art

ongoing

“Artists in Action Save Mount Diablo: Wright Canyon.” Collaborative exhibit among 11 artists. Through Oct. 10. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. (925) 947-3535. www.ccjcc.org.

“Baruch Spinoza: A Philosopher’s Life.” Prints by Isaac Lichtenstein. “On My Grandmother’s Table.” Sunday, Sept. 21, through Jan. 20. Jewish Heritage Museum. At the Jewish Heritage Museum at Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville. (925) 964-2094.

“From Borscht Belt to Bible Belt.” Carol Buchman paintings. Through Dec. 7. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. www.svjcc.org.

“In the Beginning: Artists Respond to Genesis.” Through Jan. 4, 2009. At 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.

“Il Ghetto: Forging Italian Jewish Identities 1516-1870.” Thursday, Sept. 25 through Feb. 15. Opening reception with music accompaniment, 7:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. At Fort Mason, S.F. www.museoitaloamericano.org.

“Orthodox in Israel.” Photographs by Michael Cohen. Monday, Sept. 22, through Jan. 16. Opening reception at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. At Osher Marin JCC, N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. (415) 444-8000. www.marinjcc.org.

“The Atheon Project: A Temple of Science for Rational Belief.” Jonathon Keats window installation. Sept. 27 through Feb. 1. At Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2222 Harold Way, Berkeley. www.magnes.org.

“The Torah in Bronze” by Martin Katz. Through December. Reception for the artist 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21. At Interior Niche, 3535 Sacramento St., S.F. (415) 572-1466.

“The Wedding Kiss.” Jewish artist Nitzhia Shaked. Opening at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19. Through Nov. 19. At Caffe Bianco, 39 Sutter St., S.F. (415) 421-2091.

Theresa Bernstein exhibition. Jewish artist who was nearly 112 when she died in 2002. Through Oct. 11. At George Krevsky Gallery, 77 Geary St., S.F. www.georgekrevskygallery.com.

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

saturday | 27

Gallery talk with Nomi Talisman. First artist to create a project for META/DATA, a series of Web-based digital arts projects commissioned by the Judah L. Magnes Museum. At Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2222 Harold Way, Berkeley. 2 p.m. www.magnes.org.

music & dance

friday | 26

One Ring Zero and Chicha Libre. Sponsored by the Hub at the JCCSF. At Café du Nord, 2170 Market St., S.F. 8 p.m. $18-$22. www.jccsf.org

saturday | 27

“The Brew” featuring 10-piece ensemble Angola Project and oud player Rachel Valfer. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 8 p.m. $10-$15. www.jcceastbay.org.

theater

saturday | 20

“Playback Theatre: The Audience Tells — the Actors Perform.” In Hebrew. At Albert L. Schultz JCC, 4000 Middlefield Road, Cubberley Community Center, Palo Alto. 8 p.m. (650) 852-3508.

film & video

saturday | 20

“Two Minutes From Faradis.” Opening night in the monthly Temple Israel Film Series. At Temple Israel, 3183 Mecartney Road, Alameda. 7 p.m. $10. (510) 522-9355.

tv & radio

sunday | 21

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

tuesday | 23

“Jewish Music Alternative.” With Raya Zion. On KZSU 90.1 FM. 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

sunday | 28

“Mosaic.” KRON-TV channel 4. 5:30 a.m.

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

lectures & workshops

saturday | 20

“Art and Politics in the Third Reich: Nazi Looted Art and Restitution.” European history professor Jonathan Petropoulos presents the Arthur G. Weiser lecture for interfaith understanding. At Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. www.emanuelsf.org.

sunday | 21

Pre-High Holy Days retreat and meditation. With Sylvia Boorstein and Rabbi George Gittleman. At Congregation Shomrei Torah, 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa.

9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. $36. www.jccsoco.org.

“Re-Careering After 50.” At East Bay JFCS’ Suse Moyal Center for Older Adult Services, Suite 104, Albany. 10 a.m. (415) 782-6293.

San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society meeting. At Jewish Community High School of the Bay, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 12:30 p.m. www.jewishgen.org/sfbajgs.

“Reading the Aleph-Bet Sound Project.” Gallery talk with U.C. Berkeley Judaica librarian Paul Hamburg. At Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., S.F. 2 p.m. Free with admission. (415) 655-7800.

monday | 22

Page to Stage. Berkeley Rep’s associate artistic director interviews Itamar Moses, “Yellowjackets” playwright. At Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. 7 p.m. Free. www.berkeleyrep.org.

“Jews of Morocco.” The history of Moroccan Jewry with Raphael David Elmaleh. At Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. (415) 751-2541 ext. 157.

