friday/17
Book talk with Marty Brounstein. Author discusses “Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust.” At Congregation Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. 7:30 p.m. service, 8:30 p.m. talk. (650) 813-9094. Also Aug. 22 at Pleasant Hill Adventist Church, 800 Grayson Road, Pleasant Hill. 7 p.m. (925) 934-5803. Also Aug. 25 at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 7 p.m. (415) 927-0960.
sunday/19
Book talk by Michael Cooper. Author discusses “Foxes in the Vineyard,” his novel about a son searching for his archaeologist father on the eve of the Israeli War of Independence. At Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave., Berkeley. 3 p.m. Free. www.afikomen.com. Also Aug. 30 at Time Tested Books, 1114 21st St., Sacramento. 7 p.m. Free. www.timetestedbooks.net.
“The Process and Ethics of Kosher Meat.” Lecture and workshop with certified kosher slaughterer Yadidya Greenberg. At Urban Adamah, 1050 Parker St., Berkeley. 4:30 p.m. $10. Register at www.urbanadamah.org.
Knitzvah. Knitters, crocheters and sewers meet to make items for charities. At Chai House, 814 St. Elizabeth Dr., San Jose. 10:30 a.m. [email protected] or www.jvalley.org.
Genealogy workshops. “How Spreadsheets Can Help Your Research.” At Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave., Oakland. 12:30 p.m. Free. Also Aug. 20. “Google and Genealogy.” At Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. 7:30 p.m. Free. Presented by the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society. www.jewishgen.org/sfbajgs.
tuesday/21
Symposium with Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Founder of Jewish Renewal movement and Sufi sheikh discusses multireligious life. Presented by the Starr King School for the Ministry. Through Aug. 23. At Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, 1433 Madison St., Oakland. Also Aug. 23 at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St., Oakland. 6 p.m. Free. www.sksmstudents.com.
thursday/23
“No Grocery Store in Sight.” Panel on food access in East Bay neighborhoods. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $5 suggested. www.jcceastbay.org.
sunday/26
Litquake. Readings and salons on the Peninsula, an extension of S.F. literary festival. Authors, family events, music. 3 to 8 p.m. Free. Also “Blues, Booze and Schmooze” wine and art party. 7 p.m. Free. Also talk by Michael Krasny on Jewish humor. 8 p.m. $23-$35. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. www.paloaltojcc.org.