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Jewish Museum hosts a night of Russian art, food on Feb. 26

The Jewish Museum San Francisco's Contemporaries group plans an evening of Russian art and food for ages 25-45 at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 121 Steuart St.

The program will include tours of the the exhibition "Russia In Black and White: The Photojournalism of Yevgeny Khaldei" and "A Family Album: Photographs from the Russian Jewish Emigre Community," plus cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Cost is $10 advance, $15 at the door. Call (415) 543-8880, ext. 213.

Magnes calls for entries to video competition, due March 31

The Judah L. Magnes Museum welcomes entries to its fourth annual Jewish Video Competition. Deadline is March 31.

For an entry form and information, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Video Competition, Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St., Berkeley, CA 94705.

Lehrhaus schedules classes in S.F.

Torah Trope made Easy: A Practical Approach will begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 at Congregation B'nai Emunah, 3595 Taraval St., S.F.

The eight-session class, sponsored by Lehrhaus Judaica, will be taught by Israel Stein, Torah reader at East Coast synagogues and a bar-bat mitzvah instructor for 30 years. Cost is $55 for B'nai Emunah members, $65 nonmembers.

Three Lehrhaus classes on current issues and history will meet at 7 p.m. at private homes in San Francisco.

The first one, Thursday, March 20, will be an Introduction to Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism: Exploring Our Own Identities, with facilitator Yossi Cohen Meidan.

Meidan is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Wright Institute in Berkeley.

A second, on Matzah Balls and More, will meet April 10. Louise Fiszer, author of "Jewish Holiday Feasts," will teach students how to prepare Passover food.

Finally, in honor of Yom HaShoah, "German Jewish Reconciliation: Moving Forward to a Post Holocaust Relationship" will convene on May 22. Hans Kolbe, a German born after World War II, will lead a discussion on the relationship of Germans and Jews in the postwar era.

For locations, call (415) 346-1720, ext. 29. For information on Lehrhaus classes, call (510) 845-6420.

ORT fund-raiser in San Francisco to feature food and wine

Bay area restaurants, chefs, wineries and caterers will participate in a fund-raising event from 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday, March 9 at San Francisco Maritime Museum, Polk and Beach streets.

Sponsored by Women's American ORT's Bay Area Young Leadership Initiative, An Epicurean Voyage will feature food and beverages from such establishments as Vertigo, Bagel King, Seltzer Sisters and Sons, Stoyanof's and Tomales Bay Foods.

Advance tickets are $40 with reservations before Feb. 28, $45 after. For information, call (800) 701-3018.

Terrorism expert to address singles

Sabi Shabtai, an internationally recognized authority on terrorism, will share insights on religious fundamentalism in Israel with singles at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., S.F.

Shabtai's talk, titled "Understanding Extremism in Israel," is sponsored the S.F.-based JCF's Young Adults Division. The author of the best-selling novel "Five Minutes to Midnight," Shabtai has served as a consultant and lecturer to numerous corporations, airlines, police departments, SWAT teams, and the U.S. Army and Navy.

Cost is $6 in advance and $8 at the door. For information, call the YAD info line at (415) 436-0711.