sunday/14
“Building a Bridge to Eternity.” Lecture on Jewish funeral arrangement options by Rabbi Doron Kornbluth. Sponsored by Chevra Kadisha of the South Bay. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 11 a.m. Also 3:30 p.m. at Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, and 7 p.m. at American Legion, 1504 Minnesota Ave, San Jose. Free. (408) 239-4704
wednesday/17
“How We Are Defeating the False Human Rights Campaigns That Demonize Israel.” Club Z talk for teens with Gerald Steinberg, professor at Bar-Ilan University and founder of Israel’s NGO Monitor. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7 p.m. $10-$15. www.tinyurl.com/ofjcc-ngo-2016
“New Connections Between Jesus and Jewish Mysticism.” Lecture by Jewish theologian and talmudic scholar Daniel Boyarin. At Or Shalom Jewish Community, 625 Brotherhood Way, S.F. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.orshalom.org
saturday/20
Feast of Jewish Learning. Workshops on Jewish culture, spirituality, music and more, on the theme “Holy Discord: The Art of Jewish Dispute.” Presented by Jewish LearningWorks and South Peninsula Area Rabbis & Executives. At Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. 7 p.m. Free. www.jewishlearningworks.org/events/2016feast (See story, 8)
sunday/21
“The Jewish Chicken Ranchers of Petaluma: Why Remember?” Author Kenneth Kann’s presentation on the legacy of the socialist immigrants who founded Petaluma’s Jewish community in the early 1900s. Co-sponsored by Workmen’s Circle/Arbeiter Ring of Northern California. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 1:30 p.m. Free. www.jewishcommunitylibrary.org
“The Challenge of Baruch Spinoza.” David Ruderman of the University of Pennsylvania describes how an iconoclastic 17th-century Dutch philosopher shaped the evolution of modern Jewish thought. Half-hour video lecture, followed by discussion and Q&A. At Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. 3 p.m. Free. (510) 982-1455 or www.kolhadash.org
“Enchanted Journey With Piyut.” Workshop on the musical tradition of piyyutim (Hebrew liturgical poetry), led by Rabbi Tsipora Gabai and Vavi Toran of Jewish LearningWorks. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. $20. http://www.jewishlearningworks.org/events/2016/2/21/piyut2016
“Highway 61 Revisited.” Professor Marilyn Chiat explores the early years of Bob Dylan. Sponsored by Jewish Historical Society of Napa Valley. At Congregation Beth Shalom of Napa Valley, 1455 Elm St., Napa. 3 p.m. $5 nonmembers. (707) 251-9092 or [email protected]
“Jews and Power.” Lecture series on Jewish identity and the Arab-Israel conflict by Micah Goodman of Jerusalem’s Shalom Hartman Institute. Pre-registration required for events at Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 5 p.m and 8:30 p.m. Also Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. $7-$18. Free events at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21 at Congregation Kol Emeth, Palo Alto, and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills. www. paloaltojcc.org/micahgoodman
tuesday/23
“Torah Cares, and So Should We — An Orthodox Call for Social Justice.” Talk by Modern Orthodox Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz on gay rights and the minimum wage. At Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.emanuelsf.org/learning-lectures
“The Failures of Ethics: Confronting the Holocaust, Genocide and Other Mass Atrocities.” Public lecture by John Roth of Claremont McKenna College. At Warren Room, 295 Boalt Hall, U.C. Berkeley. 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. lecture. Free, but RSVP required. www.tinyurl.com/law-and-israel
thursday/25
“Israel at a Major Crossroads: Challenges and Opportunities.” Lecture by Avishay Braverman, former Knesset member and former president of Ben-Gurion University. In Berkeley; address given with RSVP. 5:30 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. lecture. Free. www.tinyurl.com/law-and-israel