saturday | 5
“Spiritual Envy: An Agnostic Quest.” Book signing and talk by author Michael Krasny. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 7:30 p.m. Free. (415) 388-1818 ext. 111.
sunday | 6
“Universal Values of Jewish Parenting.” Actress Mayim Bialik will discuss the values of Jewish parenting for families of all backgrounds. Part of the Exploring the World of Judaism lecture series. At Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. 9:30 a.m. Free. www.shirhadash.org.
“Black and Jewish.” Panel discussion on identity and experience. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 9:30 a.m. Free. (510) 845-6420 ext. 11.
“The Perfect Alibi” with author Sheldon Siegel. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 10 a.m. $8. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
“Nazi Nexus: America’s Corporate Connections to Hitler’s Holocaust.” Author Edwin Black will discuss his book, followed by a discussion about corporate collusion and Nazi eugenics. Includes bagel lunch. At Chai House, 814 St. Elizabeth Drive, San Jose. 10 a.m. $7 suggested donation. www.hillelsv.org.
“The Kosher Nation: It’s Not Just a Jewish Thing” with author and j. editor Sue Fishkoff. Includes lunch. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek.12:30 a.m. $15. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
“Yiddishkeit and its Artists” with editor Paul Buhle. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 1:30 p.m. Free. www.bjesf.org.
“Grapes and Giving.” Wine, cheese and chocolate tasting, along with a talk by Rabbi David White about wine and celebration in different cultures. At Temple Sinai , 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 2 p.m. $20-$30. (510) 547-8080.
“The Changing Face of Jewish-American Fiction.” Lecture by writer and journalist Rebecca Spence. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 2:30 p.m. $8. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
“We Are Optimistic about the Jewish Future.” Panel discussion with Adam Berman of Urban Adamah, Rabbi James M. Brandt of the Jewish Federation of the East Bay, Rabbi Alissa Forrest of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, Rabbi Dan Goldblatt of Beth Chaim Congregation in Danville, and a representativefrom Wilderness Torah. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 2:30 p.m. $8. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
“Competing Zionisms.” Video lecture by David Ruderman of the University of Pennsylvania. Commentary and Q&A led by Kol Hadash members. At Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. 4 p.m. Free. (510) 428-1492.
monday | 7
“Anya’s War” with author Andrea Alban. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 3:40 p.m. $8. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
“Myths and Mysteries of Judaism.” Beginning of six-session course. Also available at Chabad centers in San Rafael, Contra Costa, Redwood City and Santa Cruz. At Jewish Learning Institute of San Francisco, 720 Lombard St., S.F. 7 p.m. $99. (415) 968-9907.
“Thinking, Fast and Slow” with scientist and author Daniel Kaneman. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. $10-$25. (415) 292-1200.
“My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner” with author Meir Shalev. 7 p.m. $10-$15. Shalev also hosts Hebrew storytelling at 5 p.m. $5-$12. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. (650) 223-8699. Also Oct. 8 at JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. $10-$25. (415) 292-1200.
“Transforming Fire: The Rise of the Israel-Islamist Conflict” with author Jonathan Spyer. At Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada St., Pleasanton. 7:30 p.m. $12. (510) 318-6453.
tuesday | 8
“Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention” with author and journalist Katherine Ellison. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 10 a.m. $8. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
JIMENA student training. Advocacy training with Ralph Avi Goldwasser, co-founder of the David Project and director of the film “Forgotten Refugees.” At MLK Student Union, U.C. Berkeley. 6:30 p.m. Free. RSVP to [email protected].
“Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust.” Author Marty Brounstein will discuss his book about a couple who saved others in the Holocaust. At Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road, Burlingame. 7 p.m. Free. (650) 558-7444 ext. 2.
