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With the winking lights of the East Bay skyline substituting for constellations, teenagers lit havdallah candles and recited blessings to a crowd of over 1,000.

Perched high on a hillside, the outdoor terrace of Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science was a spectacular location for the Center for Jewish Living and Learning's "Havdalah Beneath the Stars," held Saturday, March 1.

E. J. Cohen was on hand to sign this service, which traditionally closes the Sabbath, for the deaf community. Students from the California School for the Deaf enthusiastically signed back at Cohen, who also translates for the deaf community at Congregation Beth Torah in Fremont.

"Havdalah Beneath the Stars" concluded as is customary with the wish for a shabbasdik — peaceful and holy — week. The new week then began immediately with a full program of activities staged inside the Hall of Science including singing, dancing, yoga, craftmaking and a lecture linking Judaism with cosmology and astronomy.

"We wanted people who weren't too familiar with havdallah to have a positive experience," said CJLL's Jamie Hyams, who planned much of the event. Hyams said the use of a nondenominational venue was intended to bring together Jewish communities of all denominations from across the East Bay.

"When we come together across the board as Jews, it's often because there's some kind of trouble," said Hyams, adding that she was gratified to see Chabad community leaders as well as Reconstructionist leaders at the event.

"I was told by a lot of people that it was an uplifting, energizing event for the community," said Hyams, who regretted having to turn nonticket-holders away from the sold-out event.

For Rabbi Richard Winer of Livermore's Congregation Beth Emek, the chance to have his Hebrew School participate in the havdallah was a simple matter of "We can sing; let's do it." Among Beth Emek's contributions to the Children's Songfest was a doo-wop version of "Heveinu Shalom Alechem," complete with choreography which, said Winer, is a perennial Jewish campfire favorite.

Meanwhile, adults enjoyed David Cooper's lively lecture linking Judaism with the skies.

"If you think Judaism has nothing to do with astronomy," Cooper told his audience, "you're going to have to work out why you use words like mazel tov, meaning `good constellation,' and shlemazel: literally, `one who has no constellation.'"

Contributions by Jews to astronomical science have been significant, Cooper added. Mashala of Basra in the 9th century wrote the first Arabic-language treatise on the sundial-like astrolabe; and Rabbi Avraham Zacuto, a 15th- century Portuguese court astrologer, contributed to the development of the astrolabe as a navigational tool.

Cooper regretted that the evening's cloud cover precluded the opportunity to stargaze with the casual astronomers who usually crowd the Lawrence Hall of Science's outdoor balcony.

Along with practicing yoga, browsing the museum's interactive displays and watching live performances, adults helped children create sparkling kiddush cups and spice boxes.

The event received donations and in-kind sponsorship from Adama, Afikomen, Semifreddi's, Noah's Bagels, EKS Publishing, Rappaport Design, the Grand Bakery and JTV.

"We want opportunities to give our children memories," lecturer David Cooper said later, "and here there will be memories of a whole cross section of the Jewish community celebrating and shmoozing together."