Beyt Tikkun

Shabbat Service & Torah Study w/ Rabbi Cat | Parsha Devarim (HYBRID)
2026-07-18 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Parsha Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22) With Rabbi Cat Zavis
DATE: Saturday, July 18TIME: 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.
We hope you’ll join us for a vegetarian potluck Oneg afterward. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share, or consider making a financial donation if you’re unable to bring food.
Access Information

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.
Carpooling: Self-organized community carpooling available
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.

Jewish Learning Cohort Gathering - July
2026-07-19 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 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

Collective Resilience: Mindfulness & Self-Compassion for Activists (ONLINE)
2026-07-21 12:00 - 13:00
Date: July 21Third Tuesday of Every Month: July 21 · August 18 · September 15 · October 20Time: 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 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, tai chi and somatic work) 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 has worked with youth, university students, and adult communities 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 at www.meditatewithmarissa.com

Tisha b'Av Community Toolkit: Organize your own grief ritual from anywhere
2026-07-22
Can’t join us in Berkeley? Gather where you are.
This downloadable toolkit invites individuals and communities to create their own Tisha b’Av gathering for grief, mourning, reflection, and collective witnessing.
Tisha b’Av is the Jewish tradition’s annual invitation to stop, look honestly at suffering, and make space for heartbreak together. In a moment marked by genocide, ethnic cleansing, violence, climate crisis, and personal and communal loss, we offer this resource to support people in creating meaningful ritual wherever you are.
Whether you gather in a park, a living room, a synagogue, or alone with a few candles, this toolkit offers a structure for communal mourning rooted in Jewish tradition and oriented toward justice, compassion, and transformation.
The toolkit includes:

Rabbi Cat Zavis’ translation and interpretation of the Book of Lamentations (Eicha)
Suggested flow for a 60–90 minute gathering
Ritual and reflection prompts
Guidance for creating a simple, accessible service
Songs, readings, and optional closing practices

No experience leading prayer is necessary.
As Rabbi Nachman taught, “There is nothing more whole than a broken heart.” We hope this toolkit helps create space to grieve together, remember we are not alone, and begin imagining what becomes possible afterward.
Register below to receive the free toolkit. Once you register, you will receive an auto-reply email with a link to the toolkit.
You can also register below for Grieving in Public, our in-person gathering in Berkeley on July 22nd at 7:30pm. Learn more about the service here.
Rabbi Cat is going to participate in Rabbis for Ceasefire solidarity delegation for the Olive Harvest in Palestine in October. Beyt Tikkun is raising funds to cover her costs. Donations are welcome to help cover her costs. Thank you.

Grieving in Public: a Tisha b’av Park Service (In-Person in Berkeley)
2026-07-22 19:30 - 21:30
Date: July 22, 2026Time: 7:30-9:30pmLocation: In person at Live Oak Park in Berkeley - exact location shared upon registrationFood: Sundown on July 22nd marks the beginning of the 25-hour Tisha b'Av fast. If you'd like to share a pre-fast meal, join us at the park at 6:30pm. Feel free to bring pizza from Cheeseboard or another nearby spot. We'll ask everyone to finish eating before the service begins, in keeping with the fast.Covid Precautions: Masks are optional, we will be outdoors. More Access Information below event description.Questions?: rabbi@beyttikkun.orgIf you are not in the Bay Area, we have created a toolkit to help you organize your own Tisha b'Av service. Learn more here or register for our Tisha b'Av toolkit below to receive a free download.
Event Description:Tisha b’Av, often understood as the saddest day in Jewish tradition, invites us to grieve openly.
In this moment of ongoing violence and loss, many of us are carrying grief that feels too large to hold alone: genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem; kidnapping, torture, and family separation by the hands of ICE; escalating attacks on trans and queer communities; ongoing war and militarism; and the heartbreaks of our own local and personal lives.
Join us in Berkeley for an outdoor Tisha b’Av gathering of collective mourning, reflection, and ritual. Together, we will honor both historical and present-day suffering and consider what Jewish tradition asks of us in times of devastation.
Gathering on the grass by (battery-powered) candlelight, we will read Rabbi Cat Zavis’ translations and interpretations of the Book of Lamentations, connecting ancient texts of destruction and exile with contemporary experiences of empire, violence, and collective grief. We believe that creating a world rooted in justice and peace requires the courage to witness what is true.
As Rabbi Nachman taught: “There is nothing more whole than a broken heart.”
Tisha b’Av creates sacred space for grief, rage, and mourning—not in isolation, but in community. When we gather to grieve together, we remember we are not alone. Through shared sorrow, we cultivate compassion, connection, and the possibility of transformation.
Items to Bring or Prepare:Bring a blanket or chair to sit on or to share with others.
Cost: Attendance is free of cost.
We welcome donations to support Rabbi Cat’s participation in the Rabbis for Ceasefire solidarity delegation during the Olive Harvest in Palestine this October. If you make a donation, please add this note: "Olive Harvest"
Access Information:

Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Bathrooms: Public bathrooms available
Seating/Standing: We will be sitting on grass - you are welcome to bring a chair or blanket to sit on, or stay standing
Public Transportation Access: Live Oak Park is accessible by AC Transit bus lines with stops within a short walk of the park. The park is also about a 20–25 minute walk or a short bus ride from the Downtown Berkeley BART station.
Carpooling: Self-organized community carpooling available

Face-to-Face — Business/Planning Meeting
2026-07-26 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-23 18:00 - 19:00
The Face-to-Face Member Action Group holds monthly planning meetings via Zoom to coordinate upcoming activities and initiatives. Interested in learning more? Visit the Member Action Group page.

Family Kabbalat Shabbat & Potluck with JVP Kids (IN-PERSON Outdoors in Berkeley)
2026-07-31 17:15 - 19:00
Date: July 31, 2026Time: 5:15pm- services; 6:30 - vegetarian potluckLocation: Outdoors in Berkeley (0.3 miles from Ashby BART); Address emailed after registrationPotluck: Following family services, we’ll share a community meal. Please bring a vegetarian dish to contribute.Questions: email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
Event Description:Join Beyt Tikkun & JVP Kids & Families for an outdoor evening of song, crafting, and Shabbat ritual! 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 in the Bay Area.
Items to Bring or Prepare: Please bring a vegetarian dish to share! Anything to be comfortable outside, like layers, etc.
Access Information:

Backyard is wheelchair accessible.
There is a semi-accessible bathroom available (one step up)
The main bathroom is up about 20 steps.
Masking Optional

Shabbat Service & Torah Study w/ Rabbi Cat and Ami Goodman | Parsha Eikev (HYBRID)
2026-08-01 10:00 - 13:00
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Parsha Eikev (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25)With Rabbi Cat Zavis & Music Director Ami Goodman
DATE: Saturday, August 1TIME: 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.
We hope you’ll join us for a vegetarian potluck Oneg afterward. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share, or consider making a financial donation if you’re unable to bring food.
Access Information

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.
Carpooling: Self-organized community carpooling available
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.

Fundraising Committee Meeting
2026-08-04 12:00 - 13:00
The Fundraising Committee meets monthly via Zoom to plan and coordinate fundraising initiatives. Interested in learning more? Visit the Member Action Group page.

Outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Cat (IN-PERSON in Emeryville)
2026-08-07 18:15 - 20:30
📅 Date: Friday, August 7, 2026⏰ Time: Doors open at 6:15pm. Services begin promptly at 6:30 PM. 📍 Location: Outdoors on the border of Emeryville and Oakland, about 0.5 miles from MacArthur BartQUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
Join Rabbi Cat for a relaxed and welcoming Shabbat gathering. Together we'll light candles, share challah, enjoy a potluck meal, and connect in community. There will be no formal Shabbat service — just an opportunity to slow down, be together, and enjoy one another’s company.
If you'd like, bring an instrument and share some music. All are welcome. We hope to see you there!
Accessibility:

Gathering will be held outdoors (weather permitting); please dress accordingly.
Outdoor area is wheelchair accessible
4 steps to the house
The bathroom is not wheelchair accessible.
No shoes indoors, if possible.
A cat and retriever/labrador dog live in the home.
Masks are optional. Please don’t come if you have

Face-to-Face: Umm Al-Khair Meeting
2026-08-09 12:00 - 13:00
The Face-to-Face Member Action Group works to build meaningful connections with our Umm Al-Khair partners. This monthly meeting is held via Zoom with our UAK contact, Eid. Interested in learning more? Visit the Member Action Group page.

Saturday Morning Shabbat Services and Torah Study with Aufruf to Celebrate the Upcoming Marriage of Lia and Anna (HYBRID)
2026-08-15 10:00 - 13:00
Shabbat Services and Torah Study: Parsha Shoftim With Rabbi Cat ZavisDATE: Saturday, August 15TIME: 10 AM - 12:30 PM followed by celebratory lunchLOCATION:Outdoors in a backyard in North Oakland - exact addressed shared upon registration. Please note that there is limited space, so please register to reserve a spot.ANDLivestreamed onlineQUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.orgWHAT TO BRING: We will have some seating, but please bring your own folding chair if you are able to.
Join us in person for Shabbat and Torah service, with an aufruf for Beyt Tikkun's Operations and Social Media Manager, Lia Woertendyke to Anna Lehmann. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person.
Note: This will be livestreamed, but not will not be an interactive zoom torah study.
After Torah study, we will enjoy an oneg to celebrate.
Access Information for In-Person location:

Services will be outdoors, with limited shade
Please arrive scent-free
Masks are not required
There are about 6 steps up to the house where the bathroom is
House is low-scent, but not scent-free
Seating and standing room with a mix of outdoor couches, chairs, and blankets on the ground. Bring your own folding chair if possible.
Vegetarian oneg afterwards, with gluten free and dairy-free options
A dog lives in this home, but will not be present.

Jewish Learning Cohort Gathering - August
2026-08-16 14:00 - 15:30

Collective Resilience: Mindfulness & Self-Compassion for Activists (ONLINE)
2026-08-18 12:00 - 13:00
Date: August 18Third Tuesday of Every Month: July 21 · August 18 · October 20Time: 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 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, tai chi and somatic work) 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 has worked with youth, university students, and adult communities 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 at www.meditatewithmarissa.com

Israel/Palestine Social Action Group Meeting
2026-08-19 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-26 12:00 - 13:00
The Israel/Palestine Social Action Group meets weekly via Zoom to discuss and organize social action efforts. Interested in learning more? Visit the Member Action Group page.

Monthly Community led Anti-zionist covid-cautious Kabbalat Shabbat service (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-08-21 18:30 - 21:00
Masking Required
Date: August 21, 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, bring a finger food item to share for outdoor finger foods 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, followed by an outdoor finger foods 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.

Family Kabbalat Shabbat & Potluck with JVP Kids (IN-PERSON in Berkeley)
2026-08-28 17:15 - 19:00
Date: August 28, 2026Location: Backyard in Southwest Berkeley, 1.5 miles from Ashby BART; Exact location will be sent to you after registeringTime: 5:15pm- services; 6:30 - vegetarian potluckPotluck: Following family services, we’ll share a community meal. Please bring a vegetarian dish to contribute.
Accessibility:

Masking optional
Outside gathering
There is a flat entrance to the backyard and a flat entrance to the ADU bathroom.
It is a low scent household (i.e. unscented hand soap in the bathroom).
There is one elderly indoor/outdoor cat who does not like strangers and probably will make himself scarce during the event.

