friday | 30

“Reaching Higher: Prayer, God, and Personal Growth.” Rabbi Naomi Levy leads a scholar-in-residence weekend. “Healing Ourselves, Healing Our World” at 6:15 p.m. April 30; “Faith Under Construction: Finding Your Own Voice” at 9:30 a.m. May 1; “Writing Our Own Prayers” at 10 a.m. May 2. At Temple Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City. Reservations: (650) 366-8481.

saturday | 1

Bisexual panel discussion and Havdallah. At Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., S.F. 6:30 p.m. (415) 861-6932.

“The Palestinians and the Jews: A Village of Peace.” Congregation Shir Shalom’s Social Action Committee hosts two Israelis, a Palestinian and a Jew, who live as neighbors in the village of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam. At Burlingame Hall, 252 W. Spain St., Sonoma. 7 p.m. $5. (707) 938-2981.

sunday | 2

“Life’s Vulnerable Moments.” Rabbi Eric Weiss of the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center. Sponsor: Congregation Rodef Sholom. At Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 9:30 a.m. $10. (415) 479-3441.

“Major Threats Facing America: North Korea, Militant Islam and Global Terrorism.” Brunch with Michael Nacht, dean of U.C. Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. 10:30 a.m. $12-$16. Reservations: (925) 938-7800.

“Behind the Headlines of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.” Khaled Abu Toameh, correspondent for Palestinian affairs for The Jerusalem Post. At Congregation Beth El, 2301 Vine St., Berkeley. 7 p.m. (510) 848-3988.

monday | 3

“Beginners First Aid.” Four sessions. Sponsor: Jewish Community Endowment Fund of the S.F.-based federation. At federation building, Koret Boardroom, 121 Steuart St., S.F. 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. May 3 through 6. Free. (415) 977-7442.

“Academic Freedom and the War on Terror.” David Horowitz, president, Center for the Study of Popular Culture. At Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market St., second floor, S.F. 6 p.m. $18. (415) 597-6705.

“Parenting a Child with Learning Differences.” At Parents Place San Francisco, 1710 Scott St. 6:30 p.m. $25. Reservations: (415) 359-2454.

“Passing on Values and Responsibility.” First of two Monday sessions. At Parents Place San Francisco, 1710 Scott St. 6:30 p.m. $20 per session. Reservations: (415) 359-2454.

“Positive Discipline: A Crash Course for Dads.” For fathers of children ages 6 to 12. At Parents Place Santa Rosa, 1360 N. Dutton Ave., Suite C. 6:30 p.m. $20. Reservations: (707) 571-2048.

“Jewish Papercuts.” First of four Monday sessions. Covering the history of Jewish paper-cutting. Course concludes with a student art show. At Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., S.F. 7 p.m. $18-$36, plus $10 materials fee. Reservations: (415) 861-6932.

Bernard Offen. Holocaust survivor and prisoner of five camps tells his story and presents portions of his documentary film. Sponsors: DigitalWeavers, Jewish Historical Society of Napa Valley and Congregation Beth Sholom. At Beth Sholom, 1455 Elm St., Napa. 7:30 p.m. (707) 253-7305.

“Circumcision? Questions, Concerns and Alternatives.” At Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $5. (510) 848-0237, ext. 112.

“Challenges Facing the Jewish State and the Jewish People: Update from Israel.” Rabbi Donniel Hartman, co-director of the Shalom Hartmann Institute in Jerusalem. At JCCSF, 3200 California St. 8 p.m. $18-$22. (415) 292-1209.

tuesday | 4

“Technion Advances in Genetic Engineering in Agriculture and Medicine.” Professor Shimon Gepstein of Technion Israel Institute of Technology. At Contra Costa Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 10 a.m. $3-$5. (925) 938-7800.

“Teaching Your Strong-Willed Child.” At Parents Place San Francisco, 1710 Scott St. 10:30 a.m. $20. Reservations: (415) 359-2454.

“Choosing a Preschool.” At Parents Place Palo Alto, 410 Sherman Ave. 7 p.m. $25. Reservations: (650) 688-3040.

“Encouraging Responsibility.” Addressing issues related to children ages 3 to 8. At Parents Place Palo Alto, 410 Sherman Ave. 7 p.m. $30. (650) 688-3040.

“Women and Children in the Developing World: Supporting Grassroots Social Change Efforts.” Ruth Messinger, president, American Jewish World Service. At Berkeley Hillel, 2736 Bancroft Way. 7 p.m. (510) 845-7793, ext. 23.

wednesday | 5

Book group. Discussion of Carmit Delman’s “Burnt Bread and Chutney.” At Congregation Beth Ami, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. 10 a.m. (707) 538-9731.

“Choosing a Kindergarten.” At Parents Place San Francisco, 1710 Scott St. 5 p.m. $25. Reservations: (415) 359-2454.

“The Political and Diplomatic Strategy of the Palestinian Authority.” Khaled Abu Toameh, Palestinian correspondent for The Jerusalem Post. North Peninsula Jewish Community Speakers Series. At Peninsula Jewish Community Center, multi-purpose room, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. 7 p.m. $5. Reservations: (650) 349-1523.

“Understanding Your 24- to 36-month-old: What is Normal and Expectable?” At Parents Place Marin, 600 Fifth Ave., San Rafael. 7 p.m. $25. Reservations: (415) 491-7959.

thursday | 6

“Estate Planning.” Money Matters lecture series. Sponsor: Jewish Community Endowment Fund. At San Francisco federation building, 121 Steuart St., Koret boardroom. 9 a.m. $10. (415) 512-6273.

“Icon as Inspiration: How Various Traditions Picture the Divine.” Interfaith discussion with the Rev. Alan Jones of Grace Cathedral, Vijaya Nagarajan, professor of theology and religious studies at University of San Francisco, and Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan of Congregation Emanu-El. At Grace Cathedral, Gresham Hall, 1100 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. Reservations by May 3: (415) 591-8801.

“The Keys to Effective Job Transition.” Rebecca Bassin of Jewish Vocational Service. At Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., S.F. 7 p.m. (415) 861-6932.

friday | 7

“Look! I Can Cook!” First of four sessions for children ages 2 to 4. At Parents Place San Francisco, 1710 Scott St. 12 p.m. $18.75 per session. Reservations: (415) 359-2454.

sunday | 9

“Portrait of Marriage: Issues of Church and State.” Assemblyman Mark Leno and Rabbi Steven Greenberg. At Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., S.F. 9:30 a.m. Free. (415) 749-6364.

“Was it the ‘Golden Age of Judaism’? Cultural Achievements and Moslem Relations in Medieval Spain.” Fred Astren, director of San Francisco State University’s Jewish studies program. Sponsor: Congregation Rodef Sholom. At Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 9:30 a.m. (415) 479-3441.