friday/17
“After the Israeli Elections: America, Israel and the Democratic Future.” Kabbalat Shabbat services, dinner and discussion about the recent Israeli elections with Haaretz columnist Peter Beinart in conversation with New Israel Fund CEO Daniel Sokatch. Co-sponsored by The Kitchen and NIF. At S.F. Friends School, 250 Valencia St., S.F. 6:15 to 9:30 p.m. $9-$24. www.thekitchensf.org
Ruth Messinger. American Jewish World Service president discusses global issues and the work of AJWS. At Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.bethelberkeley.org. Also April 18 at 1:15 p.m. at Congregation Kol Emeth, 4175 Manuela Ave., Palo Alto ([email protected]) and 6:30 p.m. at Meyerovich Gallery, 251 Post St., S.F. (www.ajws.org). Also April 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Log Cabin in the Presidio, 1299 Storey Ave., S.F. RSVP required. www.ajws.org
sunday/19
“From Melting Post to Post-Ethnicity.” Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, head of school at Kehillah Jewish High School, discusses identity in American Jewish Life. Part of Congregation Beth Am’s 60th birthday programming. At Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. 4 p.m. Free. www.betham.org
“Hollywood’s Spies.” S.F. State professor Laura Rosenzweig discusses Jewish infiltration of Nazi and pro-Nazi groups during the 1930s and ’40s. Part of Exploring the World of Judaism series. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 9:30 a.m. Free. (510) 812-0674
“Entry Denied!” Herta Weinstein talks about “Voyage of the Damned,” when the S.S. St. Louis was prevented from delivering Jewish refugees fleeing World War II to Cuba and the United States. Part of Kol Hadash’s monthly bagel brunch. At Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. 11 a.m. $10. www.kolhadash.org
monday/20
“World War I and the Jews.” Professors Derek Penslar of Oxford University and Steven Zipperstein of Stanford University discuss the Jewish war experience. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free, but reservations required. www.jccsf.org
“Sephardic Encounters with Modernity: Tradition and Tolerance.” With Jewish history educator Adam Eilath. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.jewishcommunitylibrary.org
tuesday/21
“From Joshua to Jesus: Jews of Galilee.” Three-part Taubman lecture series with Tel Aviv University professor Elchanan Reiner. At Magnes, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley. 7 p.m. Continues April 23 at 5 p.m. and April 28 at 7 p.m. Free. www. magnes.org
wednesday/22
“Between Honor and Authenticity: Zionism as Theodor Herzl’s Life Project.” Presentation by Oxford University professor Derek Penslar. At Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israeli Studies, 295 Boalt Hall, U.C. Berkeley. 5 p.m. Free, but RSVP requested. www.law.berkeley.edu/JLILES.htm
“From Selma to Ferguson.” Bay Area civil rights attorney Robert Rubin discusses his work fighting for voting rights and racial equality and progress made in the last 50 years. At Urban Adamah, 1050 Parker St., Berkeley. 6 p.m. Free, but registration requested. www.urbanadamah.org (See story, 7)
thursday/23
Israeli soldiers tell their stories. Visiting reserve-duty Israel Defense Force soldiers discuss Israeli-Arab conflict. Sponsored by Congregation Shomrei Torah, StandWithUs and Hillel of Sonoma County. At Shomrei Torah, 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. 10:30 a.m. Free. www.shomreitorah.org
friday/24
“All Is Love: Strengthening our Solidarity with People with Disabilities.” Disability advocate Ruti Regan speaks at Shabbat services as Congregation Sha’ar Zahav’s scholar-in-residence. At Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. Free, but RSVP requested. (415) 861-6932 or [email protected]
sunday/26
Inside the women’s tent. Torah scholar and author Avivah Zornberg is back in the Bay Area with another series of thought-provoking lectures, this time focusing on misunderstood and underestimated women in the Bible. “Letter from an Unknown Woman: Joseph’s Dream” will examine the role of Rachel as a mystical, unfathomable presence in the lives of Jacob and Joseph, and “Sing — Now — to God!” will focus on the prophetess Miriam and the tensions with her brother Moses.
