He will be Frank

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has never been shy about expressing his views on … well, just about anything. The retiring member of Congress visits U.C. Berkeley to talk about the U.S.-Israel relationship and share his thoughts on American support for the Jewish state.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at 155 Dwinelle Hall, U.C. Berkeley. Free. Presented by Tikvah Students for Israel. http://tikvahsfi.berkeley.edu.

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 Frontline IDF Solider.” 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.

Marty Brounstein. Book talk by author of “Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust.” At private home in Atherton. 4 p.m. For directions, call (650) 321-0556.

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.

“Escape from Egypt.” Lecture by Remy Pessah and Joe Pessah of Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. At Congregation B’nai Emunah, 3595 Taraval St., S.F. 3 p.m. Free. www.bnaiemunahsf.org.

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. (See story, 8)

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.

Kabbalat Shabbat series. East Bay Minyan and Kevah present one of two eight-session classes on liturgy, davening, prayer and Shabbat in Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $90. For location, contact [email protected]

“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

“Building Résumés and Cover Letters.” Hosted by Jewish Vocational Service. Bring laptop . At Oshman Family, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto.10 a.m. Free. www.paloaltojcc.org.

Learn about trees. PJ Library and Our City Forest present a Tu B’Shevat educational presentation and hands-on tree planting for ages 3-7. At Our City Forest Nursery, 1000 Spring St., San Jose. 4 p.m. Free. www.jvalley.org.

Legacy Study Tour 2012. Info night for Jewish history immersion trip through Europe and Israel, June 25-July 11. At Jewish Family and Children’s Services library, 2150 Post St., S.F. 6 p.m. Free. www.jfcs.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

“Spiritual Envy: An Agnostic’s Quest.” Michael Krasny discusses his book. At Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. 9:30 a.m. Free. www.shirhadash.org.

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.

BookFest Sunday. Readings and discussions, including keynote speech by author Nicole Krauss. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 11 a.m. $17-$30. www.jccsf.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. Also Feb. 27 at Martin Luther King Library, San Jose State University. 12 p.m. Free. www.standwithus.com.

“Where Are We Heading?” The second of two all-day conferences on the history of Bay Area Jews, sponsored by Lehrhaus Judaica. 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.

“Arab State-Sponsored Anti-Semitism.” Presentation by Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa’s Sarah Levin, director, and Rachel Wahba, speakers’ bureau. At Congregation Beth Ami, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. 2 p.m. Free. www.bethamisr.org.

tuesday/28

“Healthy Brain Aging.” Business Leadership Council of S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation presents a panel discussion with local medical professionals. At Morrison & Foerster, 425 Market St., S.F. 6 p.m. $25-$60. www.sfjcf.org.

“Israel in the ‘New’ Middle East.” Israeli Consul General Akiva Tor speaks about regional politics and the Jewish state. At Congregation B’nai Shalom, 74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. 7 p.m. Free. RSVP required by Feb. 27 to [email protected]

Claude Lanzmann. Lecture by filmmaker and director of “Shoah.” At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.jccsf.org. Also Feb. 29 at Jordan Hall, Building 420, 565 Mayfield Ave., Stanford. 7 p.m. Free. http://jewishstudies.stanford.edu.

thursday/1

Russell Feingold. Former Democratic senator discusses his book “While America Sleeps: A Wake-Up Call for the Post-9/11 Era.” At S.F. Club office, 595 Market St., S.F. 5:30 p.m. $7-$20. www.commonwealthclub.org.

“Beyond Emma Goldman: Radical Yiddish History.” Presentation by muralist and scholar Anna Torres. At Green Arcade Bookstore, 1680 Market St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. Free. RSVP to [email protected]

Elder-law consultation. S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services in Santa Rosa offers consultations with attorney Janice Steinfeld about estate planning, wills, trusts and Medi-Cal planning for seniors older than 60 and their families. 9:30 a.m. By appointment at JFCS. Free RSVP to [email protected]

friday/2

Book talk with author Diane Ackerman. Discusses “One Hundred Names for Love: A Stroke, a Marriage, and the Language of Healing.” At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7 p.m. $10-$18. www.paloaltojcc.org.

sunday/4

Yoga and Otiyot Chayyot. Meditation and yoga based on the Hebrew alphabet. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 10 a.m. Free.www.kolshofar.org.

“It’s a Mystery Festival.” Half-day celebration with readings by Jewish mystery writers Lisa Lutz, Keith Raffel, Cara Black, Ron Arons, Rita Lakin, others. At Peninsula JCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. 1 p.m. $15. www.pjcc.org.

“If It Wasn’t for the Irish and the Jews.” Presentation by NYU music professor Mike Moloney exploring Tin Pan Alley and vaudeville. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 4 p.m. $18-$20. www.jccsf.org.