New hat for Da Mayor

Former Mayor Willie Brown, the man of many hats, will sport a new one when he helps launch Hebrew Free Loan’s Legacy Society next month. The new hat — a symbolic one — is the one he wears as a founder of the African American Interest Free Loan Association (which is currently under formation). Da Mayor learned a lot about HFLA from a colleague, state appellate court judge Stu Pollak (who happens to be HFLA president). Impressed by the agency’s work that he and others met several times with Pollak and HFLA executive director Ed Cushman for advice. Brown will address the event and encourage attendees to leave a legacy through HFLA.

Seder revels

It was a combo seder and very special 90th birthday party for Henry Kalman, a resident of Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in Danville. Deanna and Harvey Freedman of Orinda used the dual occasion to bring relatives from around the country to fete their dad. Their mom, aka Henry’s much younger wife Evelyn Kalman (she’ll turn 90 in September), and Evelyn’s sister and brother-in-law Janet and Al Schultz (who both marked their 90th last summer) were among those who joined the festivities.

Speaking of seders, traditions rule — even when they take place after four cups of wine and nearly into the wee hours of the next morning. At the home of Bob Sherman, the Bureau of Jewish Education executive director, seder participants were assigned roles for each verse of “Chad Gadya” – i.e., someone is the goat, the cat, the dog, the stick … and so forth. As the multiple verses were sung, the assigned player had to give voice to the character. How does one interpret the angel of death? “Booga, booga,” growled Rabbi Lavey Derby — who was then smote by God, played by Yael Cushman, an 11th-grader at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay.

Small World

Sophie and David Goldberg were committed to the importance of a Jewish homeland in Israel. In their honor, their daughter Milly Mogulof and her son Dan Mogulof, both of Berkeley, dedicated a new library/computer facility in Tel Aviv last month. The facility is part of the Open Democratic School and is a joint effort by the Mogulof family and the city of Tel Aviv. In a small-world linkage, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, who spoke at the dedication, was Dan’s commander when he served in the IDF at an Israeli air force base in the Negev.

Marcia and John Goldman received the Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty Award for their outstanding dedication to the quality of life in the Bay Area at the agency’s 90th anniversary. Some 400 guests who attended donated close to $350,000.

Disconnect

There was a moment of disconnect for this reporter when the caller, who had a strong Spanish accent, identified himself as Clemento Esperanza, calling for the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation. I quickly realized that he was indeed calling for the federation — about its Jewish Community Study. We had a comparably short (about 15 minutes) interview and even enjoyed a few laughs. So, as the publicity says, if you get a phone call asking if you’re Jewish, don’t hang up. It’s quick, painless and confidential and will help the federation get a fix on who’s Jewish in the Bay Area.

Get a (volunteer) job… The On the Mark Tutor/Mentor program, sponsored by Jewish Family and Children’s Services matches adult volunteers with children (eight to 18 years old) with mild to medium learning disabilities. To learn more about this and other volunteer opportunities, contact the JCF’s Jewish Community Information and Referral at (415) 777-4545 or [email protected].

Tell Faces what’s going on in your organization. Please send humorous, poignant or otherwise noteworthy anecdotes to [email protected].

Suzan Berns, a freelance writer, was associate director of communications for the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation for 18 years. She can be reached at [email protected].