Shir Ha-Ma'alot

Shir Ha-Ma'alot Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Shir Ha-Ma'alot, Religious organisation, 3652 Michelson Drive, Irvine, CA.

Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot (SHM) is a Reform Jewish community that provides a spiritual home guided by memory and mitzvah, committed to mentsch making and making meaning.

05/29/2026

You Shall Be A Blessing | Thought For Shabbat with Rabbi Steinberg, 5-29-2026

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What a great Shavuot night of treats and study we had at SHM! Rabbi DePaolo and Cantor Karlin led a deep night of learni...
05/27/2026

What a great Shavuot night of treats and study we had at SHM!

Rabbi DePaolo and Cantor Karlin led a deep night of learning. They both taught about the giving of the Torah at Sinai, sharing fresh views on this core theme.

Our group of learners dove right in. We shared bright thoughts while we talked at our tables, and then spoke with the whole room.

We loved the sweet spread of desserts, topped off by the best homemade cheesecake from SHM member Bruce Gary! (If you go to our yearly Blood Drives, you know how good Bruce’s cakes are!

05/22/2026

Chag Shavuot Sameach - Happy Shavuot!

The office is closed today in observance of the holiday Shavuot. Therefore, we wanted to share some of the significance of this special holiday with you.

One of the names our rabbinic ancestors used to refer to Shavuot is Z’man Matan Torateinu (the Season of the Giving of our Torah). This draws our attention to one of the traditional ways we celebrate Shavuot, when we stay up late into the night learning and we tell the story of our ancestors receiving the Torah at Sinai. Yet, another name for Shavuot is Chag HaBikkurim (Holiday of the First Fruits). This refers to the agricultural roots of Shavuot when our Israelite ancestors would bring the very first of their harvest to the Temple. There is something special about the first fruits of the year, our ancestors saw them as particularly meaningful way to connect to God.

For many years, the Jewish people in Diaspora focused on Z’man Matan Torateinu, when it came to Shavuot. However, as more and more Jews returned to the Promised Land in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a desire to reconnect with ancient Israelite rituals and many Israelis reclaimed Chag HaBikkurim as a celebration of the flowering of the Land. To this day, many Israeli communities hold celebrations around Shavuot to mark the precious first fruits, usually with children carrying baskets of flowers and produce, dancing and leading parades.

Last year, Cantor Karlin brought this tradition to SHM as we celebrated Chag HaBikkurim at Family Services with our own first fruits, our youth choir singers and any young children who wished to participate, wearing flower crowns, and carrying baskets of to the front of the sanctuary to celebrate the completion of their year of learning. Please enjoy this video from the service, with the special song Cantor Karlin wrote for the celebration – “Baskets of Sunshine.”

How fitting that Shavuot always comes at the end of a religious school year. It is a time to celebrate all that we have learned together, and the best that we have to offer to our world – our littlest learners. Let us celebrate our Torah, our First Fruits, and all the gifts we can offer to our community!

We hope to see you at Shabbat services this evening at 7 pm.

05/15/2026

More than Just a Number | Thought For Shabbat with Rabbi DePaolo, 5-15-2026

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⛳️ Another year on the green for the books!The 5th Annual SHM Golf Tournament was a massive success, bringing together n...
05/13/2026

⛳️ Another year on the green for the books!

The 5th Annual SHM Golf Tournament was a massive success, bringing together nearly 100 golfers for a day of competition and community. This year felt extra special as we finally captured our very first full group photo! It was a true highlight of the day.

We also want to give a huge shoutout to SHM member and golfer Hannah Speizer for hosting the SHM Shot Challenge; it was as tough as it was fun, keeping everyone on their toes!

Lastly, we couldn’t have done this without the hard work of our tournament committee chairs and the incredible energy of our SHM volunteers. Thank you for making this our best year yet.

Check out the highlights from the day! 📸👇

05/08/2026

The Combo Works | Thought For Shabbat with Rabbi Steinberg, 5-8-2026

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As we prepare for Shabbat, we look back at last week from our special Shabbat Service honoring Heather Rosenthal.We came...
05/08/2026

As we prepare for Shabbat, we look back at last week from our special Shabbat Service honoring Heather Rosenthal.

We came together to celebrate Heather’s 10 years as a both teacher and leader in our education program. The evening was filled with gratitude for her passion, creativity, and the lasting relationships she has built with our families.

The service was made even more meaningful by a heartfelt musical performance from our youth and the voices of our spirited 2nd and 3rd graders leading us in prayer. Between the special tributes and a few surprises, it was a beautiful way to mark this milestone anniversary.

Thank you, Heather, for your unwavering dedication to our children and community. Your impact is truly immeasurable!

05/01/2026

The Top Five Holy Days | Thought For Shabbat with Rabbi Steinberg, 5-1-2026

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"Tikkun olam" represents the Jewish commitment to repairing the world through direct action and social responsibility. ...
04/30/2026

"Tikkun olam" represents the Jewish commitment to repairing the world through direct action and social responsibility. Every act of service serves as a tangible step toward fixing what is broken and restoring balance to our environment.

Our NaSHiM and Brotherhood groups embodied this mission during their recent beach cleanup in Dana Point! Volunteers gathered at the shoreline to remove trash and protect the local ecosystem. We are so proud of everyone who showed up and wanted to give a shout out to this great group of people who represented SHM!

04/24/2026

The Guideposts for Ethical Judaism | Thought For Shabbat with Rabbi Steinberg, 4-24-2026

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Address

3652 Michelson Drive
Irvine, CA
92612

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19498572226

Website

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