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Home > Membership > OS Connect

OS Connect

Introducing OS Connect, Or Shalom's Virtual Bulletin Board

Designed to strengthen our connections, this member-only space will function like a virtual bulletin board, serving as a hub for sharing and discovering opportunities, supporting one another, and building community.

What you can do in this group

  • Promote non-Or Shalom Events: Share details and invite others to cultural gatherings, workshops, or other activities in the broader community that may interest members (especially if you are helping to lead these programs!)
  • Make Requests or Offers: Need a ride to services? Looking for a new dentist? Have a piano to give away? This group is a place to seek help or offer support within our community.

Community Guidelines for Posting

To ensure this space remains welcoming and useful for all, please follow these guidelines when posting:

  • Keep Posts Relevant and Respectful: Posts should align with the purpose of the group—sharing information, opportunities, or requests. Please ensure content is appropriate and considerate of all members.

  • No Discussions: Posts should focus on sharing or requesting information; this is not a forum for discourse.  

  • Be Clear and Concise: Clearly state your need, offer, or event in the subject line and provide concise, detailed information in the body of the post. Whenever possible, please include accessibility information and links to events.

  • No Spam or Excessive Posts — Remember that emails go to more than 200 email addresses. Think before you reply-all!

  • Know Your Audience: If your invitation is to political action of some sort, consider if this post belongs instead in one of our existing Tikkun Olam Google Groups.

Moderation and Posting Privileges

Posts may be moderated to ensure they adhere to the community guidelines. Moderators reserve the right to:

  • Edit or remove posts that do not comply with the guidelines.

  • Temporarily or permanently restrict posting privileges for individuals who:

    • Violate the guidelines repeatedly.

    • Use the platform to engage in debate.

    • Use language or share content that is abusive, discriminatory, or otherwise harmful.

    • Engage in spamming or misuse of the platform.

FAQ

What is Google Groups?

Google Groups is the platform Or Shalom uses to manage community email lists, including for OS Connect and most Havurot and Tikkun Olam Circles. When you send an email to a group’s address, your message reaches every subscriber. Google Groups also handles delivery settings, posting permissions, and (if enabled) message archives.

You do not need a Gmail address to receive emails from a Google Group.

How do I send a message to a group?

  1. Open your regular email app.

  2. Write your message.

  3. Send it to the group’s address (for example, osconnect@orshalomsf.org or a Havurah’s email).

  4. If the group allows member posting, the message sends immediately. If moderated, an admin reviews it first.

How do I view or change my subscription settings?

If you use Gmail

  1. Go to groups.google.com

  2. Make sure you’re logged into the Gmail account that receives the group’s messages.

  3. Select “My groups.”

  4. Choose the group.

  5. Click “Settings” (gear icon or left sidebar).

  6. Adjust your delivery options, display name, or subscription status (see below for more info).

 

If you use a non-Gmail address

You can receive messages normally, but you cannot access settings unless your email address is also a Google Account.

To enable access:

  1. Visit accounts.google.com/signupwithoutgmail

  2. Create a Google Account using your existing email address.

  3. Verify via the link Google sends you.

  4. Log in at groups.google.com

  5. You can now change your delivery preferences and subscription settings.

 

This does not give you Gmail; it only authenticates you for Google Groups.

What are the different email delivery options?

Google Groups lets each subscriber choose how often they want to receive messages:

1. All Email

You receive messages individually as they are sent.
Best for active engagement or timely updates.

2. Digest

You receive a single email per day up to 25 messages (if there were any messages) containing full message bodies grouped together.
Best for people who want fewer emails but still want to read everything.

3. Abridged

You receive a single email per day up to 150 messages containing summaries or subject lines only, not full message bodies.
Best for skimming; you click through if something interests you.

4. No Email

You remain a member but receive nothing in your inbox.
You must visit the group’s archive (if enabled) to read messages.

Why do we recommend Google Groups?

Google Groups is the lowest-barrier option for most community members. Everyone already knows how to send an email, there’s nothing new to install, and changing your delivery settings is straightforward. Most people can participate immediately without learning a new platform or creating extra accounts.

That said, groups are not required to use Google Groups. Several Havurot and YFE circles use WhatsApp or Signal instead, and we’re happy to help facilitate other platforms if a group prefers them.

The one requirement is that any official Or Shalom group must include staff in an administrative role, regardless of the platform. This ensures moderation, safety, and continuity as volunteers cycle in and out.

Tue, January 13 2026 24 Tevet 5786