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

November 2025
Arts & Ideas

MICHAEL W. TWITTY & BRYANT TERRY – RECIPES FROM THE AMERICAN SOUTH

Date
Wednesday, November 5
Time
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Two of today’s leading culinary voices explore food, memory, and Black Southern identity in a rich and deeply ...
Arts & Ideas

SARAH HURWITZ – AS A JEW

Date
Monday, November 10
Time
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Come hear an urgent and deeply personal call to reclaim what it means to be Jewish – on our own terms. The former ...
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$42 (Includes Book)
Arts & Ideas

RAINA TELGEMEIER – FACING FEELINGS

Date
Tuesday, November 18
Time
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
The legendary cartoonist returns to the JCCSF with a powerful new book – and a heartfelt conversation about how we ...
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$40 (Includes Book)
Arts & Ideas

The Beach Boys: If Everybody Had an Ocean

Date
Thursday, November 20
Time
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Thrill to film clips from the heyday of California's greatest harmony-heavy rock band, from "Surfin' USA" through "Good ...
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.

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