thursday | 1
Free law consultations for elders. Half-hour sessions for people 60 and older and their families. Estate planning, wills and trusts, probates, more. At Jewish Children’s and Family Services, 1360 N. Dutton Ave., Suite C, Santa Rosa. RSVP to (707) 571-8131.
“The Death of the Young: Dealing with Life’s Unfairness.” Part of series “Biblical Texts for Today’s Issues.” Includes breakfast. At Congregation Ner Tamid, 1250 Quintara St., S.F. 9:30 a.m. Free. (415) 661-3383.
friday | 2
Lectures about Talmud and Torah. Scholar-in-residence weekend with Rabbi Yitzhak Etshalom. Includes community meals. At Beth Jacob Congregation, 3778 Park Blvd., Oakland. 8:30 p.m. Free. Through Sept. 4. (510) 482-1147.
“A Grand Tour of the Realms of the Universe.” Astronomer Andrew Fraknoi will host a “tourist tour” of the universe with images from the Hubble Space Telescope. At Congregation Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. 7:30 p.m. Free. Followed by a star-gazing party at Foothills Park at 8 p.m. Sept. 3. (650) 813-9094 ext 206.
sunday | 4
Lectures on the Psalms and Talmud. Series with Rabbi Yosef Leibowitz of Berkeley’s Congregation Beth Israel. Yad Yaakov Fund for Jewish Education lecture series. Kosher lunch provided. At a private residence in Berkeley. 10 a.m. $50 for all sessions. Also Sept. 5. (510) 848-5910.
tuesday | 6
Jewish Coalition for Literacy volunteer training. Learn to teach reading skills with specialist Joan Green. At Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., S.F. 5:45 p.m. Free. (415) 977-7414 ext100.
wednesday | 7
“Israel Dialogue Through a Literary Lens.” Facilitated conversation about “A Tale of Love and Darkness” by Israeli writer Amos Oz. Reading materials provided. At Congregation Shomrei Torah, 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. 7 p.m. Free. [email protected].
“Torah and Tea with Maayan Rabinovich.” Meet Merkavah Torah Institute’s new instructor and find out about upcoming classes for “Women in Talmud and Prophets.” At Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave., Berkeley. 8 p.m. Free. (510) 292-0175.
thursday | 8
“Sexual Behavior in Biblical Times.” Lecture by Rabbi Moshe Levin, part of the series “Biblical Texts for Today’s Issues.” Includes breakfast. At Congregation Ner Tamid, 1250 Quintara St., S.F. 9:30 a.m. Free. (415) 661-3383.
“The State of the Jewish World.” East Bay Jewish Forum lecture by Mervyn Danker, American Jewish Committee’s Northern California regional director. At Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 10 a.m. $10. (510) 318-6453.
Arava-Hazon Israel Ride information night. Alumni talk about the weeklong cycling tour of Israel. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7 p.m. Free. www.hazon.org.
“No Way Back: The Journey of a Jew from Baghdad.” JIMENA board member Daniel Khazzoom will read from his memoir along with a preview screening of the documentary “Forgotten Refugees,” about Jews indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. At Congregation B’nai Israel, 3600 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento. 7:30 p.m. Free. (916) 446-4861.
friday | 9
“Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue.” Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service, discusses the Jewish role in famine relief, food justice and Global Hunger Shabbat. At Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 6:15 p.m. Free. Also 9:30 a.m. Sept. 10 at Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley, and 9 a.m. Sept. 11 at Congregation Beth Sholom, 301-14th Ave., S.F. (415) 593-3280.
saturday | 10
“The Jewish Refugees of Libya.” Gina Waldman, president and co-founder of JIMENA, will share her story of escape from Libya and talk about Jewish refugees. At Congregation Adath Israel, 1851 Noriega St., S.F. 11 a.m. Free. (415) 564-5665.
sunday | 11
“A Taste of Hebrew.” Learn beginning Hebrew. Includes an Israeli-style lunch. At the Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 9 a.m. $40-$50. (650) 223-8602.
“Strength, Diplomacy and the Iranian Threat.” Annual Richard Franklin lecture in the Jewish legal tradition, with guest speaker Abraham D. Sofaer. Followed by brunch. At Congregation Kol Emeth, 4175 Manuela Ave., Palo Alto. 10:30 a.m. Free. (650) 948-7498.
“Cooking Jewish: Rosh Hashanah.” Building Jewish Bridges. Cook and share recipes. At Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos. 11 a.m. $25. (510) 814-6420 ext 11.
Chabad gala banquet. Chabad Jewish Center of Sonoma County. Featuring author Rabbi Simon Jacobson, live music and kosher wine. At B.R. Cohn Winery, 15000 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma. 5 p.m. $125. RSVP to www.jewishsonoma.com.