sunday/9
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces dinner. Gala fundraiser honors IDF soldiers with testimonials from the front lines and a performance by the IDF Musical Ensemble. At Intercontinental San Francisco, 888 Howard St., S.F. 5:30 p.m. $350. www.tinyurl.com/fidf-org-gala
saturday/15
Addison-Penzak JCC 40th anniversary. Gala with dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions. At APJCC of Silicon Valley, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 6 p.m. $160. www.svjcc.org
‘YiddishLand’ coming to town. The finishing touches are being put on “YiddishLand,” Sonoma County’s first Yiddish culture festival. It begins one night with a concert featuring local band Mama Loshn, entertainer and juggler Sara Felder, the Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble and “Yiddish Cowboy” Scott Gerber, among others, and continues the next day with free, all-ages projects and workshops covering language, art, humor, storytelling, mapping and history.
7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 ($9-$18) and 12 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16 (free) at Congregation Ner Shalom, 85 La Plaza, Cotati. www.yiddishland.org
sunday/16
“The Music of John Denver.” Musician Jim Curry performs the late singer’s greatest hits in a benefit for Congregation Beth Shalom of Napa Valley. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 1455 Elm St, Napa. 7 p.m. $65-$85. www.jimcurrymusic.com/events
monday/17
YAD Blue Monday. Happy hour event for young Bay Area Jews, featuring Middle Eastern treats and a henna artist. Co-sponsored by the S.F.-based federation’s Young Adult Division and JIMENA. At Raven Bar, 1151 Folsom St., S.F. 6 to 9 p.m. $10. [email protected] or (415) 512-6248