sunday/2
“Dialogue, the Centerpiece of Jewish Culture: Why Can’t We Live Without It?” Discussion with professors Marc Dollinger, Deena Aranoff, David Biale and Steven Zipperstein. Part of Lehrhaus’ 40th anniversary celebration. At Lehrhaus Judaica, 2736 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. 4 p.m. Free. www.lehrhaus.org.
Help with your family tree. Genealogy talk on family lineage by members of the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 12 p.m. www.jewishlearningworks.org/library.
Mitzvah cooking. Learn how to bake traditional Jewish holiday items. At Congregation Kol Shofar, Tiburon. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. $25. RSVP requested. www.kolshofar.org/calendar.
“Remember the Holocaust: A Memoir of Survival.” Author Helen Farkas discusses growing up in fascist Hungary and being deported to Auschwitz. Hosted by Sharone Hadassah. At private residence in Saratoga. 11 a.m. $25 suggested donation. RSVP at (408) 859-8927.
monday/3
“A Conversation Across Time.” Discussion with Rabbi Ed Feinstein about the rebirth of ancient Israel and redemption. Part of Lehrhaus Judaica’s 40th anniversary celebration. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.jccsf.org.
wednesday/5
Rabbi Naftali Rothenberg. Senior research fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute speaks about contemporary Jewish issues and religious tolerance in Israel. At U.C. Santa Cruz, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz. 3:30 p.m. Free. www.events.ucsc.edu/event/2183.
thursday/6
“Essential Practice of Open Dialogue.” Lehrhaus Judaica’s founding director Fred Rosenbaum and Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan discuss Jewish philosopher Martin Buber and his study of Hassidism. Part of Lehrhaus’ 40th anniversary celebration. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 7 p.m. Free. www.marinjcc.org.
friday/7
“Covering Israel: A Reporter’s Notebook.” Janine Zacharia, former Washington Post Jerusalem bureau chief, speaks about how journalists cover Israel. At U.C. Berkeley, 101 Sproul Hall, Berkeley. 12 p.m. Free; RSVP required. www.tinyurl.com/mmlmxxl.
sunday/9
“Remembering Vilna.” Author Ellen Cassedy discusses the Jewish history of the Lithuanian ghetto. Sponsored by Lehrhaus Judaica. At Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave., Berkeley. 10:30 a.m. Free. www.afikomen.com.
“Roots of the Ancient Halakha Jewish Law.” Israeli professor Samuel Wolfman will discuss the relationship between halachic and secular Israeli law. At Temple Israel, 3183 Mecartney Road, Alameda. 10 a.m. $5 suggested donation. (510) 747-8808.