Community Resources

Community Resources

The Northern California Board of Rabbis does not necessarily endorse any of these sites listed, we merely share them as a resource to the community.

LGBTQIA+ Spiritual Resources:

• Congregation Sha’ar Zahav: Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, the Congregation of the Golden Gate, is a progressive Reform synagogue, established in 1977. They are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual Jews, together with family and friends, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Members come from a wide range of religious, ethnic, class and cultural backgrounds to worship God with egalitarian, feminist and gay-positive Jewish liturgy.
• Keshet: Keshet’s mission is to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Jews are fully included in all parts of the Jewish community. In the Greater Boston area, Keshet offers social and cultural events for GLBT Jews ranging from Jewish text study to an annual GLBT Jewish speed-dating gala, Keshet Quick Dates. Nationally, Keshet offers support, training, and resources to create a Jewish community that welcomes and affirms GLBT Jews.
• Transtorah: Transtorah provides pastoral support and resources to trans Jews as well as to Jewish communities trying to be more trans inclusive. It includes healing resources like rituals for surgeries.

Senior and General Social Service Agencies:

• Aging with Dignity: Aging with Dignity is a national non-profit organization with a mission to affirm and safeguard the human dignity of individuals as they age and to promote better care for those near the end of life. The website includes downloadable advanced directives.
• Felton Institute: The Felton Institute’s mission is to is to transform the quality of life and promote social justice to accelerate community led change with the vision of all having equitable access to innovative, high-quality, evidence-informed services. They help older adults to flourish in their communities with dignity, security, and a high quality of life.
• Institute on Aging: Helps Bay Area seniors live independently.
• Jewish Family and Children Services: Comprehensive social services to support people of all ages, beliefs, and backgrounds.

Spiritual Retreat Centers:

• AriYael Jewish Healing Center: Provides support for individuals and families responding to illness, loss, and all life transitions. They provide a wide array of healing programs, support groups and classes to the East Bay Jewish community.
• Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center: Has information about its Jewish spiritual retreats and programs that may complement the work of healing centers. It also has a useful section of links.
• Mourning Collective: Provides supportive experiences to help you transform grief.

Miscellaneous:

• Hebrew Calendar Converter
• Resource: A Guide to Jewish Life in the Bay Area: Includes listings of Bay Area services and synagogues.
• San Francisco Jewish Federation and Endowment Fund
• Yerusha: Teachers and classes addressing personal legacy and end-of-life preparation, based on the book From Age-ing to Sage-ing, by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Ronald S. Miller.