider making a donation if you’re unable to bring food.
A kid-friendly art area with paper, crayons, and markers will be available during the service, welcoming artists of all ages.

Access InformationLocation: First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland’s Uptown district, 7 minute walk from BART, and near several AC Transit bus lines.Masking Requirements: Masking OptionalScents: Please arrive scent-free or low scent.Wheelchair accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible.Seating: Wooden chairs without arms with backsParking: There is street parking, as well as several nearby car garages.

Jewish Learning Cohort Gathering - May
2026-05-17 14:00 - 15:30
This Cohort Gathering is for participants of the Year-long Jewish Learning and Conversion Cohort, beginning May 2026 through April 2027.
Questions: email rabbi@beyttikkun.orgLearn more about the Cohort programs here.
Program participants receive a zoom link for the monthly gathering via email upon registration.
The Cohort meets monthly on Sundays from 2pm-3:30pm PT on the following dates:May 17, 2026June 21, 2026July 19, 2026August 16, 2026September 27, 2026October 18, 2026November 15, 2026December 13, 2026 January 17, 2027February 21, 2027March 21, 2027April 18, 2027
