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Co-sponsors are BRJCC and Congregations Netivot Shalom and Beth El. Cost is $25 for members of sponsoring organization, $5 for non-members.

Oakland day school expands its grades

The Oakland Hebrew Day School board has decided to establish a middle school for grades six through eight.

OHDS originally intended to go through only the elementary grades. But the school's growth and recent studies showing a day school education through eighth grade is likely to produce the most committed Jews influenced the decision.

In expanding its program, OHDS will have the only modern-Orthodox middle school in the East Bay.

CCJCC offers class on Jews in literature

A five-week class on "Shakespeare and the Jews" will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26 at Contra Costa Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek.

Instructor Bradley Bernes, author of "On Beyond Shylock," will explore the lives of Renaissance Jews in Europe and how they were represented in literature.

Cost for the series is $25 for members, $35 for non-members, or $7 and $10 respectively for individual sessions. For information, call Shoshana Eliahu at (510) 938-7800.

Class set for children of survivors, refugees

A 10-week discussion group for individuals whose parents were Jews in Nazi Europe, survivors of camps, in hiding or refugees who fled before the war will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 at Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay, 2484 Shattuck Ave., No. 210, Berkeley.

Cost is $100 for the series. To register, call Yoka Verdoner at (510) 704-7475, ext. 968.

Ehud Sprinzak to speak in Bay Area on Israel's political history

Hebrew University Professor Ehud Sprinzak will make several public appearances during his Bay Area visit in late January.

As one of the "Israel at 50" scholars-in-residence, he will address "From Ben-Gurion to Netanyahu: 50 Years of Israeli Politics" at noon Sunday, Jan. 25 at the Koret Auditorium in the S.F. Main Public Library, Larkin and Grove streets. Admission is free. Information: (415) 281-0839.

For the Contra Costa Kallah, he will speak on "From Ben-Gurion to Netanyahu: 50 Years of Israeli Politics" at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The 10 a.m. event also includes lunch and a musical tribute to Israel. On the same day, he will speak on "The Politics of Religious Extremism in the Middle East" at 7 p.m. at Scott's Restaurant, 1333 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek. Costs range from $5 to $25. Information and registration: (510) 839-2900, ext. 253.

For the Israel Project, he will speak on "Israel at 50: The Quest for Peace and Security" at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 28 in the International House's Ida Sproul Room at U.C. Berkeley; at noon, Thursday, Jan. 29 in the student union's council chambers at San Jose State University; and at 7 p.m. that day in the Tresidder Building's Oak Lounge at Stanford University. Admission is free. Information: (415) 546-0467.