art

ongoing

“Baruch Spinoza: A Philosopher’s Life.” Prints by Isaac Lichtenstein. “1948-2008: Israel at 60.” Gerta Mathan photographs and Israeli artifacts. Through Sept. 20. At the Jewish Heritage Museum at Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville. (925) 964-2094.

“From the New Yorker to Shrek: The Art of William Steig.” Through Sunday, Sept. 7. “In the Beginning: Artists Respond to Genesis.” Through Jan. 4, 2009. At the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., S.F. www.thecjm.org.

“Illuminations: Creative Art from the Jewish Home.” Through Nov. 16. At Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. www.emanuelsf.org. Reception honoring the artists Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m.

“Works on Iron.” Contemporary Israeli artists Helen and Asnat. Through Nov. 24. At Peninsula JCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. Free. www.pjcc.org.

“Yeldei Yisrael/Israeli Kids.” Rabbi Bernie Robinson’s photography. Through Sept. 17. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. (415) 444-8066.

music & dance

friday | 5

Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars with Kugelplex and Jewlia Eisenberg. Hornucopia Festival. At Café du Nord, 2174 Market St., S.F. 9 p.m. $15-$20. www.hornucopiafestival.org.

saturday | 6

Israeli singer David D’or. Charity concert. At San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose. $25-$150. www.tcnw.org/show.

thursday | 11

“Talking Music” series. Magnetic Fields singer Stephin Merritt performs and converses with host author Daniel Handler. At Herbst Theater, 401 South Van Ness Ave., S.F. 8 p.m. $20. www.cityboxoffice.com.

theater

friday | 5

“Jews Must Be Crazy.” San Francisco Fringe Festival. Also Sept. 7, 9, 13 and 14. At EXIT Stage Left, 156 Eddy St., S.F. 7 p.m. $9-$11. www.sffringe.org.

saturday | 6

“In the Belly of the Whale.” San Francisco Fringe Festival. Also Sept. 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14. At EXIT on Taylor, 277 Taylor St., S.F. 5:30 p.m. $9-$11. www.sffringe.org.

“Punchline.” Alicia Dattner’s one-woman show about life in the standup comedy universe. San Francisco Fringe Festival. Also Sept. 7, 9 and 13. At EXIT Stage Left, 156 Eddy St., S.F. $9-$11. www.sffringe.org.

“Sonderkommando.” San Francisco Fringe Festival. Also Sept. 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14. At the Boxcar Playhouse, 505 Natoma St., S.F. $9-$11. www.sffringe.org.

film & video

sunday | 7

“Praying With Lior.” At Peninsula JCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. 2 p.m. (650) 378-2718.

tv & radio

sunday | 7

“Synagogue of the Air.” On KUSF 90.3 FM. 9 a.m.

tuesday | 9

“Jewish Music Alternative.” With Raya Zion. On KZSU 90.1 FM. 9 a.m.-noon.

sunday | 14

“A Jewish Perspective.” On KRON TV, Channel 4. 5:30 a.m.

lectures & workshops

friday | 5

“A Time for Every Purpose: Letters to a Young Jew.” Author Jonathan D. Sarna will discuss his new book. Shabbat lecture and dinner. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 6:30 p.m. (415) 292-1233. www.jccsf.org/arts. Also Saturday, Sept. 6 following 9 a.m. Shabbat services at Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave., S.F. Free.

saturday | 6

“Rape Free.”Tom Patire teaches Krav Maga. At the Academy of Self Defense, 3475 Woodward Ave. Santa Clara. 2 p.m. Also Sunday, Sept. 7. 1-3:30 p.m. (408) 844-8485. www.academyselfdefense.com.

sunday | 7

“Meditation as Preparation for the High Holidays.” At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $50-$60. (415) 292-1293. www.jccsf.org.

“Kol Elimelech: Chassidic Wisdom for Our Time.” With author Rabbi Paul Shleffar. At Bob and Bob, 4500 El Camino Real, Los Altos. 3 p.m. Free. (650) 947-7010.

monday | 8

“Worse Than War: Understanding Genocide in Our Time.” With author Daniel Jonah Goldhagen. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. $10-$12. www.jccsf.org

tuesday | 9

“Celebrating the Legacy of Rabbi Dabid Wolfe-Blank.” At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7 p.m. Free. (510) 528-6725.

wednesday | 10

“In the Beginning — Wrong from the Start.” Lecture by Rabbi Michael Goldberg. Presented by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. At CSU East Bay, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road, Concord. 2 p.m. $5. www.scholarolli.com.

Brian Greene. String theorist and author of “The Elegant Universe.” At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. $15-$18. www.jccsf.org

thursday | 11

Steve Pinker. New York Times bestselling author and Harvard psychology professor. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. $15-$18. www.jccsf.org

John Rothmann. Author of “Icon of Evil.” Presented by the Adult Education Committee of Congregation Shir Shalom. At Burlingame Hall, 252 W. Spain St., Sonoma. 7 p.m. $5. (707) 935-3636.

sunday | 14

“Awe and Creation: The High Holy Days Unplugged.” Bagels, lox and learning. At Kehillah Jewish High School, 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 10 a.m. $5 donation. (650) 494-6400.

East Bay JCRC Education Forum. At Beth Chaim Congregation, 1800 Holbrook Drive, Danville. 10 a.m. (510) 839-2900 ext. 217.

JSN Women’s Division Seminar. At Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. 10 a.m. $36 including lunch. www.jsn.info. [email protected]

“Creating Your Own Rituals Interfaith Workshop.” Family picnic, walk and talk through the JCCSF. At Baker Beach, S.F. 12 p.m. $10.

benefits & social events

friday | 5

Barbecue and Bar’chu. Kosher outdoor barbecue and services. At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. 6 p.m. $10-$18. [email protected]

Young adults kosher wine tasting Shabbat. At Schneerson Synagogue, 6508 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. $12-$15. (415) 279-4037.

sunday | 7

Osher Marin JCC at the Farmers Market. At Marin Civic Center, San Rafael. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. www.marinjcc.org.

PicnicFest. A gathering of East Bay Jewish friends and family. With music, a beer garden, children’s activities and more than 30 booths of local Jewish organizations. At Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. www.eastbayjews.org/picnicfest.

Harvest Fair. Pool, barbecue lunch and religious school registration. At Congregation Beth Sholom, 1455 Elm St., Napa. Noon-3 p.m. $5-$10. www.cbsnapa.org.

wednesday | 10

Launch party for “Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe.” At Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. www.cooljewbook.com.

“Women of Rodef Sholom Chocolate and Vino Social.” At Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Free. Must RSVP to (415) 883-1966 or [email protected]

sunday | 14

“Playing With the Queen of Diamonds.” Fundraiser for JCC East Bay featuring casino gaming, tapas and live music. At Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. 5-10 p.m. (510) 848-0237 ext. 118.