JCCSF to Celebrate Newly Renovated Kanbar Hall with Sarah Silverman Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 26, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Will Reisman
[email protected]
415-420-0905
Jewish Community Jewish Community Center of San Francisco to Celebrate Newly Renovated Kanbar Hall with Sarah Silverman Event on March 19
Renovated theater at JCCSF will feature multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art technological
upgrades, allowing it to expand programming and host premier film screenings
SAN FRANCISCO, CA— Sarah Silverman, the two-time Emmy Award-winning comedian, actress,
and writer, will take part in a special onstage conversation on March 19 at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) in celebration of the reopening and renovation of
its premier performing arts venue Kanbar Hall.
Since September 2025, Kanbar Hall—the longtime home of the JCCSF’s Arts & Ideas program —
has undergone a major renovation to become a state-of-the-art venue. Key upgrades
include the installation of a high-performance giant projection screen and immersive Dolby
Atmos/5.1 surround sound, acoustic wall panels, a new 4K DCP projection system, and fresh,
updated seating and carpeting. The upgrades are designed to turn the space into a premier
venue for various events, building upon its previous capabilities.
“I truly believe these upgrades will put the JCCSF on the map as the go-to destination for film in
San Francisco, introducing Kanbar Hall to an entirely new community of movie-lovers,” said
JCCSF Chief Executive Officer Paul Geduldig. “The investments we are making in this beloved
performing arts space show that we are committed to providing the best possible services for
our members while opening our space to new and exciting opportunities. We are incredibly
excited to celebrate this new space with Sarah Silverman, a beloved comedian and cultural
icon. This a great way to showcase how Kanbar Hall is not only the heart of the local Jewish
community, but also a place for people of all backgrounds to congregate and be entertained
together.”
As a result of the extensive updates, the new, 438-person-capacity Kanbar Hall is expanding its
programming as a premier venue for film screenings and festivals in the Bay Area. To that end,
the JCCSF is proud to announce a new, cornerstone partnership with the Jewish Film Institute
(JFI), the legacy cultural arts organization that presents the annual San Francisco Jewish Film
Festival (SFJFF), produces year-round public programs, and directly supports the advancement
of independent films and filmmakers through fellowships and grants. JFI will use Kanbar Hall as
one of its key venues for the 46th edition of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival from July 17–
26, 2026 and curate select year-round programming at the JCCSF.
“This expanded partnership between JFI and the JCCSF strengthens our shared commitment to
support artistic free expression and bring diverse communities together through the power of
cinema in this fantastic, state-of-the-art space.” said Lexi Leban, Executive Director, Jewish
Film Institute.
Additionally, the JCCSF will host the closing weekend of the San Francisco International Film
Festival from May 2 – May 3 presented by SFFILM.
Prior to those events, Kanbar Hall will resume its regular Arts & Ideas calendar—the JCCSF
cultural arts program that connects audiences with authors, artists and performers for inspiring
talks, conversations and performances.
Sarah Silverman is a two-time Emmy Award–winning comedian, actress, writer, and producer.
She most recently starred in the Netflix stand-up special PostMortem (2024), nominated for a
Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award, and two Emmys, following her acclaimed 2023 Max special
Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love. She also hosts the weekly Sarah Silverman Podcast and
appeared in Netflix’s Oscar-nominated Maestro (2023) as Leonard Bernstein’s sister, Shirley.
A singular force in stand-up, Silverman toured nationally with her PostMortem tour in 2025. She
previously created and hosted the Emmy– and Writers Guild–nominated Hulu series I Love You,
America, starred in Comedy Central’s The Sarah Silverman Program, and began her television
career on Saturday Night Live. Her stand-up specials include the Emmy-winning We Are
Miracles and Grammy-nominated A Speck of Dust, alongside film and voice roles in Battle of the
Sexes, I Smile Back, Wreck-It Ralph, Masters of Sex, and Bob’s Burgers. Her memoir The
Bedwetter was a New York Times bestseller later adapted into a sold-out stage musical, and she
is currently making her Broadway debut in Simon Rich’s All Out: Comedy About Ambition.
The Kanbar Hall upgrades were made possible through a generous legacy gift from the estate of
Maurice Kanbar. A local entrepreneur, inventor and investor, Kanbar’s gifts across his lifetime
and beyond add up to an extraordinary $8 million in support of the JCCSF. Through his
transformative generosity, the Kanbar Hall space continues to evolve.
Although Sarah Silverman – In Conversation standard tickets are currently sold out, a special
limited release of tickets will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, March 3.
To find the full slate of Arts & Ideas programming at Kanbar Hall, visit www.jccsf.org/arts-ideas.
ABOUT THE JCCSF
Urban and inclusive, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco enriches, educates, and celebrates this vibrant City and its people. The JCCSF explores Jewish culture and traditions as a pathway for joyful, meaningful living. In creating a community that welcomes everyone, the JCCSF uses the power of gathering together to share, inspire, support and restore.
Through an array of programs and experiences, audiences can enjoy an appearance by renowned performers and cultural icons, as well as to spirited holiday celebrations, and interactive pop-ups inspired by Jewish culture. The Fitness Center supports wellness through exceptional trainers and a daily lineup of classes including yoga, Pilates, and tai chi. Preschoolers discover the vital early love of learning at one of the three exceptional schools, and year-round, the JCCSF enriches the lives of youngsters of all ages and whole families.