Justice for all

Don’t miss the final local appearances by Anat Hoffman, founder of Women of the Wall and director of the Israel Religious Action Center, organizations that promote and fight for women’s rights, religious pluralism and equality in the Jewish state. She concludes her whirlwind tour through the Bay Area this weekend.
Friday Feb. 10 to Sunday, Feb. 12 at Congregations Rodef Sholom in San Rafael, Kol Shofar in Tiburon, Netivot Shalom in Berkeley and Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa. For topics, times and dates: www.rebpam.com/Anat/anattour.htm

friday/10

Rabbi Yosef Levin. Speaks as part of “Best of the Rabbis” series. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 12 p.m. Free. www.paloaltojcc.org.

“Help the Earth.” Children’s educational recycling program in honor of Tu B’Shevat, presented by PJ Library and Congregation Emeth. At Congregation Emeth, 17835 Monterey St., Morgan Hill. 1 p.m. Free. www.jvalley.org/pjlibrary.

saturday/11

Israeli technology. Interactive session about Israeli innovation for teens in grades 6-12. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7 p.m. Free. www.paloaltojcc.org.

sunday/12

“Brunch and Learn.” Discussion with Cantor Leigh Korn. At Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. 9 a.m. Free. www.temple-isaiah.org.

“Parenting Your Teen.” Jewish Teen Alliance and Jewish Community High School of the Bay present workshop on communication, parenting and Jewish values. Includes kosher lunch. At JCHS, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. $18. www.parentingyourteen.eventbrite.com.

“Jews from Afghanistan to Yemen.” Ken Blady, lecturer at the American Jewish University Whizin Center, discusses remote Jewish cultures and communities. At Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. 9:30 a.m. Free. www.shirhadash.org.

Bay Area Jewish history conference. One of two all-day conferences on the history of the local Jewish community, with panels, lectures and performance. Presented by Lehrhaus Judaica. At Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $25-$35. www.lehrhaus.org.

“The Life and Music of Arik Einstein.” Lecture about popular Israeli singer/songwriter by Stanford professor Arie Dubnov. At Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. 10:30 a.m. $5 suggested. www.netivotshalom.org.

Hebrew storytelling. Children’s stories with actor and director Sharon Nitzan, in Hebrew. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 11 a.m. Free. www.bjesf.org.

Barbara Rose Brooker. Discussing her book “The Viagra Diaries,” soon to become an HBO series starring Goldie Hawn. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 1455 Elm Street, Napa. 2 p.m. Free. www.cbsnapa.org.

“Responding to U.S. Anti-Semitism.” Lecture by Nancy Appel, associate regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. At Congregation Beth Ami, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. 2 p.m. Free. www.bethamisr.org.

Anat Livne. Presentation by director of Ghetto Fighters Museum. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 2 p.m. Free. www.gfh.org.il.

Marty Brounstein. Book signing by author of “Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust.” At Foster City Library, 1000 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. 3 p.m. Free. (888) 361-9473. Also Feb. 16 at South San Francisco Library, 840 W. Orange Ave., SSF. 6:30 p.m. Free. [email protected]

“L’Mazeltov.” Six-week childbirth education class from a Jewish perspective led by birth doula Jessica Weiss. Book and course materials included. At Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. 4 p.m. $130-$180. www.temple-isaiah.org.

“Searching the 1940 Census and Ketubah.” San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society hosts a talk about Jewish marriage contracts and resources for family historians. At Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave., Oakland. 12:30 p.m. Free. Also Feb. 13 at Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. 7 p.m. Free. www.sfbajgs.org.

Jewish leadership. Jewish Outlook Series group discussion timed for Presidents Day. At Jewish Study Network, 3626 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. 8 p.m. $10 suggested. http://jsn.info.

tuesday/14

Job seekers’ guide. Hosted by Jewish Vocational Service. Bring laptop. Also Feb. 23, on résumés and cover letters. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 10 a.m. Free. www.paloaltojcc.org.

“David’s Poems and Prayers.” Rabbi Ronnie Weiss teaches a class on the Psalms. At Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. 10:30 a.m. Free. www.shirhadash.org.