Save the date! We are excited to host a Family Kabbalat Shabbat in the East Bay. Stay tuned for more details and registration.

Self-Compassion & Teshuva: A Practice of Reflection, Repair, and Renewal (ONLINE)
2026-08-30 11:00 - 12:30
Date: August 30 2026Time: 11:00am-12:30pm PTLocation: Online - more details to followTicket Cost: $18 // Free with High Holiday Ticket // No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds - email lia@beyttikkun.org for low cost or free registration.
Event Description:As we enter the reflective season of Elul and prepare our hearts for the High Holy Days, join us for a gentle and grounding workshop exploring how self-compassion can support the sacred practice of teshuva.
Together, we’ll explore how self-compassion can help us engage in meaningful reflection without falling into shame or self-blame. Through guided meditation, accessible somatic practices (welcoming all bodies and abilities), journaling, and reflection, we’ll create space to reconnect with our values, celebrate our growth, meet our regrets and challenges with compassion, and set intentions for the year ahead.
The practices offered in this gathering are designed to support your engagement with Beyt Tikkun’s Teshuva Workbook, creating a compassionate foundation for the personal and collective work of the High Holy Days. Together, we’ll slow down, listen deeply to ourselves, and prepare our hearts and spirits for the transformative possibilities of this sacred season.
About the Facilitator, Mar Munn:Mar (they/them) is the Program and Outreach Manager at Beyt Tikkun and has been teaching mindfulness, meditation, and embodied practices since 2017. Using a trauma-informed lens, Mar’s work weaves together Jewish teachings, Buddhist practice, ritual, and social justice education. Mar is particularly committed to supporting activists and big-hearted humans in cultivating resilience, self-compassion, and grounded presence—not as a retreat from the world, but as nourishment for sustained engagement. Learn more about Mar and their work here: www.meditatewithmarissa.com

All High Holidays 5787 ticket holders received a promo code in their ticket confirmation email to register for this workshop at no additional cost. Check your confirmation email to find your promo code and complete your registration.

Selichot 2026 (HYBRID)
2026-09-05 18:00
Date: September 5, 2026Time: 6:00pm PTLocation: In-Person Outdoors in Richmond and online - exact address and livestream link sent upon registration
Event Description:Selichot means forgiveness. It is the service that is held the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah to prepare us for the High Holy Days. During the Selichot service, we will chant prayers that introduce us to the themes of the upcoming High Holy Days, most especially that of forgiveness.
By immersing yourself in the prayers before the High Holy Days begin, you will be able to sink more deeply into the experience at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is also the beginning of a transition from your daily, regular life to the holy time of the holidays.

All High Holidays 5787 ticket holders received a promo code in their ticket confirmation email to register for this workshop at no additional cost. Check your confirmation email to find your promo code and complete your registration.

Erev Rosh Hashanah (HYBRID)
2026-09-11 18:00 - 2026-09-13 21:30
High Holiday Services are online and in-person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland.A mask-required livestream room will be available at the church during all services. See Access Info below for details.
The High Holy Days invite us to slow down in a world that pulls us toward distraction, urgency, and disconnection. Together, we will practice staying present to ourselves, our communities, and the world around us. We believe that a Judaism Beyond Zionism calls us not to look elsewhere for belonging or liberation, but to root deeply where we are: cultivating presence, telling the truth, grieving what is broken, celebrating what is beautiful, and transforming our spiritual practice into action.
Grounded in Jewish Renewal prayers, rituals, and songs and a liberatory vision of Judaism, our services weave together inspiring teachings from Rabbi Cat Zavis, moving music and prayer, mindfulness, poetry, conversation, guest speakers, opportunities for collective action, and delicious shared meals. Together, we pray not to escape the world, but to become more fully present within it.
Rosh Hashanah Speakers:Rabbi Cat ZavisPatricia Contrera FloresRep. Lateefah Simon
Music with:Rowan Katz, High Holidays Musical DirectorJan Padover, PercussionNathan Swedlow, Upright BassBen Klausner, Guitar

Access Info for In-Person ServicesDuring all services, we will livestream the service to the Starr King Room inside First Unitarian Church of Oakland, where masks will be required at all times. Participants will be able to experience the service together in a fully masked indoor space, while also having opportunities to connect with speakers and other community members outdoors during meals and between services. When purchasing your ticket, you can indicate that you plan to join us in the mask-required space.