“Letter from an Unknown Woman: Joseph’s Dream,” 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. Free. www.jcceastbay.org. “Sing — Now — to God!” 9 a.m. Monday, April 27 at Easton Hall, Graduate Theological Union, 2401 Ridge Road, Berkeley. Free. www.gtu.edu
“Visualizing Holocaust Identities.” Art historian Stacy Schwartz discusses how educators can use visual art as a framework for teaching the Holocaust. At Jewish LearningWorks, 601 14th Ave., S.F. 3 p.m. Free. [email protected]
“Jewish Life in American Cinema: What’s Not to Like?” Final event in a four-part series examining Jews and Jewishness as portrayed in American film, with a focus on Jewish humor in the movies. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 4 p.m. $20. www.jccsf.org
“A Brief Stop on the Road to Auschwitz.” Author Göran Rosenberg discusses his prize-winning memoir about his father’s Holocaust survival. At Book Passage Marin, 61 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 4 p.m. Free. www.bookpassage.com. Also April 27 at Stephens Hall, U.C. Berkeley. 4:30 p.m. Free. [email protected] or (510) 642-4484. Also April 28 at JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.jccsf.org
“Wellness Fusion 2015.” An afternoon of lectures, demonstrations and workshops on Jewish and multicultural approaches to mental and physical wellness. At Peninsula JCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. 1 to 4:30 p.m. Free. www.pjcc.org
“Madrassa/Midrasha Day of Learning: Women and Gender in Judaism and Islam.” Featuring U.C. Berkeley professor Robert Alter. At Graduate Theological Union, 2401 Ridge Road, Berkeley. 1 p.m. Free. www.gtu.edu
“Economic Justice — The Jewish Angle.” Bend the Arc regional director Susan Lubeck discusses the crisis of inequality. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 9:30 a.m. Free. (510) 451-3263 or [email protected]
“Kabbalah and Society in 16th-Century Safed.” Kol Hadash bagel brunch with video lecture on the work of Isaac Luria and the rise of Kabbalah. At Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. 4 p.m. Free. www.kolhadash.org
“Survival in Paradise: Sketches from a Refugee Life in Curaçao.” Presentation by Manfred Wolf about his family’s life as Holocaust refugees in the Dutch colony in the Caribbean. At Jewish Community Library, 1836 Ellis St., S.F. 1 p.m. Free. www.jewishcommunitylibrary.org
monday/27
“Reflections on the Legacy of Nuremberg: The 70th Anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials.” Two-day conference opens with screening of “Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today” followed by Q&A with filmmaker Sandra Schulberg and law professor Richard Buxbaum. At Magnes, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley. 5:30 p.m. Free. Conference continues all day April 28 (cost varies) with free keynote by Canadian Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella. At Bancroft Hotel, 2680 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. 5 p.m. www.law.berkeley.edu/18284.htm
wednesday/29
“Understanding BDS on College Campuses.” Educational session about boycott, divestment and sanctions efforts happening on college campuses. With Rabbi Doug Kahn of S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council, S.F. State professor Marc Dollinger and the student president of Bears for Israel. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 7 p.m. Free, but RSVP requested. www.marinjcc.org
thursday/30
“Women in Interfaith Relationships.” A discussion for girlfriends, wives, partners, mothers, grandmothers and other women with questions about roles and expectations. Sponsored by Lehrhaus Judaica and Building Jewish Bridges. At Peninsula Temple Sholom, 1655 Sebastian Drive, Burlingame. 7:30 p.m. $8 non-members. (510) 845-6420
“Answering Tough Questions About Israel.” Israel Education Committee program with speaker Jonathan Carey of the Israeli advocacy group BlueStar. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.oaklandsinai.org
“Return to the Sea of Reeds.” Writer-performer Josh Kornbluth discusses the evolution of his current show. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.jewishcommunitylibrary.org