“What If Israel Crushed Foreign Oil Dependency?” Presentation on energy innovations in Israel by scholar Daryl Temkin. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7:30 p.m. $5-$8. (650) 223-8692. Also on Nov. 9 at Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. $10 suggested donation. (310) 855-9606.
wednesday | 9
“Two Books That Will Change Your Child’s Life … and Yours!” with author Lori Geismar Ryan. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 9:30 a.m. Free. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
“Poetry Out Loud at the Chocolate Café.” With Arthur Weil, Stewart Florsheim, Shoshana Eliahu, Mark Hofstadter, Cantor Linda Hirschhorn and others. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 4:30 p.m. $8. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
“North Africa’s Exiled Jews and the Arab Spring.” Lecture by Tripoli native Gina Waldman and director of “Forgotten Refugees” Avi Goldwasser. At Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. 7 p.m. Free. (415) 626-5062.
“A Comedic Deep Roast of the World of Food” with author Michael Capozzola. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 7:30 p.m. $15. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
“How a Nice Jewish Boy Became the District Attorney of Santa Clara County.” Presentation by D.A. Jeff Rosen. At Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. 7:30 p.m. www.shirhadash.org.
“Black Sabbath.” A presentation on black-Jewish relations in music by author and music critic Josh Kun. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. (415) 567-3327. Also on Nov. 10 at JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $10-$15. www.jewishmusicfestival.org.
thursday | 10
“Constitutional Decisions and the Supreme Court” with Professor Jesse Chopper. Part of the East Bay Jewish Forum. At Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland . 9:45 a.m. $10. (510) 839-2900.
“He Said What? Women Write About the Moments When Everything Changed” with Victoria Zackheim and Kathi Kamen Goldmark. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 10 a.m. $8. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
Beginners’ mah jongg. At Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave., Berkeley. 6 p.m. $150 includes National Mah Jongg League card. Also Nov. 17, Dec. 1 and Dec. 8. RSVP to (510) 334-4516.
“Race, Jews and Power.” David Mamet, Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and Tony-nominated screenwriter writer, in conversation with Contemporary Jewish Museum program director Dan Schifrin. At Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. 7 p.m. $36. (510) 549-9447.
“The List.” Veteran TV newsman and NBC special Mideast correspondent Martin Fletcher talks about his thinly disguised autobiographical novel about his parents’ struggles in post-Holocaust London. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 7:30 p.m. $15. (510) 318-6456.
Jewish legends discussion group. At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. 7:30 p.m. Free. [email protected].
friday | 11
Historical fiction morning. “Pictures at an Exhibition” with author Sara Houghteling. 10 a.m. Followed by “The Oracle of Stamboul” with author Michael David Lukas. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 11:30 a.m. $10. www.jfed.org/bookfestival.
sunday | 12
Ribbon-cutting ceremony and presentation. A solar roof panel dedication followed by a luncheon and “Food and Energy” presentation by Full Circle Farm. At Congregation Sinai, 532 Willowbrae Ave., San Jose. 12 p.m. Free. (408) 264-8542.
sunday | 13
Jewish family history open house. Workshop by Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society. Author Ron Arons will present “Putting the Flesh on the Bones: Researching Why Our Ancestors Did What They Did.” At Oakland Regional Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland. 1 p.m. Free. (503) 381-2654.
“Thanks for the Memories.” A presentation about Jewish lyricists and composers of the 20th century by writer and historian Bonnie Weiss. At BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 1:30 p.m. Free. (415) 567-3327.
“The Abrahamic Family Feud.” Rabbi Reuven Firestone, co-director of the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement at Hebrew Union College, will explore the story of Ishmael in the first of a four-part series, “An Introduction of Islam for Jews.” At Congregation B’nai Shalom, 74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. 4 p.m. $18. (925) 934-9446.
“Remembering Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.” In Hebrew. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 8 p.m. Free. (650) 223-8692.
Kesher support group. For parents of children with special needs. Wine, dessert, conversation. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 7 p.m. Free. (510) 318-6426.
“Jewball.” Author Neal Pollack discusses his book about American Jews and basketball. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. $10-$12. www.jccsf.org.