Masks: Optional in the main sanctuary, bathrooms, and shared spaces. Mask-Required Livestream Room available inside the church.
Wheelchair accessible
Air filters: 2 in main sanctuary and 1 in Mask-Required Livestream Room
Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible and gender neutral
Scents: The venue is low scent but not scent free. Please come fragrance free
Main Sanctuary Seating: Fixed wooden chairs with arms, floor seating (bring your own cushion)
Masks-Required Livestreaming Room Seating: Wooden chairs and folding plastic chairs without arms
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.

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of our high holidays journey. Rosh Hashanah includes:

Erev Rosh HashanahFriday, September 11, 6:00pm-9:30pm PDT
Children's Program: Tikkun In Action6:00pm -9:30pm

Land offering by Patricia Contreras Flores
Celebration of the universe with prayers and dance
Collective Prayer and song led by Rowan Katz and team of musicians
Mikveh meditation
Powerful words from Rabbi Cat Zavis, inviting us into “hereness”

Rosh Hashanah Day 1Saturday, September 12, 9:30am-4:00pm PDT, Catered Lunch: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Children's Program: Tikkun In Action9:30am-1:00pm

Morning Prayers
Torah Service
Guest Speaker Rep. Lateefah Simon
Shofar Blowing
Catered Lunch
Teaching from Rabbi Cat
Collective poetry workshop and exercise exploring our origin stories
Unetaneh Tokef

Rosh Hashanah Day 2: Mutual Aid Fair & CelebrationSunday, September 13, 11:00am-4:00pm

Public Gathering in the East Bay (In-person only):

Public Rosh Hashanah ritual: shofar blowing, tashlich, and more
Klezmer music, puppets, dancing, and celebration
Tabling by local organizations and mutual aid networks and campaigns
Opportunities to take action in the local community

Children's Programming: Tikkun in Action
Through themes of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and Palestinian solidarity, children will engage in art projects, story time, and other interactive activities in a warm, welcoming environment.
Programming is best geared for children ages 3–10, though all ages are welcome. Children under the age of 3 are welcome with a parent or caregiver present.
Registration per child per service is $36.Scroll to bottom of the page for registration.

High Holiday Ticket Prices
All tickets include Teshuva Workbook, Selichot, and Elul Mindfulness Workshop
High Holiday All Access Pass - $250/personRosh Hashanah Single Ticket - $135 (includes lunch)Yom Kippur Single Ticket - $135 (includes break-fast)

Reduced Rates All Services:Adult $144 Student $72

Reduced Rates RH or YK OnlyAdult $60Student $36

No One Turned Away for Lack of FundsIf you need a reduced rate, please email Mar at marissa@beyttikkun.org.
If you are able to donate more to help make our High Holiday services accessible to everyone regardless of financial circumstances, we'd be most grateful.

3 Ways to Get Tickets:

1. Non-Members: Reserve High Holiday Tickets Below
2. Become a Member: Receive two complimentary all-access tickets.
3. Current Members: Click here to access your complimentary tickets using the password sent by email.

