Talks & Conversations

Ages 18+

At the JCCSF, we’re always on a quest for something intangible but ever-so valuable: ideas! Through Talks & Conversations, we bring together thought leaders, entertainers, authors, and innovators to spark meaningful dialogue and inspire curiosity. As a community, sharing thoughts and ideas is part of our core mission. Fresh dialogue fuels our sense of discovery. And it brings us even closer together.

To keep the ideas coming and the conversations going, we bring you thought leaders, entertainers, authors and innovators.

Whether in panel discussions, intimate chats or virtual workshops, these distinguished guests offer diverse perspectives and windows into other cultures and mindsets.

Over the years, we’ve welcomed many luminaries to our stage. Some are well known. Others are rising stars and ones to watch. All are making an impact and elevating our sense of purpose.

Schedule

December 2025
Arts & Ideas

RABBI ANGELA BUCHDAHL – HEART OF A STRANGER

Date
Wednesday, December 3
Time
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
The first Asian-American rabbi shares the extraordinary, trailblazing story of how she became one of the most powerful ...
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$45 (Includes Book)
Arts & Ideas

Starring the Rock: Alcatraz in Hollywood Movies

Date
Thursday, December 4
Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Escape from the infamous island’s actual history to witness its less-than-factual cinematic representation in feature ...
Arts & Ideas

MICHAEL WINOGRAD & IRA KHONEN TEMPLE – LIVE IN CONCERT

Date
Monday, December 8
Time
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
An evening of new klezmer sounds, Yiddish anthems, and radical joy with two of today’s most thrilling and inventive ...
Arts & Ideas

Latkes Shmatkes: Enjoy Some Hanukkah Humor

Date
Wednesday, December 10
Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Get your holiday groove on in comedic style. Laugh along to a bevy of hilarious ditties and seasonal favorites.
Arts & Ideas

DEENA ARANOFF & NAOMI SEIDMAN – MOTHER'S MILK

Date
Thursday, December 11
Time
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Discover how Jewish culture has been sustained not just in texts and traditions, but in the everyday acts of family life.
January 2026
Arts & Ideas

Activist Artists: The Social Practice of Art

Date
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Not just for museum walls! Experience how contemporary artists engage in everything, everywhere, all at once to produce ...
Arts & Ideas

Motown Records: The Greatest Soul Music Label

Date
Monday, January 12, 2026
Time
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Groove to the sights and sounds of Motown, the American Black-owned record label founded 67 years ago on January 12, ...
Healthy Aging

Coloring Craze: Bolster Your Health Through Art

Date
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Time
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Try a fun exercise that is healing, therapeutic, and offers an entertaining way to keep sharp.
Healthy Aging

Cognified Fitness Training: Stay Mentally Sharp

Date
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Find out about the synergistic benefits of exercise and cognitive challenges on brain function, and get hip to a new ...
Arts & Ideas

STAV APPEL – THE TORAH IN THE TAROT

Date
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Time
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Unveil the hidden Jewish story shimmering within the Tarot de Marseille – one of Europe’s oldest and most ...

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