A rabbi of note

Rabbi Sharon Brous, the Marin Jewish community’s second scholar-in-residence, is a big name — a macher, if you will. Brous is the founding rabbi of the Los Angeles–based progressive Jewish community Ikar, and last year Newsweek rated her as one of the nation’s most influential rabbis. Brous will give talks Jan. 11-13 on topics from “Visions of the Jewish Future:  Innovation and Inspiration” to “When the World Is on Fire: Jewish Responses to Chaos and Crisis.”

6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 at Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael; 10:30 a.m., 1 and
7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 at Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon; and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 13 at Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. www.marinjcc.org/weekend

saturday/12

Evening with Anne Frank’s stepsister. Eva Schloss discusses her experience hiding from the Nazis and the discovery and printing of her stepsister’s famous diary. At Orinda Theatre, 4 Orinda Theatre Square, Orinda. 7:30 p.m. $20-$90. www.jewishcontracosta.com. Also Jan. 13 at Congregation Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave., S.F. 6:30 p.m. $10-$360. www.sfshul.org. Also Jan. 14 at Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton. 7:30 p.m. $15-$90. www.jewishtrivalley.com. Also Jan. 15 at Vacaville Performing Arts Theater, 1010 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville. 7:30 p.m. $15-$30. www.vpat.net/events.htm. Also Jan. 16 at Piedmont Community Hall, 711 Highland Ave. Piedmont. 7:30 p.m. $15-$18. www.jewishoakland.org.

sunday/13

“Biblical Heroes in Opera.” Conversation and screening of video excerpts with opera expert Peter Grunberg of the San Francisco Opera and Rabbi Yoshi Fenton, associate director of Jewish LearningWorks. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7 p.m. $10-$15. www.paloaltojcc.org.

“Digging the Bible: Archaeology and Biblical History.” Professor Aaron Brody, director of the Bade Museum at the Pacific School of Religion, discusses archaeological discoveries relating to biblical accounts. At Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. 11 a.m. $10. www.kolhadash.org.

“Anti-Semitism and Anti-Israelism in the 21st Century.” Talk by Seth Brysk, Central Pacific regional director of Anti-Defamation League. At Rossmoor Hillside Club House, 3400 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek. 4 p.m. Free. RSVP to (925) 938-4738 or [email protected]

“Anti-Semitism in Indonesia.” U.C. Berkeley professor Jeffrey Hadler discusses Jewish history and ethnic politics in the largest Muslim country. At Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central, Richmond. 10:15 a.m. $5 suggested. www.tbhrichmond.org.

monday/14

“Who’s Afraid of Assimilation? Rethinking the Purposes of Jewish Education for the 21st Century.” Talk by Jon Levisohn, professor of Jewish education at Brandeis University. At Stanford University, Levinthal Hall, 424 Santa Rita Ave., Palo Alto. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.stanford.edu/dept/jewishstudies.

tuesday/15

“LGBT Rights and Community in Israel.” Leaders of the Israeli LGBT organization Aguda discuss 37 years of progress in Israel. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.oaklandsinai.org.

thursday/17

“Jewish Eastern Europe: A Family Journey.” Marc Dollinger, professor of Jewish Studies and Social Responsibility at S.F. State, discusses his family’s journey last summer through Eastern Europe. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.jewishlearningworks.org.

“Israel: the Complex Road Ahead.” Talk by Israeli Consul General Andy David. At Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. Free. RSVP required. www.tbaoakland.org.

“Cooking Jewish: Baking and Braiding Challah.” Class taught by Chana Scop. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 9:30 a.m. $20. www.marinjcc.org/challah.

wednesday/23

“On the Wings of Eagles: The Story of Israeli Immigration.” Talk by Riva Gambert of the Jewish Federation of the East Bay. At Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. 7:30 p.m. $10. www.bethemek.org.

“Meeting Israel’s Environmental Challenges.” Talk by Madeleine Levine of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. At Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. Free. (510) 318-6453.

thursday/24

“Mysteries of the Mikvah.” Talk by Rabbi Judah Dardik on uses of the ritual pool. At Beth Jacob Congregation, 3778 Park Blvd., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. $7. http://bethjacoboakland.org.

Current events in Israel. Talk for young adults by Israeli Consul General Andy David. At Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., S.F. 6:30 p.m. Free. www.jewishfed.org.