RESERVE YOUR HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS

BECOME A MEMBER & GET 2 COMPLIMENTARY ALL-ACCESS TICKETS ($500 Value)

Rosh Hashanah Day 1 (HYBRID)
2026-09-12 09:30 - 16:00

Rosh Hashanah Day 2: Mutual Aid Fair and Celebration (IN-PERSON in Oakland)
2026-09-13
Mutual Aid Fair & Celebration: Building the World We Want
On Second Day Rosh Hashanah, we are going to gather at a park for a family friendly morning service and ritual experience including blowing of the shofar, getting to know each other better, tashlich, klezmer music, puppets, dancing, and celebration.
We have invited different local mutual aid networks and organizations to table at the event. In a world so broken and full of destruction, this day invites us to co-create, plug-in, and engage in acts of community care and building in diaspora, with our neighbors - to create the world we want.
About High Holidays 5787: The Sacred Practice of Being Here:
The High Holy Days invite us to slow down in a world that pulls us toward distraction, urgency, and disconnection. Together, we will practice staying present to ourselves, our communities, and the world around us. We believe that a Judaism Beyond Zionism calls us not to look elsewhere for belonging or liberation, but to root deeply where we are: cultivating presence, telling the truth, grieving what is broken, celebrating what is beautiful, and transforming our spiritual practice into action.
Grounded in Jewish Renewal prayers, rituals, and songs and a liberatory vision of Judaism, our services weave together inspiring teachings from Rabbi Cat Zavis, moving music and prayer, mindfulness, poetry, conversation, guest speakers, opportunities for collective action, and delicious shared meals. Together, we pray not to escape the world, but to become more fully present within it.
Rosh Hashanah Speakers:Rabbi Cat ZavisPatricia Contrera FloresRep. Lateefah Simon
Music with:Rowan Katz, High Holidays Musical DirectorJan Padover, PercussionNathan Swedlow, Upright BassBen Klausner, Guitar

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of our high holidays journey. Rosh Hashanah includes:

Erev Rosh HashanahFriday, September 11, 6:00pm-9:30pm PDT
Children's Program: Tikkun In Action6:00pm -9:30pm

Land offering by Patricia Contreras Flores
Celebration of the universe with prayers and dance
Collective Prayer and song led by Rowan Katz and team of musicians
Mikveh meditation
Powerful words from Rabbi Cat Zavis, inviting us into “hereness”

Rosh Hashanah Day 1Saturday, September 12, 9:30am-4:00pm PDT, Catered Lunch: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Children's Program: Tikkun In Action9:30am-1:00pm

Morning Prayers
Torah Service
Guest Speaker Rep. Lateefah Simon
Shofar Blowing
Catered Lunch
Teaching from Rabbi Cat
Collective poetry workshop and exercise exploring our origin stories
Unetaneh Tokef

Rosh Hashanah Day 2: Mutual Aid Fair & CelebrationSunday, September 13, 11:00am-4:00pm

Public Gathering in the East Bay (In-person only):

Public Rosh Hashanah ritual: shofar blowing, tashlich, and more
Guest speaker TBA
Klezmer music, puppets, dancing, and celebration
Tabling by local organizations and mutual aid networks and campaigns
Opportunities to take action in the local community

High Holiday Ticket Prices
All tickets include Teshuva Workbook, Selichot, and Elul Mindfulness Workshop
High Holiday All Access Pass - $250/personRosh Hashanah Single Ticket - $135 (includes lunch)Yom Kippur Single Ticket - $135 (includes break-fast)

Reduced Rates All Services:Adult $144 Student $72

Reduced Rates RH or YK OnlyAdult $60Student $36

No One Turned Away for Lack of FundsIf you need a reduced rate, please email Mar at marissa@beyttikkun.org.
If you are able to donate more to help make our High Holiday services accessible to everyone regardless of financial circumstances, we'd be most grateful.

3 Ways to Get Tickets:

1. Non-Members: Reserve High Holiday Tickets Below
2. Become a Member: Receive two complimentary all-access tickets.
3. Current Members: Click here to access your complimentary tickets using the password sent by email.

