Here we are in the delightful summer months with long warm evenings full of crickets. This is when the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival fills theaters around the Bay Area with films that we pretty much won’t get a chance to see otherwise. I hope you have received the 2014 brochure in the mail and have had time to pour over the films to make your choices. This year Building Jewish Bridges is again co-presenting two films. They are El Critico and Little White Lie. I believe that the first one, El Critico, was given to us just to have a fun social time out. It’s a romantic comedy and from what I can see has very little to do with anything Jewish. But it will be fun and we can contemplate the question, does love conquer all? The second film, Little White Lie, is much more serious. It is a documentary made by a young woman who figured out at the age of 18 that she wasn’t the child of both her parents. It’s a fascinating and challenging story of identity, family, truth and secrets. I hope you’ll join me for one or both of them. If you can’t make it to one of ‘my’ films, do take a look at the whole lineup and fit a film into your summer. You can see the full program at www.sfjff.org.
EVENTS
Essential Jewish Knowledge: A Four Part Series with Rabbi David Kasher (Berkeley)
Shabbat Morning Learners’ Services (Berkeley)
Yad B’Yad (Hand in Hand) Tot Shabbat & Picnic (San Mateo)
Jewish Film Series Presents “Rashevski’s Tango” (Los Altos Hills)
Stop The Sirens In Israel: An Emergency Solidarity Gathering (San Francisco)
Mazel Tots! (San Francisco)
Chardonnay Shabbat Evening Service (Berkeley)
Oneg Shabbat: Saturdays Unplugged (San Francisco)
Welcoming Prospective Members (Los Altos Hills)
Let’s Go to the Movies! El Critico (Berkeley)
Tisha b’Av Text Study (San Francisco)
Israeli Folk Dancing with Allen King! (Kensington)
Let’s Go to the Movies! Little White Lie (Oakland)
Kabbalat Shabbat on the Farm (Berkeley)
Essential Jewish Knowledge:
A Four Part Series with Rabbi David Kasher
This July, Urban Adamah is pleased to offer a four-part evening workshop series exploring Judaism’s relevance to life in the 21st Century. These classes, led by our friend Rabbi David Kasher, is designed for both beginners and those with years of learning under their belts. Classes will be held Thursday nights in July, in our main tent.
July 17th: The Diversity of Jewish Beliefs
July 24th: Hallmark Jewish Practices
July 31st: The Making of the Jewish Family
Time: 7 to 8:30pm
Place: Urban Admah, 1050 Parker St. Berkeley
Cost: Join us for one class ($10 in advance, $15 at the door)
Shabbat Morning Learners’ Services
Starting on July 19, Rabbis Kahn and Stern will lead a series of learners’ services on Shabbat mornings. Attend any individual day or the entire month. Each week there will be a complete service, with an extended look at one section of the liturgy; we will learn about the prayers, music and meanings of a part of the service in depth. A light lunch at noon follows each of these intellectually and spiritually engaging mornings.
All are welcome! No need to RSVP.
July 19: The Preliminary Service – Entering Sacred Time & Space
July 26: Sh’ma and Its Blessings – Prayer as Ideology
August 2: Amidah – Prayer as Dialogue
August 9: Torah Service – Community & History
Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford Street, Berkeley 94709
Dates: Saturday mornings, July & August, beginning July 19
Time: 10:15 am
Place: Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley
www.bethelberkeley.org
Yad B’Yad (Hand in Hand) Tot Shabbat & Picnic
Families with young children join for a short Shabbat service, followed by time to play, schmooze and to enjoy a beautiful morning together. We’ll provide snacks. Bring a picnic and stay.
Date: Saturday, July 19
Time: 10:00 am
Place: Peninsula Temple Beth El, 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo
RSVP to rabbisara@ptbe.org
www.ptbe.org
Jewish Film Series Presents “Rashevski’s Tango”
What does it mean to be Jewish? Three generations of the Rashevski family grapple with the question after the death of Rose, the secular matriarch who believed that the tango would make all troubles disappear. Charming and endearing, the characters confront issues of relationships, family, religion, love, romance and interfaith marriage. The film is in French and Hebrew with English subtitles. Rabbi Sarah Weissman will lead a discussion following the film. Free; refreshments will be served.
Date: Saturday, July 19
Time: 3:30pm
Place: In the Beit Kehillah at Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Rd, Los Altos Hills
www.betham.org
Sponsored by the Interfaith Outreach Committee of Beth Am.
Stop The Sirens In Israel: An Emergency Solidarity Gathering
Temple Emanu-El is hosting a mass gathering this Sunday, organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund and the Board of Rabbis of Northern California. Join us as we stand with the people of Israel during this difficult time. Learn more here.
Date: Sunday, July 20
Time: 4:00pm
Place: Emanu-el, 2 Lake St., San Francisco
www.emanuelsf.org
Mazel Tots!
Join other parents and little ones and welcome the new week with Havdalah and Mimi Greisman. This group will provide a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents and create lasting friendships. We hope you can participate in this musical play group that focuses on parenting your baby or toddler. We will talk about language development, making friends, starting preschool, finding time for you, siblings, physical development, new-found autonomy, and any topic identified by the group. We will have guest speakers from time to time as well as celebrate Jewish holidays and traditions. Enjoy a relaxed setting filled with music, puppets, and more, while you and your little one can play and meet other parents and kids!
