saturday/15
“The Rise and Fall of a Jewish American Princess.” Author and J. columnist Barbara Rose Brooker will discuss her new novel about a Jewish princess and would-be artist’s journey through divorce, the art world and self-actualization. At Book Passage Marin, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 1 p.m. Free. www.barbararosebrooker.com
sunday/16
“Jewish Community of Solano County.” Authors will sign copies of their photo-illustrated book about the Jews who settled in the region after the Gold Rush. At Chabad of Solano County, 1133 Vintage Court, Vacaville. 12:30 p.m. Free. RSVP to [email protected]. Also Nov. 23 at Congregation B’nai Israel, 1256 Nebraska St., Vallejo. 12:30 p.m. Free. (707) 642-6585
“Making David into Goliath: How the World Turned Against Israel.” Joshua Muravchik, fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins University, discusses his book. Sponsored by Zionist Organization of America. At Lisa Kampner Hebrew Academy, 645 14th Ave., S.F. 3 p.m. Free, but RSVP requested. [email protected]
“Enchantress: A Novel of Rav Hisda’s Daughter.” Maggie Anton discusses her latest book, a magical tale set in fourth-century Babylonia. At Mosaic Law Synagogue, 2300 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento. Also Nov. 18 with dairy potluck preceding at Congregation B’nai Israel, 3600 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento. 6:15 p.m. Also Nov. 19 at Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. 7:30 p.m. Also Nov. 20 at Temple Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. 7 p.m. Free. www.maggieanton.com
monday/17
Three minutes of history. Glenn Kurtz inherited three minutes of film from his grandfather depicting everyday life in his small Jewish hometown in Poland in 1938. After the Holocaust, Nasielsk no longer existed, and that precious 16mm color footage is the only surviving evidence it was ever there. Kurtz will discuss his book, “Three Minutes in Poland,” about his quest to identify the people in the film. Co-presenter is Leslie Swift of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17 at Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. Free, but RSVP requested at www.ushmm.org/events. More information available at www.jewishlearningworks.org/library
sunday/23
“Nest.” Local author Esther Ehrlich will read from and discuss her new book about a young bird-watcher contending with her beloved mother’s serious illness. At Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave., Berkeley. 4 p.m. Free. www.afikomen.com