Jewish home on the range
The saga of the Petaluma chicken ranchers is only part of the story when it comes to the impact Jews have had on the agricultural history of the Bay Area. “Farmers in the Bay” will shed a light on that history with stories from cheese maker and goat farmer Lisa Gottreich (below), co-owner of the Bohemian Creamery in Sebastopol; Vivien Straus of Straus Family Creamery in Petaluma; and Scott Gerber (above), a singing Jewish cowboy, a descendant of Petaluma chicken ranchers and a Western ranch hand. Guiding the conversation will be j. editor Sue Fishkoff. Advance registration is encouraged.
1-2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1 at Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., S.F. Included with museum admission. www.thecjm.org
friday/25
Rabbi Laibl Wolf. Psychologist, lawyer and Hassidic rabbi discusses positive psychology and Kabbalah. At JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. 5 p.m. $36-$180. Also Jan. 26 at Chabad of Pacific Heights, 3014 Clay St. #2D, S.F. 9 a.m. Also at a private residence in S.F. 7:45 p.m. www.jewishpacheights.com.
saturday/26
Feast of Jewish Learning. Classes on history, art, religion, dance, and more. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7-10:30 p.m. Free. www.paloaltojcc.org
sunday/27
“Quran, Mohammad and Islamic Law — Getting to Know American Muslims and their Faith.” Part of “Exploring the World of Judaism” series, co-sponsored by Jewish LearningWorks. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 9:30 a.m. Free. www.oaklandsinai.org.
“Jewbilee! A Day of Jewish Learning.” Lectures, book fair and keynote speaker Jonathan Sarna, author of “When General Grant Expelled the Jews.” At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 1-8 p.m. $7-$10. www.siliconvalleyjcc.org.
“Helping Families Deal with Today’s Academic, Social and Sports Pressures.” Panel discussion. At Congregation Beth Emek, 400 Nevada St., Pleasanton. 10:15 a.m. Free. [email protected].
Jewish Genealogy workshop. With Jeremy Frankel and Victoria Fisch and Jewish Historical Society of Napa Valley. At Congregation Beth Shalom, 1455 Elm St., Napa. 1 p.m. $15-$25. RSVP to [email protected].
tuesday/29
“The Origins of American Jewish Politics.” Jonathan Sarna, professor at Brandeis University and chief historian of the National Museum of American Jewish History, discusses “General Grant and the Jews in 1868.” At Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 150 E. San Fernando St., San Jose. 5 p.m. Free. RSVP to [email protected]. www.sjsu.edu/jwss.
“The Top Ten Myths About Zionism.” Talk by StandWithUs volunteer Nico Black. First in a five-part StandWithUs lecture series on Israel. At Missouri Street Theatre, 1125 Missouri St., Fairfield. 7 p.m. $10-$30. www.jewishsolano.com/israelcourse.
thursday/31
“Controlling Culture.” Presentation in conjunction with “Degenerate Art” exhibit (see ONGOING). Panelists include Stanford University scholars Amir Eshel and Henry Lowood. At Stanford University Cantor Arts Center, off Palm Drive at Museum Way. 6:30 p.m. Free. www.museum.stanford.edu.
“Reconciling Lives.” Book talk by author Alvin Gilens followed by discussion on German-Jewish reconciliation. Panel includes German Consul General Peter Rothen and Mervyn Danker of the American Jewish Committee. At Goethe-Institut, 530 Bush St., S.F. 6:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation. www.goethe.de/ins/us/saf/enindex.htm.
“When Faith Encounters Gayness: Perspectives on the U.S. and Israel.” With Rabbi Steve Greenberg, co-director of Eshel, dedicated to integration of LGBT Orthodox Jews into their families and communities. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.awiderbridge.org.
“Finding Family Information and Living Relatives on Yad Vashem website.” With Avner Yonai of Jewish Genealogy Society. At Congregation Bnai Shalom, 74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. 7:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation. [email protected].
Yiddish women writers. Shaina Hammerman presents first of four sessions on Jewish women writers in America. At Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St, S.F. 7:30 p.m. $10. (415) 566-7235.
friday/1
“Stories from the Shteibl.” Rabbi Steve Greenberg, author of “Wrestling with God and Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition” speaks about the Orthodox LGBT community. At Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., S.F. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.shaarzahav.org.
saturday/2
“Iran, Israel and the U.S.: What our Leaders Say.” Post-Kiddush talk by Sarah Persitz. AIPAC’s S.F. area director. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 1:30 p.m. Free. www.kolshofar.org.
sunday/3
“Blessings of a Skinned Knee.” Using Jewish teachings to raise self-reliant children. With Rabbi Yoshi Fenton. Part of “Exploring the World of Judaism” series, co-sponsored by Jewish LearningWorks. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 9:30 a.m. Free. www.oaklandsinai.org.
tuesday/5
“Understanding Arab and Muslim Culture.” Mordechai Kedar, director of Israel’s Center for the Study of the Middle East and Islam. At Congregation Beth Israel, 1630 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. Free. Also speaking at other Bay Area locations through Feb. 7. www.rimongroup.org.
“Reflections on Mindful Birthing.” With midwife Yeshi Neumann, Rabbi Margie Jacobs and doula Jen Miriam. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 6:30 p.m. $5-$7. www.jcceastbay.org.
wednesday/6
Rabbi Andrew Sacks. Social justice lecture by director of Israel’s Masorti Rabbinical Assembly. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. $12-$15, students free. www.jccsf.org.
thursday/7
“To Catch Anti-Semitism.” Program with Rabbi David Nesenoff, the man whose videotaped question led to the resignation of columnist Helen Thomas. At Chabad of the Tri-Valley, 784 Palomino Drive, Pleasanton. 7:30 p.m. $15. www.jewishtrivalley.com.