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.

Speaking engagement with Rep. Anna Eshoo. At Temple Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City. 8 p.m. (650) 366-8481.

“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.

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.

“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.

“Israel: The Cartoonist’s Diagnosis/A Viewpoint from Within.” With cartoonist Michel Kichka. At Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. 8 p.m. And Monday, Feb. 13 at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. 7 p.m. (415) 512-6424.

“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.

“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.

“Yehi Or: Shining a Light on Mental Health/Mental Illness.” Conference follow-up. At Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. 10:30 a.m. (650) 856-7985.

“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.

“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.

“Jewish Perspectives on the Death Penalty.” With Rachel Biale and Rabbi Alan Lew. At Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley. 7 p.m. Free. (510) 649-2420.

“The Demise of Sharon and Rise of Hamas.” Lunch will follow lecture. With U.C. Davis professor Noel Kaplowitz. At Contra Costa Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 10 a.m. (925) 938-7800.

“What’s New in the Middle East.” With radio commentator John Rothmann. At Burlingame Hall, 252 W. Spain St., Sonoma. 7:30 p.m. $5.

“Kabbalah & Eros.” With professor Moshe Idel and Rabbi Lawrence Kushner. At Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. $8-$10. (415) 292-1233.

“The Essence of Shabbat.” With Rabbi Josh Strulowitz. At Adath Israel, 1851 Noriega St., S.F. 8 p.m. Free. (415) 564-5665.

“Monarchy and Leadership in Ancient Israel, Part I.” With Ken Cohen, former president of Lehrhaus Judaica. At Temple Beth Sholom, 642 Dolores Ave., San Leandro. 10:15 a.m. $7. (510) 839-2900 ext. 233.

“Power of One.” Gathering of Jewish women featuring actress Marlee Matlin. At Moscone West, 800 Howard St., S.F. 5 p.m. $85 plus $365 pledge to S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation 2006 fund. (650) 919-2110.

“The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country From the Religious Right.” Rabbi Michael Lerner discusses his new book. At Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 6:30 p.m. (415) 576-6642.