“Children of the Jihad.” With author Jared Cohen of the U.S. State Department. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. $15-$18.

tuesday | 23

“The Muslim Jesus: Messiah of Koran and Islamic Spiritual Tradition.” With Ismail Agayev of Cal State East Bay. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 10 a.m. $5-$8. (925) 938-7800.

“Mysteries of the Ashkenazim and Founder Effect.” With Gary S. Frohlich. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.jcceastbay.org.

“Omega the Unknown.” With author and graphic novelist Jonathan Lethem. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. $15-$18. www.jccsf.org.

wednesday | 24

“The Minsk Ghetto 1941-1943.” With author Barbara Epstein. At University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. 6 p.m. www.universitypressbooks.com.

“Capitol Punishment: Deterrent, Justice or Neither?” With Institute for Jewish Law Dean Rabbi Pinchas Lipner. At the Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell St. S.F. 12:30 p.m. Free. RSVP to (415) 752-7333.

“Israel, Jews and the U.S. Election.” With professor George Lakoff and KQED host Michael Krasny. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 7 p.m. Free. www.marinjcc.org.

“Who Killed Daniel Pearl?” and “Left in Dark Times: A Stand Against New Barbarism.” With author Bernard-Henri Levy. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. $15-$18. www.jccsf.org.

thursday | 25

“Jerusalem Stories.” With Nitzhia Shaked. East Bay Jewish Forum. At Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 10 a.m. $10. (510) 839-2900 ext. 253.

“Exploring Opera with James Sokol: Jewish Composers.” At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 1 p.m. $18. www.marinjcc.org.

“The Holocaust as a Determining Factor in German-Jewish Relations Today.” With Consul General of Germany Rolf Sch¨utte. At Holocaust Center of Northern California, 121 Steuart St., S.F. 6 p.m. Free. RSVP required. [email protected]

“The Universal Language: A Lecture Demonstration.” With Gary S. Frohlich. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.jcceastbay.org.

A tribute to Grace Paley. With Maxine Hong Kingston, Chana Block and Susan Griffin. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 8 p.m. (415) 292-1233.

sunday | 28

Forum on Proposition 5. The nonviolent offender rehabilitation act. At Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. 1:30 p.m. [email protected]

benefits & social events

friday | 19

“Open Tent Judaism.” B’nai Shalom Sisterhood. Shabbat services, panel discussions and ice cream. Through Sept. 21. At Congregation B’nai Shalom, 74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. 6 p.m. $9. www.bshalom.org.

sunday | 21

Russian Cultural Day. Russian folk singer, dancers, fashion and food. At Larkey Park, Buena Vista and First Avenue, Walnut Creek. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $8-$10. (925) 927-2000. [email protected]

“AfterLife.” To Life! 21+ after-party. At Illusions Club and Bar, 260 S. California Ave., Palo Alto. 5 p.m. $10. www.paloaltojcc.org/tolife.

wednesday | 24

“Women Celebrating 60 Years of Israel.” Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley’s Israeli-inspired lunch, art and fashion. At Levy Family Campus, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 9:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $36-$45. www.jvalley.org.

thursday | 25

Cardozo Society event. With speaker Larry Gerston. Sponsored by Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. At Paolo’s Restaurant, 333 W. San Carlos, San Jose. $54. RSVP, [email protected]

saturday | 27

“Bonfire of Reflection.” YeaShOre Community and Nishmat Shalom. At Emeryville Marina. 6:30-10 p.m. www.yeashore.org.

singles

friday | 19

“The So Vahts Nu? Jewish Singles Dance Party.” Mensch Link. At Michaels at Shoreline, 2960 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View. 8 p.m.-midnight. $20-$25. (650) 906-2827.

saturday | 20

Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve hike. In the South Peninsula. Bay Area Jewish Singles Hiking Club. 3 p.m. $3. (408) 738-1319.

sunday | 21

Breakfast and Banter. Mensch Link. Also Sept. 28. At NETO, 135 Castro St., Mountain View. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (650) 906-2827. [email protected]

Point Reyes Sculptured Beach and beach walk. In Marin. Bay Area Jewish Singles Hiking Club. At Point Reyes Laguna Parking Lot. 11:30 a.m. $3. (925) 228-4213.

saturday | 27

Jack London State Historic Park hike. In the North Bay. Bay Area Jewish Singles Hiking Club. 11 a.m. $3. (707) 823-9555.

sunday | 28

Redwood Park Loop. In the East Bay. Bay Area Jewish Singles Hiking Club. 11 a.m. $3. (510) 772-7853.