RESERVE YOUR HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS

BECOME A MEMBER & GET 2 COMPLIMENTARY ALL-ACCESS TICKETS ($500 Value)

Kol Nidre (HYBRID)
2026-09-20 18:00 - 21:00
High Holiday Services are online and in-person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland.A mask-required livestream room will be available at the church during all services. See Access Info below for details.
The High Holy Days invite us to slow down in a world that pulls us toward distraction, urgency, and disconnection. Together, we will practice staying present to ourselves, our communities, and the world around us. We believe that a Judaism Beyond Zionism calls us not to look elsewhere for belonging or liberation, but to root deeply where we are: cultivating presence, telling the truth, grieving what is broken, celebrating what is beautiful, and transforming our spiritual practice into action.
Yom Kippur is a time for deep reflection on the past year, honestly exploring where we have missed the mark, both individually and collectively. Through unique Al Cheyt prayers, we are called to take responsibility for our mis-steps. Our Teshuva Workbook helps guide our efforts to do so in meaningful ways so we can more fully live in alignment with our values.
The Yizkor service provides a meaningful time to reflect on the lives of loved ones, mentors, and martyrs that have passed from this world, giving us space to breathe into the depth of our feelings of loss and sorrow.
We end with a delicious vegetarian community potluck for break-fast. A time to celebrate and bask in community.
Grounded in Jewish Renewal prayers, rituals, and songs and a liberatory vision of Judaism, our services weave together inspiring teachings from Rabbi Cat Zavis, moving music and prayer, mindfulness, poetry, conversation, guest speakers, opportunities for collective action, and delicious shared meals. Together, we pray not to escape the world, but to become more fully present within it.
Yom Kippur Speakers:Rabbi Cat ZavisTiny (Lisa) Gray-GarciaHanan Huneidi
Music with:Rowan Katz, High Holidays Musical DirectorJan Padover, PercussionNathan Swedlow, Upright BassBen Klausner, Guitar

Access Info for In-Person ServicesDuring all services, we will livestream the service to the Starr King Room inside First Unitarian Church of Oakland, where masks will be required at all times. Participants will be able to experience the service together in a fully masked indoor space, while also having opportunities to connect with speakers and other community members outdoors during meals and between services. When purchasing your ticket, you can indicate that you plan to join us in the mask-required space.

Masks: Optional in the main sanctuary, bathrooms, and shared spaces. Mask-Required Livestream Room available inside the church.
Wheelchair accessible
Air filters: 2 in main sanctuary and 1 in Mask-Required Livestream Room
Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible and gender neutral
Scents: The venue is low scent but not scent free. Please come fragrance free
Main Sanctuary Seating: Fixed wooden chairs with arms, floor seating (bring your own cushion)
Masks-Required Livestreaming Room Seating: Wooden chairs and folding plastic chairs without arms
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.

Yom Kippur Includes:

Kol NidreSunday, September 20, 6:00pm-9:30pm PDT
Children's Program: Tikkun In Action6:00pm -9:30pm

Collective Prayer and song led by Rowan Katz and team of musicians
Powerful words from Rabbi Cat Zavis
Selichot
Poetry by Hanan Huneidi
Rabbi Cat’s Al Cheyt for modern times

Yom Kippur Morning ServiceMonday, September 21, 9:30am-2:00pm PDT
Children's Program: Tikkun In Action9:40am -2:00pm

Morning prayers
Torah Service
Meditation
Guest Speaker Tiny (Lisa) Gray-Garcia from POOR Magazine

Yom Kippur Afternoon ServiceSunday, September 21, 4:00pm - 7:30pm PDT
Potluck Break-Fast:7:30pm

Yizkor
Mincha (Torah and haftorah service)
Ne’ilah
Break fast

Children's Programming:Tikkun in Action
Through themes of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and Palestinian solidarity, children will engage in art projects, story time, and other interactive activities in a warm, welcoming environment.
Programming is best geared for children ages 3–10, though all ages are welcome. Children under the age of 3 are welcome with a parent or caregiver present.
Registration per child per service is $36.Scroll to bottom of the page for registration.

