On Tuesday, Jan. 28, men like Lofchie will no longer be on the sidelines at the Jewish learning program. Education day is not for women only and it has a new name to reflect the change. Called The Contra Costa Kallah (Hebrew for “large assembly of students”), the event has been redesigned to draw men, women, those who care for children during the day and those who are in the workplace.
This year’s program is titled “The American Jewish Community Today: Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?” and it features visiting scholar Leonard Fein, the founder of Moment magazine and Mazon: a Jewish Response to Hunger.
With both a daytime program at Lafayette’s Temple Isaiah (complimentary child care is available) and an evening presentation at Scott’s Restaurant in Walnut Creek, the event is expected to draw a larger audience than in the past. Riva Gambert of the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay’s Center for Jewish Living and Learning, which is coordinating the event, expects about 300 during the day and 100 in the evening. Co-sponsors include 18 other area groups and synagogues.
During the morning program, Fein will discuss “Smashing Idols: Prescriptions for Jewish Continuity.” After a lunch catered by Noah’s Bagels, panelists will discuss “Further Prescriptions for Jewish Continuity.” Participants are Darlene Silverman, a Jew-by-choice; Ursula Sherman, former president of the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center; Roland Roth, a student at San Jose State University; Brian Ogren, a senior at U.C. Santa Barbara; and Julia Eisenberg, a teacher in the CJLL’s East Bay Midrashot (high school program).
In the evening, Fein will discuss “Israel and the United States: the Next Chapter.” The political scientist and author, whose books include “Politics in Israel” and “Where Are We? The Inner Life of America’s Jews,” was professor of contemporary Jewish studies at Brandeis and professor of political science at MIT.
“We expect to get more men,” said Lofchie, who moved from the Boston area, where he was president of B’nai B’rith’s Architects and Engineers Lodge.
Lofchie’s wife, Elayne, who is active in the Rossmoor chapters of Brandeis University Women’s Committee and Women’s American ORT, is also pleased that the education event is reaching out to men.
“Our focus has always been education and there hasn’t been any program since I’ve been here that wasn’t as appropriate for men as for women,” she said.
“But since it was titled Women’s Education Day, that was not an open invitation to everyone. We feel the time has come — in fact, it’s long past due — that we have a name that says this is not geared only for women.
“I feel very strongly, and my husband does too, that we have the support of the entire community behind us.”
Renée Zeimer, chair of the event, said, “Leonard Fein is somebody who speaks to us all. Whether it’s the female or male modern Jewish experience, it’s those things which hook us into Jewish that he will be exploring and we will be exploring during this day of learning.
The program is also “expanding and reaching out to professional and working people who are not available during the day but would want an opportunity to meet and discuss relevant Jewish issues,” said Zeimer, former early childhood services director at the Contra Costa Jewish Community Center.
The Contra Costa Kallah takes place Tuesday, Jan. 28. The daytime program runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with registration at 9:30 a.m., at Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The evening program, featuring desserts, begins 7:30 p.m. at Scott’s Restaurant, 1333 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek. Advance reservations: $18 daytime, $28 day and evening, and $10 evening only. Admission at door: $25 daytime, $15 evening. Complimentary child care by reservation. Information and reservations: (510) 839-2900, ext. 38 or e-mail to [email protected]