Two cooking classes will start in Aptos

Two holiday cooking classes — one for Purim, the other for Passover — will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesdays, March 4 and April 1 at Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos.

Cost is $5 to non-members, free to members.

For information, call (408) 479-3444.

Youngsters to perform at ALSJCC

Young musicians will have an opportunity to perform and listen to other young soloists during the annual "Sounds of Music Festival" March 7 through 14 at Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center, 655 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto.

The Saratoga Symphony Orchestra, plus teacher Era Lifschits and her 10-year-old student Natasha Paremski, will open the festival at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Because the show takes place during Purim and features a performance of "Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint-Saëns, children are encouraged to come in costume.

During the March 14 grand finale, the California Youth Symphony Percussion Ensemble and the El Camino Youth Symphony will perform.

During the week, Jewish groups participating include Tikvah Music and Dance School of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco.

For opening and finale concert tickets — which are $5 for children and seniors and $8 for adults — call Masha Farber at (650) 493-9400.

Los Gatos synagogue offers Hebrew class

"Instant Hebrew," for those who want to learn the Passover seder, will begin at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, and continue each Sunday through March at Congregation Shir Hadash, 16555 Shannon Road, Los Gatos.

Cost is $25 for synagogue members, $35 for non-members. To register, call (408) 358-1751.