High Holiday Ticket Prices
All tickets include Teshuva Workbook, Selichot, and Elul Mindfulness Workshop
High Holiday All Access Pass - $250/personRosh Hashanah Single Ticket - $135 (includes lunch)Yom Kippur Single Ticket - $135 (includes break-fast)

Reduced Rates All Services:Adult $144 Student $72

Reduced Rates RH or YK OnlyAdult $60Student $36

No One Turned Away for Lack of FundsIf you need a reduced rate, please email Mar at marissa@beyttikkun.org.

If you are able to donate more to help make our High Holiday services accessible to everyone regardless of financial circumstances, we'd be most grateful.

3 Ways to Get Tickets:

1. Non-Members: Reserve High Holiday Tickets Below
2. Become a Member: Receive two complimentary all-access tickets.
3. Current Members: Click here to access your complimentary tickets using the password sent by email.

RESERVE YOUR HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS

BECOME A MEMBER & GET 2 COMPLIMENTARY ALL-ACCESS TICKETS ($500 Value)

Yom Kippur (HYBRID)
2026-09-21 09:30 - 20:30

Kabbalat Shabbat in the Sukkah(IN-PERSON in Emeryville)
2026-09-25 18:15 - 20:30
📅 Date: Friday, September 25, 2026⏰ Time: Doors open at 6:15pm. Services begin promptly at 6:30 PM. 📍 Location: Outdoors on the border of Emeryville and Oakland, about 0.5 miles from MacArthur BartQUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
Come celebrate Shabbat with us in the sukkah! This joyful, kid-friendly gathering is for the whole community.
We’ll decorate the sukkah together with fruit and handmade decorations, learn about what a sukkah is and why we build one, and sing Shabbat songs. We’ll welcome Shabbat with candlelighting, blessings, and challah before sitting down to enjoy a meal together.
Bring your friends, family, kids, and creativity—and a dish to share if you can. Come help us make the sukkah beautiful and welcome Shabbat as a community!
Items to Bring or Prepare:

Vegetarian dish to share
Any supplies to decorate the sukkah

Accessibility:

We will be gathering outside
There are 4 steps to enter the house and 4 steps to the backyard. You can enter the backyard through the driveway without any steps.
The bathroom is not wheelchair accessible.
There are folding chairs, and floor pillows for seating.
Please try to be scent-free.
No shoes indoors, if possible.
A cat and a retriever/labrador dog live in the home.
COVID: Masks are optional. Please don’t come if you have any symptoms. An air filter will be provided indoors. Windows can be opened upon request.

Sukkot Shabbat & Torah Study w/ Rabbi Cat (HYBRID)
2026-09-26 10:00 - 13:00
DATE: Saturday, September 26TIME: 10:00am Shabbat service // 11:00am Torah studyHYBRID:Online on Zoom &In-Person in the Sukkah in Rabbi Cat's backyard in EmeryvilleQUESTIONS: Email rabbi@beyttikkun.org
Sukkot is a joyous celebration of the fall harvest and a reminder that our ancestors lived in tents in the desert, often feeling a lack of stability throughout our history. During the service, we will celebrate the universe with morning prayers, including Hallel prayers for the festival, the shaking of the etrog and lulav, and reading selections from Kohelet (Ecclesiastes).
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.
Access Information

We will be gathering outside
There are 4 steps to enter the house and 4 steps to the backyard. You can enter the backyard through the driveway without any steps.
The bathroom is not wheelchair accessible.
There are folding chairs, and floor pillows for seating.
Please try to be scent-free.
No shoes indoors, if possible.
A cat and a retriever/labrador dog live in the home.
COVID: Masks are optional. Please don’t come if you have any symptoms. An air filter will be provided indoors. Windows can be opened upon request.

Jewish Learning Cohort Gathering - September
2026-09-27 14:00 - 15:30

Jewish Learning Cohort Gathering - October
2026-10-18 14:00 - 15:30
