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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. Whether you seek fresh perspectives, cultural enrichment, or fascinating discussions and adult lectures, this program offers a unique opportunity to engage with some of the most compelling voices in their fields. 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.

Join us for an upcoming event at our community center in San Francisco. We look forward to seeing you!

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

Schedule
July 2025
Thu
31

Arts & Ideas

Contemporary Comedic Genius: Stephen Colbert & Comedy Central

Date
Thu, July 31
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
How did Stephen Colbert get his Late Show hosting chops? In this lecture by Martin Marshall, let’s revisit his outrageous and enlightened persona from his earlier shows.
Learn More SOLD OUT
Free
August 2025
Thu
7

Arts & Ideas

Our Legacy: The First Use of Nuclear Weapons

Date
Thu, August 7
Time
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
On this 80-year anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we’ll revisit the thinking of those who developed the bomb, agonized or praised its use, and speculated on its future role.
Learn More REGISTER
Free
Wed
13

Arts & Ideas

Matinee Movie: Hiroshima Mon Amour

Date
Wed, August 13
Time
1:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Experience this 1959 classic which dramatizes the effects of the atomic bomb as a backdrop to a love story between a Japanese man and a French woman.
Learn More REGISTER
Free
Thu
14

Arts & Ideas

Nostalgia Served Fresh: Exploring Religion Through Deli Cuisine

Date
Thu, August 14
Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Discover how artisanal delis reveal the dynamic nature of American Jewish religious practice.
Learn More REGISTER
Free
Tue
19

Arts & Ideas

The Marx Brothers: The Greatest Jewish Comedy Team

Date
Tue, August 19
Time
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Relish the life and times of the multi-talented Marx siblings, sons of immigrants whose humor, although not overtly Jewish, was deeply connected to it.
Learn More REGISTER
Free
Tue
26

Arts & Ideas

Funny Stuff: How Great Cartoonists Make Great Cartoons

Date
Tue, August 26
Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Learn as the "cartoon professors" reveal what makes great cartoons work. Get a hearty laugh as they present New Yorker-style cartoons for your viewing pleasure.
Learn More REGISTER
Free
November 2025
Sun
2

Arts & Ideas

IRA GLASS & ETGAR KERET

Date
Sun, November 2
Time
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
The This American Life host and renowned Israeli author present a live performance of their shared podcast, Half-Baked Stories about my Dead Mother
Learn More Get Tickets

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Arts & Ideas On Demand
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