friday/15
Scholar-In-Residence Dr. Nily Shiryon. Presentation on “Purim, God and the Whole Megillah.” At Congregation Beth Ami, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. 8:30 p.m. Also April 16: presentations on Pesach at 1:15 p.m and on Yom HaShoah and Yom Ha’atzmaut at 7 p.m. Free. www.bethamisr.org
“Big Environmental Questions — Big Jewish Answers.” With scholar-in-residence Jeremy Benstein, co-founder of Heschel Center for Sustainability in Tel Aviv. 7:30 p.m. $18 adults, $10 kids, includes Shabbat dinner. Also April 16 talk on consumerism. 1:15 p.m. Free. Also April 17 talk on sustainability as core issue for Israel’s future. 10:30 a.m. Free. At Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. www.netivotshalom.org
Dr. Michael Cooper. Author of “The Rabbi’s Knight” discusses his novel and volunteer medical work with children in West Bank and Israel. At Commonwealth Club, 555 Post St., S.F. 12 p.m. $20 for nonmembers, $8 discount with code: jewishweekly. www.commonwealthclub.org
saturday/16
Combatants for Peace. Israeli and Palestinian co-founders of CFP will share their vision of nonviolence, reconciliation and dialogue. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 2:30 p.m. Free. www.oaklandsinai.org
sunday/17
Reception for KALA. Leaders of Ethiopian Israeli LGBT organization speak about activism and human rights. Address provided with RSVP. 7 p.m. Free, but registration required. www.awiderbridge.org
monday/18
“The Massacre of Jews in Wartime Jedwabne and its Aftermath Today.” Lecture by Polish journalist Anna Bikont, author of a book on this topic, “The Crime and the Silence.” At CCSRE conference room, Bldg. 360, Stanford. 12 p.m. Free. http://jewishstudies.stanford.edu
monday/25
Middle East discussion group. A member-led, informal roundtable discussion about current events. At Commonwealth Club, 555 Post St., S.F. 5:30 p.m. Free, but registration required. www.commonwealthclub.org
wednesday/27
“Democracy in the Balance: Human Rights Defenders in Israel.” Conversation with Israeli human rights attorney Michael Sfard. RSVP requested. Sponsored by New Israel Fund. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 7 p.m. Free. Also April 28 at the offices of Farella, Braun & Martel, 235 Montgomery St., second floor, S.F. 7 p.m. $20 (dinner included). www.nif.org