monday/29
Middle East discussion group. A member-led, informal roundtable discussion about current events. At Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., S.F. 5:30 p.m. Free, but registration required. www.commonwealthclub.org
“Jewish Poland Today: It’s Complicated.” Presentation with videos, photos and stories about Osher Marin JCC’s summer trip to Warsaw and Krakow. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.marinjcc.org
tuesday/30
“An Evening with Roseanne Barr.” Comedian and actress discusses Judaism, kabbalistic meditation, Israel, BDS and more. Space is limited. Presented by Emanu-El’s Israel Action Committee. At Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free, but preregistration required. www.emanuelsf.org
thursday/1
“Starting with Ourselves.” Informal gathering on ending racism will explore experiences, assumptions and connections with Judaism. Led by Bend the Arc Racial Justice team. In S.F., address given with RSVP. 7 p.m. Free. www.bendthearc.us
tuesday/6
Five centuries of Jews in Italy. Before the creation of the State of Israel, never did Jews from the world over live together, in such a stimulating environment, as they did in Italy. So says the Magnes museum in advance of “I-Tal-Yah: An Island of Divine Dew,”a new exhibit about Jewish life in Italy in the 500 years since the founding of the Venice Ghetto in 1516. The title refers to what Jews came to call Italy in Hebrew, and its meaning. Opens Tuesday, Aug. 30, with an opening reception a week later including historians and 17th-century Venetian music sung by a mezzo-soprano backed by a harpsichord.
5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley. Free, but RSVP requested. www.tinyurl.com/magnes-italy
thursday/8
“Storytelling: What Could be More Jewish?” Workshop for adults with storyteller Ellen Kaufman. Sponsored by Ruach Hadassah. At Temple Beth Abraham, 341 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. Free, but RSVP requested. www.tinyurl.com/ellen-stories