sunday | 5

“Making the Heart Feel What the Mind Knows.” With Shirah Bell, Ph.D. At Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 9:20 a.m. $10. (415) 479-3441.

“The Streets of San Francisco: Challenging Anti-Israel Propaganda in the Public Arena.” With Michael Harris from Bridges to Israel. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 11:30 a.m. Free. (415) 388-1818 ext.18.

“Jews and Eastern Religions.” With Rabbi Kennard Lipman. At Napa Library, 580 Coombs St., Napa. 3 p.m. (707) 221-8736.

“One-on-One Help With Your Family Tree.” At Bureau of Jewish Education Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 12 p.m. (415) 567-3327 ext 704.

monday | 6

“Purpose of Life Challenges.” Kabbalah 101 course with Rabbi Ephraim Chaim Trakhtenberg. At Chabad of the Greater South Bay, 3070 Louis Road, Palo Alto. 7 p.m. $25. (650) 424-9800.

“Preserving Old Family Documents and Pictures.” With archivist and conservator Paula Jabloner. At Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. 7 p.m. Free. www.jewishgen.org/sfbajgs.

tuesday | 7

“The Catholic Church and Anti-Semitism: How the New Pope will Affect Relations.” With professor Christopher Ocker. At the Contra Costa Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 10 a.m. $5-$8.

(925) 938-7800.

“Mindful Jewish Living: Compassionate Practice.” With Rabbi Jonathan Slater. At Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. (510) 848-0237.

“Natasha and Other Stories.” Book-reading with the author, David Bezmozgis. At University of San Francisco, Lone Mountain Campus, 2800 Turk Blvd., Room 100, S.F. 7:30 p.m. Free. (415) 422-6066.

wednesday | 8

“Judaism vs. Christianity — How to Respond to a Missionary.” With Rabbi Josh Strulowitz. At Adath Israel, 1851 Noriega St., S.F. 8 p.m. Free. (415) 564-5665.

thursday | 9

“Religious Faith in a Multicultural Society.” With James Donahue and David Ellenson. At Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. Free. (415) 292-1233.

friday | 10

“Creating a Thriving Judaism in America.” With Stanford professor Arnie Eisen. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 7:30 p.m. Free. (415) 388-1818, ext. 18.

saturday | 11

“Are the Mitzvot Optional?” With professor Arnie Eisen. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 2 p.m. Free. (415) 388-1818, ext. 18.

“Jews as Global Citizens: Our Responsibility in the World.” Speaker: Ruth Messinger, president and executive director of American Jewish World Service (AJWS). At Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., S.F. 10:30 a.m. (415) 296-2533.

“Scars of War, Wounds of Peace: The Israeli-Arab Tragedy.” Book discussion with the author, Shlomo Ben-Ami, Former israeli minister of foreign affairs. At Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $5. www.brjcc.org.

sunday | 12

“Raising Jewish Children in America Today.” With professor Arnie Eisen. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 9:15 a.m. Free. (415) 388-1818 ext.18.

“Jews as Global Citizens.” With Ruth Messinger, president of the American Jewish World Service. At Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 9:20 a.m. (415) 479-3441.

“Advanced Health Care Decisions.” Panel discussion. At Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. 9:30 a.m. Free. (650) 852-2506.

“Translating Israel: An Overview of Contemporary Hebrew Literature.” With Tali Milstein of the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay. At Temple Beth Sholom, 642 Dolores Ave., San Leandro. 10:15 a.m. $7. (510) 839-2900 ext. 233.

“Sacred Autobiography: The Healing Power of Story.” With author Linda Blachman. At Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. 10:30 a.m. (510) 549-9447.

“Jewish Gangsters: Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky.” With genealogist Ron Arons. Sponsor: San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society. At Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 12:30 p.m. Free. www.jewishgen.org/sfbajgs

monday | 13

“Finding Common Ground: Crossing Borders for a Peaceful and Greener Future in the Middle East.” Israeli Consul General David Akov and Jordanian Honorary Consul Kamel J. Ayoub. At Sierra Club headquarters, 85 2nd St., S.F. 12:30 p.m. www.embassyofisrael.org/sanfran/Events/arava.

“Uniqueness of the Human.” Kabbalah 101 course with Rabbi Ephraim Chaim Trakhtenberg. At Chabad of the Greater South Bay, 3070 Louis Road, Palo Alto. 7 p.m. $25. (650) 424-9800.

tuesday | 14

Book discussion: “Mr. Sammler’s Planet” by Saul Bellow. With Naomi Seidman of the Graduate Theological Union. At Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 2 p.m. Free. (510) 524-3043.