Bay Area Membership
Ecstatic music, prayer, and meditation — rooted in the integrity of Jewish tradition. A living community, gathering together in the Bay Area.
Explore Membership
A Community Too Special to Not Nurture
A Message from Rabbi Brian and Lisa Schachter-Brooks
It was after our last Yom Kippur services ended at their always-ecstatic high note — over a hundred people erupting in dance and joy, even after a full day of fasting — that we looked at each other and knew: this community is so alive and passionate — we need to help it grow to the next level. Even here in the Bay where there are so many Jewish communities, what we have here is truly unique among the many wonderful options.
What's New This Year
9 Shabbat Gatherings Per Year
More frequent in-person Shabbat services in the Bay Area, led by Rabbi Brian Yosef and the full BRIAH ensemble.
High Holy Days
Our continued tradition of ecstatic and contemplative celebrations for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Our membership rates are structured at roughly half the cost of a typical Bay Area synagogue — as we are still not able to offer a full schedule of events. We know that spiritual life thrives when lived together in community, and your membership makes it possible.
Membership Tiers
All membership tiers include the same in-person and pastoral benefits mentioned above. Higher tiers deepen your engagement with Torah of Awakening's online learning platform.
- Pastoral support for all lifecycle rituals, monthly Shabbat services and High Holy Days
- Introductory call with Rabbi Brian Yosef
- Daily meditation practice on Zoom
- Beginner level course materials
- Access to guided meditations
- Online Torah of Awakening Siddur
- And more
- All Nefesh benefits, plus:
- Pastoral support for all lifecycle rituals, monthly Shabbat services and High Holy Days
- Annual Spiritual Coaching call with Rabbi Brian Yosef
- Advanced course materials
- Additional weekly learning and practice sessions
- All Nefesh and Ruakh benefits, plus:
- Pastoral support for all lifecycle rituals, as your membership contributions support our year-round Shabbat services and High Holy Days
- 4 additional annual Spiritual Coaching calls with Rabbi Brian Yosef
- Physical copies of new books and teachings mailed to you annually
The Music of BRIAH
At the heart of every Torah of Awakening Bay Area gathering is sacred music ensemble BRIAH — the sonic container that makes the ToA Bay Area experience so joyful and transformative.
Together with collaborating musicians, BRIAH creates the sacred musical container that makes our Shabbat and High Holy Day services so joyful and transformative.
For Our Founding Members
If you have been a Torah of Awakening Bay Area member since our early days — thank you. You quite literally made this community possible. Since 2017, your consistent support has been the foundation beneath every Shabbat gathering, every High Holy Day service, every moment of music and prayer we have shared together.
We are reaching out to you personally about the transition to our new membership structure. Watch for an email from us soon. We want to honor your history with us and make this transition feel right.
Questions in the meantime? Write to Lisa at lisa@torahofawakening.com
Become a ToA Angel
A small circle of generous donors makes it possible for us to hold the door open wide — for new seekers, for the community as a whole, and for those for whom standard membership is not yet possible.
It is largely due to this small circle that our Shabbat and High Holy Day services have been possible at all for the past nine years.
Annual Gift of $5,000 or MoreIf you are in a position to make an annual gift at this level, we would be honored to speak with you personally about what your generosity makes possible for the community.
What the Community Says
Reb Brian Yosef is an amazing spiritual teacher, able to inspire his students in profound ways that contribute to their spiritual transformation. And he is a masterful composer and musician.— Rabbi Burt Jacobson z"l, founder of Kehilla Community Synagogue, Oakland, California;
author of This Precious Moment: The Wisdom of the Ba'al Shem Tov
Brian's gentle guidance makes communion with the Divine possible.— Estelle Frankel, TOA Bay member & teacher; author of Sacred Therapy and The Wisdom of Not Knowing
The teachings always seem to be just what I need at the time!— Pearl Werfel, Torah of Awakening Bay Area member
Questions & Answers
Your Bay Area membership includes full online access, so you won't need to maintain a separate online membership. We'll work this out with you individually to make the transition seamless.
No tickets are needed for Shabbat gatherings — we'd like to keep these open so new people can experience Torah of Awakening.
Yes — we gratefully accept one-time gifts. Visit our donations page to make a contribution that supports the Bay Area community.
BRIAH is the ensemble that joins Rabbi Brian Yosef to lead our music and prayer: Jeannette Ferber, Renée Benmeleh, Josh Miele, Yari Mander, and other collaborating musicians. Their presence and their sound are central to the ToA Bay Area experience — it is the music that makes our services truly come alive.
Rosh Hashanah: September 11–12 at Northbrae Community Church, Berkeley
Yom Kippur: September 20–21 at Northbrae Community Church, Berkeley
Members receive discounted tickets and a reserved seat. Details can be found at bayarea.torahofawakening.com/high-holy-days and will be sent by email.
Financial Accessibility
We want this community to be both sustainable and inclusive. If membership at the rates above isn't workable for you right now, please reach out — there is a place for you.
Write to Lisa privately at lisa@torahofawakening.com
Spiritual Life Is Meant to Be Lived Together
Your membership makes the music, the prayer, the community — all of it — possible. Join us.