Day school teacher, student lend names to a small planet

David Kulka, the associate headmaster and a science teacher at the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School, had a minor planet — i.e., an asteroid — named after him.

Kulka’s name will be gracing the asteroid along with that of former student David Marash-Whitman, who won the prize as part of the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. (The current freshman at Kehilla High also won the SPDHS science fair award.)

The TV channel named 80 minor planets after prize-winning students and their mentors.

Jewish artists at women’s crafts fair in San Francisco

Local Jewish artists will take part in the 26th annual Celebration of Craftswomen, showcasing work by more than 300 artists. Among those showing their work are Eileen Goldenberg of San Francisco, Lea Alboher of Sonoma County and Emily Cohen of Menlo Park.

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Nov. 20; Sunday, Nov. 21; Saturday, Nov. 27; and Sunday, Nov. 28. in the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason Center, Buchanan Street and Marina Boulevard, S.F.

There will be contemporary and traditional items on display such as ceramic and glass vessels, sculpted wood and metal works, jewelry, clothing, fine art sculpture, photography, paintings, and toys. The fair will also feature live acoustic music, food, a silent auction and benefit raffle.

Admission: $8 adults, $5 seniors, free under 12. Free parking. Information: (415) 383-3470 or www.teamproevent.com.

Meditation retreat in Santa Rosa

The Sonoma County Jewish Community Agency will sponsor its first Chanukah meditation retreat Dec. 10-12 at Camp Newman in Santa Rosa. Activities will include yoga, Jewish mystical teaching, spiritual ideology and Torah, and Hebrew chanting and drumming.

The retreat will be facilitated by Rabbi Ethan Franzel from Temple Beth Elohim, Wynnewood, Pa. Five Sonoma County rabbis will join Franzel in leading workshops at the retreat.

Franzel received rabbinic ordination at Hebrew Union College where he studied Chassidism and Kabbalah with Rabbi Lawrence Kushner. He is on the rabbinic faculty of the Jewish Meditation Kallah and also serves on the Central Conference of American Rabbis Committee on Rabbinic Spirituality.

The $288 fee covers lodging, meals and programming. For information and registration, call (707) 849-5944.