saturday/21
“Israeli Politics and the Upcoming Election.” With Eyal Naor, Israel deputy consul general. Sponsored by Israel engagement committee of Congregation B’nai Shalom. At B’nai Shalom, 74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. 12:15 p.m. Kiddush lunch, 1 p.m. talk. $10-$15. RSVP by Feb. 25. (925) 934-9446 ext. 100
“Living Ship Day: In the Shadow of Auschwitz.” Holocaust refugee and World War II veteran Arthur Weil will discuss his experiences. At USS Hornet Museum, 707 West Hornet Ave., Pier 3, Alameda. 1 p.m. Museum admission $10-$20. www.uss-hornet.org
sunday/22
Mayim Bialik. Talk by actress and neuroscience Ph.D. on “Encouraging Girls to Get Their Geek On” and pursue science. Part of Peninsula JCC series on Jewish contributions to science. At Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. 3 p.m. Adults $10-$13. www.pjcc.org
Hebrew Name Clinic. Learn about Hebrew naming conventions and choose a name, or change an existing one. At Congregation Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. 10 a.m. Free. www.etzchayim.org
tuesday/24
“Israel’s Silicon Wadi Delivers for Silicon Valley.” Panel discussion with Business Leadership Council of S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation. At Orrick, 405 Howard St., S.F. 6 p.m. $18-$50. (415) 369-2875 or [email protected]
wednesday/25
“Baby Is a Blessing.” Jewish birth preparation class focuses on rituals and traditions, taught by Peninsula rabbis. At Parents Place, 200 Channing Ave., Palo Alto. 6:30 p.m. $18. [email protected]
“What to Do About Iran.” Abraham Sofaer, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and former State Department legal adviser, discusses an alternative to economic sanctions and diplomacy. At Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. 7:30 p.m. $10. [email protected]
“Talking About Israel: Between Jews.” Tal Becker of the Shalom Hartman Institute and Rabbi Jill Jacobs, executive director of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, offer their perspectives. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. $15. www.jccsf.org
“The Way Forward for the Middle East.” George Deek, a Christian Arab and Israel’s deputy ambassador to Norway, will give a talk. At Congregation B’nai Tikvah, 25 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek. 7:30 p.m. Free. RSVP to [email protected]
thursday/26
Jewish? Democratic? Both? Can Israel call itself a Jewish state and a democratic nation? On the eve of Israel’s upcoming elections, Rabbi Uri Regev, founding president of Hiddush–Freedom of Religion for Israel, addresses politics and pluralism. During talks around the Bay Area, Regev, who is former president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, will discuss the current political and religious climate in Israel and the role of American Jewry.
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 at Temple Beth El, 1301 Oxford St, Berkeley. Free. (510) 848-3988. Feb. 27: 6:15 p.m. worship, 7:30 p.m. dinner and talk at Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 N. San Pedro Rd, San Rafael. (415) 479-3441. Feb. 28: 7:30 p.m., Congregation Bet Haverim, 1715 Anderson Rd., Davis. (530) 758-0842. March 1: 9:30 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit Street, Oakland. (510) 451-3263. Also 5 p.m. at Beth Chaim Congregation, 1800 Holbrook Drive, Danville. 5 p.m. (925) 736-7146. March 2: 9:30 a.m. at Jewish Federation of the East Bay, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley. 9:30 a.m. (510) 839-2900. March 3: 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel Judea and Or Shalom Jewish Community, 625 Brotherhood Way, S.F. (415) 586-8833.
sunday/1
“The Israeli Election Campaign.” Eran Kaplan, S.F. State chair of Israeli studies, discusses issues, leaders and parties. Sponsored by Israel engagement committee of Congregation B’nai Shalom. At B’nai Shalom, 74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. 7 p.m. $10-$15. RSVP by Feb. 25. (925) 934-9446 ext. 100
Jewish genealogy clinic. Brainstorm family history at a roundtable with genealogists. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. Noon to 2 p.m. Free. www.jewishcommunitylibrary.org
tuesday/3
“How Does Jewish Law in Israel Affect Reform and Secular Jews?” With Samuel Wolfman of Israel’s International Center for Health, Law and Ethics. At Temple Isaiah, 945 Risa Road, Lafayette. 7 p.m. Free. [email protected]
“U.S. Jews and Israel: An Evolving Relationship.” Lecture by Marc Dollinger, Jewish studies chair at S.F. State. At Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.shaarzahav.org
“The Origins of Anti-Semitism in Europe.” Lecture by Sonoma State University professor Barry Preisler. Part of Sonoma State University’s Holocaust lecture series. At Sonoma State, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 4 p.m. Free. www.sonoma.edu