friday/9

Shabbat dinner to fight human trafficking. Guest speakers are Jeff Rosen, Santa Clara County district attorney, and Benita Hopkins, education director for Love Never Fails. At Congregation Kol Emeth, 4175 Manuela Ave., Palo Alto. 6 p.m. $25. RSVP requested. www.kolemeth.org/jan-9-tikkun-olam-dinner

sunday/11­

Daniel C. Matt

Cogitating, chewing on Kabbalah. What goes better with bagels and lox than the Zohar? Daniel C. Matt, Jewish studies professor at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, is one of the preeminent American Kabbalah scholars, known for his translations of and books about the foundational literature of Jewish mysticism. Matt will discuss his work in bringing kabbalistic literature to a modern audience, as well as the changing perceptions of spirituality and God, at a Kol Hadash bagel brunch.

11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 11 at Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. $10 brunch donation. (510) 982-1455