Meeting of many minds
As his full title suggests, Rabbi Dr. Laibl Wolf LL.B M.Ed.Psych D.Div is a polymath. But beyond his credentials, which include university-level training in law and psychology, Wolf works across disciplines in his roles as spiritual mentor and teacher. The Australian mystic blends contemporary positive psychology with ancient Kabbalah to facilitate a “behavioral” approach to life training. Wolf will be in the Bay Area next week to present lectures and workshops.
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 9 at Sunnyvale Historical Museum, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale. $12-$18. www.chabadsunnyvale.com; and Shabbaton May 11-12 at JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. $18-$36. www.chabadsf.org
sunday/6
“An Afternoon with Mayim Bialik.” Actress, author and neuroscientist discusses the experience of the mikvah in a benefit for the Community Mikvah of Silicon Valley. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 4855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 1 p.m. $18. RSVP to www.jvalley.org/mikvah.
Philosophers’ Café. Discussion of ethical issues hosted by Tri-Valley Cultural Jews. At Café Rumi, 4799 Heyer Ave., Castro Valley. 10:45 a.m. $5 suggested donation. www.trivalleyculturaljews.wordpress.com.
“The Worlds of Contemporary Judaism.” Talk by professor Nathaniel Deutsch, co-director of the Center for Jewish Studies at U.C. Santa Cruz. At Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. 9:30 a.m. Free. www.shirhadash.org.
Genealogy clinic. San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society offers a brainstorming and problem-solving roundtable. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 12 p.m. Free. www.bjesf.org.
“Campus Problems for Jewish Students.” Talk by Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, co-founder of Amcha, which advocates on behalf of Jewish college students. At Hillside Clubhouse, Rossmoor, Walnut Creek. 4 p.m. Free. (925) 938-4738.
monday/7
“The New Middle East and Israel.” Discussion with Akiva Tor, Israeli consul general of the Pacific Northwest region, moderated by John Diaz, editorial page editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. At the Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F. 12 p.m. Free for students and members, $20 for nonmembers. www.commonwealthclub.org.
“World War II in the Soviet Shtetl: From the Shoah to Victory Day.” Talk by professor Jeffrey Veidlinger, director of Jewish Studies at Indiana University. At Stanford University, Margaret Jacks Hall, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford. 5:15 p.m. Also 12 p.m. May 8. Free. www.stanford.edu/dept/jewishstudies.
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. The mayor takes questions from the Jewish community. At Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 7 p.m. Free. RSVP to Jessica Sterling at [email protected] by noon May 7. www.jfed.org.
tuesday/8
“A Composer’s Vision: The Photography of Ernest Bloch.” Eric Johnson, professor of art and design at Cal Poly, discusses the photography of the Jewish, Swiss-born composer. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.bjesf.org.
wednesday/9
Book talk with Harvey Gotliffe. Author discusses “The Oy Way,” a humorous guide to Yiddish. At Jewish Family and Children’s Services, 200 Channing Way, Palo Alto. 1 p.m. Also May 17 at JFCS, 2150 Post St., San Francisco. 2 p.m. Free. www.theoyway.com.
thursday/10
“Persecution of Jews and Christians in Muslim Lands.” Panel discussion with Middle East specialist and author of “The Al Qaeda Reader” Raymond Ibrahim and expert on Iran’s Jewish population Elliot Benjamin. Sponsored by JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. At JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. Free. RSVP By May 7 to (415) 626-5062. www.jimena.org.
“Perspectives on Israel.” Talk by Mike Harris, co-founder of San Francisco Voice for Israel (StandWithUs Bay Area chapter). Second of a four-part series. At Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.bethelberkeley.org.
sunday/13
“400 Miles to Freedom.” Talk and presentation of clips by Ethiopian Jewish filmmaker Avishai Meckonen about his journey from Ethiopia to Israel as a child and his kidnapping in Sudan. At Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St., S.F. 2 p.m. Included with admission. www.moadsf.org. Also May 14 at JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. $10-$20. www.jccsf.org.
tuesday/15
“Miss Representation.” Film and panel discussion on the media’s portrayal of women and girls. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 6:30 p.m. Free. RSVP required. www.paloaltojcc.org.
“Moses, Marijuana, and Violence: Stories of Return.” Author and lawyer Joshua Safran shares stories from his forthcoming memoir on his return to Jewish tradition. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.bjesf.org.
wednesday/16
“50 Years of Jewish Laughs.” KQED Radio’s Michael Krasny hosts a night celebrating Jewish humor. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 7:30 p.m. Free. RSVP to [email protected]. www.kolshofar.org.
Andy Cohen. Bravo TV producer of “Top Chef” and “Real Housewives” gives a talk for the Commonwealth Club. At Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. $10-$25. www.commonwealthclub.org.
“Batya Gur’s Mysteries.” Discussion and documentary about the popular Israel mystery writer. At Congregation B’nai Tikvah, 24 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek. 6:30 p.m. Free. www.tikvah.org.