Sikh Gurdwara of San Francisco

Interfaith Collaboration Enables First Sikh Gurdwara of San Francisco

The Sikh Gurdwara of San Francisco announced today the celebration program for its first anniversary on June 9^th 2013.  The temple’s establishment was an answer to the growing Sikh community’s need for a local place of worship in the Peninsula. In the past it had been beyond the modestly sized community’s financial means to acquire property in the San Francisco Peninsula.  If a Peninsula Sikh wished to join a congregation, the only options were across the bay in Hayward or El Sobrante, or further South in San Jose. But when San Mateo Jewish Congregation, Peninsula Temple Beth El, offered to help bootstrap the Sikh Community’s goal to have a local place of worship last April, this all started to change.

Early last year, long time San Mateo Sikh residents, Apar Singh, Jagtinder Singh, and Mehar Singh Mahal, joined forces to spearhead an effort to address the need for a local place of worship. They conducted several meetings with the local Sikh community, which voiced singularly its desire for a Gurdwara within easy reach. But with the community lacking the resources to buy a property or even rent one on an ongoing basis, they turned to the support of other religious communities in the area.

Mahal’s daughter attended Aragon High School, where he was an active volunteer. Through school activities Mahal formed a friendship with another involved parent, Mr. Blair Brown, who is also the COO of Peninsula Temple Beth El (PTBE). PTBE is a long time established Reform Jewish congregation located in the heart of the San Francisco Peninsula, in San Mateo, California.

Mahal and Brown started to talk about the pent up demand for a place of worship amongst the Sikh community and the obstacles they faced. It was through these discussions that Mr. Brown offered to help by letting the Sikh community perform services at PTBE. “We are a welcoming congregation and always look to learn about other communities and encourage interfaith programs,” said Mr. Brown, COO of PTBE.  “We are delighted to help this Sikh community come together for religious programs.”

By getting PTBE’s help the SGSF started programs on April 15^th,  2012 with 100-person gathering, which has been growing steadily every month.  Over the past year, the congregation has donated generously to raise nearly $100,000 for SGSF.  “We hope to continue serving the Sikh community and raise sufficient funds to establish a permanent place of worship,” said Mehar Singh Mahal, President of SGSF. “Our goal is to have a local Gurdwara where the Sikh community can meet, pray, and perform cultural ceremonies such as weddings, births, and funerals.”

The SGSF services are held every month at 1700 Alameda De Las Pulgas, San Mateo, California. The scheduled is published at and we welcome all Sikhs as well as everyone else independent of faith or religious beliefs. Anyone can also join our online community through the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SFGurdwara?ref=hl

Contact Information:

Mehar Singh Mahal

President for SGSF

Phone: 650-520-5797

meharm@sbcglobal.net

Blair Brown

COO PTBE

Phone: 415-999-8740

bbrown@ptbe.org

Jagtinder Singh

Secretary for SGSF

Phone: 650-343-3096

Gurdwara.sf@gmail.com