Remembering ‘Shoah’

French director Claude Lanzmann, 87, will reflect on his life’s work, 27 years after the release of his revolutionary nine-hour documentary, “Shoah,” made cinematic history in 1985, featuring in-depth interviews and testimony from Holocaust survivors and concentration camp workers.
7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, JCCSF, 3200 California St. Free. www.jccsf.org. Also 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29 at CEMEX Auditorium at the Knight Management Center, Stanford. Free. jewishstudies.stanford.edu

Looking ahead

What is the future of Bay Area Jewry? Participants (including Abi Karlin-Resnick, shown with husband Andy Cheng and children Jordan and baby Noah) will share personal stories that reflect their diverse experiences of identity as part of Lehrhaus Judaica’s in-depth study of the Jewish community. “Where We Are Heading” is the follow-up to the seminar “How We Got Here,” which looked at the Bay Area’s Jewish past.
1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. $15-$25. www.paloaltojcc.org

friday/24

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

“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. 6:30 p.m. $35-$40. www.jccsf.org.

Potluck and text study. Tri-Valley Cultural Jews hosts dinner and evening of learning. 7 p.m. At private residence in Livermore. RSVP to [email protected]

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.

MindFlow class. Standardized-test reading preparation for students in grades 6 to 9. At JCCSF, 3200 California St. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. $300. www.mindflowclass.com.

“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.

“Israeli Soldiers Speak Out.” Israeli reserve soldiers talk about their experiences. At Stephens Lounge, MLK Student Union, U.C. Berkeley, 7 p.m. www.standwithus.com.

“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]

thursday/1

Russ 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

Dennis Ross. Former Middle East envoy speaks at American Technion Society’s “Perspectives on a Changing Middle East.” At Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market St., S.F. 7:30. $65 RSVP by Feb. 25 to [email protected]

“It’s a Mystery Festival.” 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 to 5:30 p.m. $15. www.pjcc.org.

“J Street: A New Voice for Israel.” Temple Sinai’s Israeli education committee sponsors panel discussion. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 2 p.m. Free. www.oaklandsinai.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. 4 p.m. $18-$20. www.jccsf.org.

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.

monday/5

“Latke vs. Hamantaschen.” Debate presented by Graduate Theological Union Center for Jewish Studies. At the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley. 5 p.m. Free. www.gtu.edu.

tuesday/6

Shimon Peres speaks. Israeli President and Nobel Laureate Shimon Peres, as part of his visit to the Bay Area, will give a public address on “Israel and the Jewish People: The Vision for Tomorrow.” At Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. Free, but RSVP with full name and phone number is required by March 4 to [email protected]

wednesday/7

“Lunch and Learn.” Talk about John Muir by park ranger Daniel Prial. At Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. 11:45 a.m. $10-$12. RSVP to (925) 283-8575.

“The Extremes of Esther.” Talk by Bible professor Isaac Gottlieb of Bar-Ilan University. At 450 Serra Mall, Stanford. 12 p.m. Free. www.stanford.edu/dept/jewishstudies.