Andrea has lived in San Francisco most of her life and works as the Director for the Center for Dementia Care and Care Management at Jewish Family and Children’s Services. Her work is rooted in empowering individuals to live with dignity, autonomy, and purpose throughout the aging process.

She and her family feel very fortunate to be a part of Sha’ar Zahav since 2022, when their two sons, Max and Jonah, started BSPM. Andrea, her husband Oleg and the kids can be found hiking around the city, watching baseball games, and chatting endlessly with friends on the weekends.

I’m honored and excited to serve on the Va’ad at Sha’ar Zahav. My wife and I joined this community during my conversion process in 2021. Prior to joining, we took Intro to Judaism as well as Journey to Judaism, both wonderfully offered via Zoom.

Through courses, Shabbat and holiday events, and committee meetings, I started meeting people. I found an amazing community at Sha’ar Zahav that I never had before and didn’t know was possible. I felt lucky to be a part of the family through my conversion process, getting married, and having my baby girl.

I have remained very involved with the Disability and Accessibility Committee and Ritual Committee and attended Va’ad meetings as a guest before joining the Board.

I am a fat, blind, Jewish, lesbian attorney. Disability rights and discrimination are my main areas of focus, and I also have extensive experience in immigration law and criminal defense. As Director of Fat Legal Advocacy Rights and Education, a project of Solovay Law, I advocate for fat people and work to advance anti-discrimination protections.

I look forward to bringing the perspective of my experiences and expertise to the Va’ad.

Britta joined Sha’ar Zahav in 2017 and has enjoyed writing drashes and leading Friday night and holiday services for the congregation for many years.

She is a licensed attorney and currently serves as Director of Investigations in the Office of Compliance and Policy at the University of California at Davis.

Most importantly, she is the wife of Jill and the “Eema” of Sammy, two other Sha’ar Zahavniks. She brings to Sha’ar Zahav her interests in ritual music, writing, and ethical community-building.

I joined Sha’ar Zahav in 2021, after the turbulent times of the pandemic prompted me to reflect on how much I valued having ritual and community in my life.

I have found a lot of joy and meaning in supporting our community, whether as a member of Hineni and the Chevra Kadisha, or nourishing our community as part of the Oneg Committee.

My connections at the synagogue also introduced me to the JFCS New Leaders Fellowship program, which I was grateful to participate in as part of the 2023 cohort. I hope to bring those learnings, as well as my commitment to service, to my role on the Board.

I first found Sha’ar Zahav because I was interested in finding a temple with a Chevra Kadisha where I could volunteer. After connecting with Howard Steiermann, we walked together to services one Friday night and the rest is basically history.

I went back the following week, having baked something to bring to Oneg, and my partner Jim and I pretty swiftly joined the temple and became involved in multiple facets of temple life.

Since joining, Jim and I have been married and welcomed a lovely new tiny human into our life with a beautiful naming service with friends and family at Sha’ar Zahav. It was my great honor to share my full Sha’ar Zahav story over the High Holy Days from the bimah, and I look forward to working with and getting to know the community during my time on the Va’ad.

I joined Sha’ar Zahav about 20 years ago, after an unintended 25-year vacation from any serious Jewish commitment. So what was it about Sha’ar Zahav that brought me back? It starts with people. We cherish each other for our uniqueness, for the neshama and ruach that makes each of us truly special — and yet we also share values and a philosophy that truly makes this a kehilla kedusha, a holy community.

Neil J. Young is a retired tax accountant with a broad range of tax and business experience leading tax and treasury functions of multinational companies. He has lived in San Francisco for 30 years and has volunteered with many organizations throughout his life.

At Sha’ar Zahav, Neil has co-chaired the Social Action Committee and led teams accompanying LGBTQ+ immigrants and others seeking asylum in the United States. Working alongside other members of the Social Action Committee, he has assisted with Open Shabbat services, organized Social Action programming for Yom Kippur, and organized Shabbat programs on homelessness, hunger and immigration.

Neil has also volunteered with and supported organizations including AJWS, AEPi, ADL, Jewish Federations and Rainbow World Fund. He joined the Rainbow World Fund Board in 2023 and serves as Treasurer and as one of the leaders of its refugee evacuation work.

Neil was also a leader of the Tax Executives Institute, Silicon Valley Chapter, serving as president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and Board member during eight years of service.

I started attending Sha’ar Zahav Friday night services in 2002. I met my husband Martin during a service in 2003; Rabbi Angel married us later that same year. We now have one child, Lia, and an adult daughter, Sadie.

Through the years I have been a teacher’s aide at BSPM, mentored three B’Mitzvah kids, co-chaired the former Welcoming Committee, helped develop Recovery Shabbat, and enjoyed attending services and events.

This is my third stint on the Va’ad, including nine months as Recorder in FY 2022–23. In my professional life, I work for the City at the Department of Early Childhood, where I am a manager in our city’s system of family resource centers.