‘Arab Labor’ pokes wicked fun
The Israeli sitcom “Arab Labor,” which follows the everyday adventures of an Israeli Arab journalist and his family, has often been compared to “Seinfeld” — and for good reason. Both sitcoms are hugely popular, hysterically funny and have a Jewish edge. OK, so maybe you have to replace New York with Jerusalem and diner food with hummus and pita bread, but “Arab Labor” packs a wicked Seinfeldian cultural punch. Israeli Arab journalist Sayed Kashua, who wrote “Arab Labor,” will give talks in San Francisco and Palo Alto.
4 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 at Pigott Hall, Stanford University, Palo Alto. Free. jewishstudies.stanford.edu. Also 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 at JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. $10-$15. www.jccsf.org.
friday/8
“Jews on Trial.” Fred Rosenbaum, who founded Lehrhaus Judaica and has written about Jews in the Bay Area and the Holocaust, discusses trials including that of Dreyfus and the Rosenbergs. Also March 9 Rosenbaum discusses the trials of Mendel Beilis and Leo Frank. At Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. 1:30 p.m. Free. www.shirhadash.org.
sunday/10
“Gay Days.” Documentary on the history of the Israeli LGBT community, followed by discussion with Irit Zviely-Efrat of the Israeli LGBT education group Hoshen and Avner Dafni, executive director of Israel Gay Youth. At Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., S.F. 6 p.m. Free. http://awiderbridge.org.
“When Uppity Women Challenge the Rabbinical System.” Talk by scholar and author Rachel Biale. At Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. 4 p.m. Free. www.kolhadash.org.
“Hebrews at War.” Talk on the military history of ancient Jews by Jonathan Roth of San Jose State State’s history department. At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. 7:30 p.m. Small donation requested. www.beth-david.org.
Discussion with members of Congress. Mike Honda (D-Monterey) and Eric Swalwell (D-Santa Clara County) discuss Israel and other issues. At Temple Beth Torah, 42000 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont. $6-$10. 9:30 a.m. www.bethtorah-fremont.org. RSVP to [email protected].
tuesday/12
“America’s Embrace of the Ten Commandments.” Talk by Jenna Weissman-Joselit, professor of Judaic studies at George Washington University. At Stanford Humanities Center, Levinthal Hall, Stanford. 7:30 p.m. Free. http://tinyurl.com/aqfcfgt.
“Open Sources.” Interdenominational night of Jewish learning. At Jewish LearningWorks, 639-14th Ave., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.jewishlearningworks.org.
“Fighting Genocide and Mass Atrocities.” Talk by Mina Rush, director of outreach at Jewish World Watch. At Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park. 4 p.m. Free. www.sonoma.edu/holocaust.
wednesday/13
“Religious Freedom in Israel: Making It a Reality, Not an Ideal.” Talk by Israeli Rabbi Miri Gold, whose groundbreaking legal challenge paved the way for non-Orthodox rabbis to receive state salaries in Israel. At Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.bethelberkeley.org. Also March 14 at Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., S.F. 9 a.m. Free. RSVP required to [email protected] (See story, 10)
thursday/14
Rabbi Michael Lerner. Discusses “A Love-Oriented Emancipatory Judaism as the Path to Healing the Planet.” At Urban Adamah, 1050 Parker St. Berkeley. 7 p.m. Free. www.urbanadamah.org.
friday/15
Scholar-in-residence Rabbi Douglas Kohn. Discusses his books on Judaism and health, including “Life, Faith and Cancer: Jewish Journeys Through Diagnosis, Treatment and Recovery.” During services, which begin at 7:30 p.m. Also March 16 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. and March 17 at 9:30 a.m. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. Free. www.oaklandsinai.org.
sunday/17
“Jewish Life in Marin and Hollywood.” Half-day workshop with keynote talk by actress Mayim Bialik of “The Big Bang Theory” and “Blossom.” At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 1 to 5 p.m. $10. www.marinjcc.org. (See story, 3)
Hazon Jewish Food Festival. Workshops and talks on food, sustainability and Jewish life. At JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $36. www.hazon.org. (See story, 6)
“Genetic Diseases and the Jewish Population.” Talk by Dr. Neil Risch, director of the Institute of Human Genetics at UCSF. At Congregation B’nai Emunah, 3595 Taraval St., S.F. 3:30 p.m. $8-$15. www.be-sf.org.
Day of Learning. Workshops and talks for high school students on the Holocaust and patterns of genocide. At Mercy High School, 3250 19th Ave., S.F. 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Must register at http://dol.jfcs.org.
thursday/21
Mental health support group. Eight weekly sessions. At Peninsula Temple Sholom, 1655 Sebastian Drive, Burlingame. 7 p.m. Free. Must RSVP to [email protected].