Nathan Englander. Lecture by author of “What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank.” At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. $10-$20. www.jccsf.org. Also Feb. 15 at Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7:30 p.m. $10-$18. www.paloaltojcc.org. (See story, 17a)

Kabbalah. First class in Hebrew-language series using curriculum from Kabbalah Laam College in Israel. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 8:30 p.m. $50-$80, first meeting free. www.paloaltojcc.org.

wednesday/15

Club Fed. Young Adult Division of S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation presents first of five weekly sessions on Jewish identity, leadership, social justice and community. Includes dinner. Also Feb. 22. At JCF, 121 Steuart St., S.F. 6:30 p.m. $75. www.jewishfed.org.

thursday/16

“Jewish Identity in Russian Ballet.” Presentation by Janice Ross, dance professor at Stanford University and author of forthcoming book about the topic. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.bjesf.org. (See story, 17a)

“Mousenet.” Author Prudence Breitrose, 77, presents her first novel. Hosted by Silicon Valley Jewish Singles. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 1 p.m. Free. (408) 252-2323.

Summer trip info nights. Jewish history immersion trip through Europe and Israel, June 25-July 11. At JFCS Holocaust Center, 2245 Post St., S.F. 6 p.m. Free. Also Feb. 23 at JFCS Library, 2150 Post St., S.F. www.jfcs.org.

Mensch society lecture. Marc Freedman, CEO and founder of Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose, talks about life after midlife. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $10-$15. www.jcceastbay.org.

friday/17

Spanish Jewish history. Talk about Jews of Spain and Portugal by Marti Krow-Lucal, a lecturer on 19th-century history and Yiddish literature. Also Feb. 24. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 10:30 a.m. Free. www.paloaltojcc.org.

saturday/18

“Reflections of a Front-Line IDF Soldier.” Sgt. Benjamin Anthony talks about his experiences as an Israel Defense Forces soldier and public opinion about the IDF on college campuses. At Hilton Garden Inn, 840 E. El Camino Real, Mountain View. 8 p.m. Free. www.oursoldiersspeak.org.

sunday/19

“Inside the Jewish Bakery.” Co-author Stanley Ginsberg discusses his book. At Congregation Shomrei Torah, 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. 2 p.m. Free. www.insidethejewishbakery.com.

tuesday/21

“Spartans and Jews: From Forgery to History?” Lecture by Haifa University professor Ory Amitai. At Dwinelle Hall, U.C. Berkeley. 5:10 p.m. Free. http://events.berkeley.edu.

“Israel’s Summer of Discontent.” Lecture by SFSU chair of Israel Studies Eran Kaplan, about protests and the future of Zionism. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.lehrhaus.com.

“Israel and the Atom Bomb.” Presentation by author Avner Cohen. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.jewishfed.org.

Creative Kabbalah. Rabbi Tsvi Bar-David explores connections among Kabbalah, science and human creativity. At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. 7:30 p.m. Donation suggested. www.beth-david.org.

“Embracing Israel/Palestine.” Rabbi Michael Lerner of Beyt Tikkun synagogue presents his book. At Booksmith, 1644 Haight St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. www.booksmith.com.

wednesday/22

“Modern Hebrew Literature in the World of Translation.” Lecture by Gisèle Sapiro, research director at the French National Center for Scientific Research. At Building 360, Stanford. 12 p.m. Free. http://jewishstudies.stanford.edu.

thursday/23

BookFest. Jewish literature festival opens. Lectures, readings, performances, art. Through Feb. 28. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. www.jccsf.org.

Alan Kaufman. Reading by author of “Drunken Angel.” At Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave. Berkeley. 6:30 p.m. Free. www.afikomen.com.

friday/24

“Literary Feasts: Savoring Jewish Cookbooks.” Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder leads a discussion on the history of Jewish cookbooks over a Shabbat meal. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 6:30 p.m. $35-$40. www.jccsf.org.

sunday/26

Talk and bagel brunch. Bella Barany talks about her childhood experiences during World War II in Holland. Presented by B’nai B’rith. At Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave. Berkeley. 10:30 a.m. $5. www.afikomen.com.

“Where Are We Heading?” The second of two all-day conferences on the history of Bay Area Jews, sponsored by Lehrhaus. Panels and speakers focus on the community’s future. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 1 p.m. $15-$25. www.paloaltojcc.org.

Israeli Soldiers Speak Out. Israeli college students and reserve soldiers talk about their experiences. At Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos. 7 p.m. Free. www.standwithus.com.