Dates: Mondays, Ongoing weekly drop-in, next Monday is July 22
Time: 9:30 – 11:00 am
Place: In Martin Meyer Reception room of Temple Emanu-el, 2 Lake St., San Francisco
www.emanuelsf.org
Chardonnay Shabbat Evening Service
Begin your Shabbat with hors d’oeuvres and a glass of wine or juice before we join together in song and community to welcome the Shabbat. Everyone is always welcome at our services and programs (and like all our Shabbat services, childcare is available).
Date: Friday, July 25
Time: 5:30 pm Refreshments & Schmoozing • 6:15 pm Shabbat Service
Place: Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley
www.bethelberkeley.org
Oneg Shabbat: Saturdays Unplugged
Sherith Israel is happy to partner with the JCCSF and other Bay Area Jewish organizations to bring you Oneg Shabbat: Saturdays Unplugged. Come for the play date, stay for the live music. Unplug and meet up with family and friends for a screen-free afternoon of fun activities and celebratory cocktails. Conclude the day with Havdalah, a sweet send-off for Shabbat and a welcome to the new week. Each week features a family-friendly concert; July 26 will host Isaac Zones and Melita Silberstein! Family Fun, Havdalah, and Happy Hour!
Date: Saturday, July 26
Time: 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Place: JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St, San Francisco
Free
www.jccsf.org
Welcoming Prospective Members
Beth Am is inviting their members to “Bring Your Friends, Family and Neighbors Interested in Beth Am.” You don’t need a friend to take you! You can just go check out Beth Am on one of the Friday nights in August. Want someone to meet you at the door and “take” you? Just let me know and I’ll arrange it.
Beth Am invite all prospective members to celebrate Shabbat with Beth Am in our Outdoor Chapel at 6:15 p.m. every Friday in August. After the service, prospective members are invited to get to know clergy and lay leaders and ask any questions they may have about our community. Prospective members are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner, and we will provide dessert and good company!
Dates: Fridays in August beginning August 1
Time: Service 6:15 p.m., Outdoor Chapel; Picnic and Oneg Shabbat 7:30 p.m.
Place: Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Rd, Los Altos Hills
www.betham.org
Let’s Go to the Movies! El Critico
Join us for the SF Jewish Film Festival! Building Jewish Bridges is co-presenting El Critico. The film runs from 6:50 to 8:30pm. We’ll go for ice cream afterwards.
El Critico
Víctor Tellez is jaded, emotionally repressed and arrogant. Not surprisingly, he is an influential but harsh film who especially detests Hollywood romantic comedies.One day while searching for a new apartment, he unexpectedly meets Sofía, a spontaneous and vibrant woman. She clearly does not fit with his conception of good taste. Víctor finds himself going soft and his movie reviews reflect this. He suspects that the movie genre that he hates the most is taking its revenge.
Date: Saturday, Aug. 2
Time: Film runs 6:50 to 9:00
Showing at California Theater, 2113 Kittredge St., Berkeley, between Oxford and Shattuck.
Get your ticket at the SF Film Festival site.
Tisha b’Av Text Study
Join Rabbi Jessica Graf for an evening of learning to commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. (This is an opportunity to meet the new rabbi at Sherith Israel!)
Date: Aug. 4
Time: 7:15-8:30pm
Place: Sherith Israel, 3200 California St., San Francisco
www.sherithisrael.org
Questions? RSVP? Contact rabbigraf@sherithisrael.org or 415.346.1720
Israeli Folk Dancing with Allen King!
Please join us for Kid’s Night at Israeli Folkdancing. The evening will feature easy-to-follow dances led by Allen, a beloved and experienced kid’s dance teacher. All ages and adults too are welcome for this fun annual family event. For more info, email Bronwyn at imogen@alumni.princeton.edu.
Date: Wednesday, August 6
Time: 8:00 pm
Place: Arlington Community Church, 52 Arlington Ave, Kensington
Cost: Kids are free, adults are $3 (or $6 if you stay until 11:30 pm) or pay what you can.
Hosted by Beth El in Berkeley.
Let’s Go to the Movies! Little White Lie
Join us for the SF Jewish Film Festival! Building Jewish Bridges is co-presenting Little White Lie. The film runs from 7 to 8:05pm. We’ll go for ice cream afterwards. Email me so I’ll know you’re coming and keep an eye out for you.
Little White Lie tells Lacey Schwartz’s story of growing up in a typical upper-middle-class Jewish household in Woodstock, NY, with loving parents and a strong sense of her Jewish identity — despite the open questions from those around her about how a white girl could have such dark skin. She believes her family’s explanation that her looks were inherited from her dark-skinned Sicilian grandfather. But when her parents abruptly split, her gut starts to tell her something different.
— Little White Lie manages to be both a particular family’s story of the price of living in denial, but also raises larger questions for us all: What factors—race, religion, family, upbringing—make us who we are? And what happens when we are forced to redefine ourselves?-Peter L. Stein
Date: Thursday, Aug. 7
Time: 7pm
Place: The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th St, Oakland
Get your ticket at the San Francisco Film Festival site.
Kabbalat Shabbat on the Farm
Join Urban Adamah fellows and friends for a joyful community Kabbalat Shabbat service and dinner on the farm!
Kabbalat Shabbat was invented in the 16th century by the Jewish mystics. Today, it’s practiced in most Jewish communities as a spiritual and emotional doorway into our day of rest. Our version includes chanting, meditation, poetry, movement and quiet alone time on the farm. Drums, guitar and clarinet will carry us into the night.
6:30-8:00 pm: Kabbalat Service led by Adam Berman and the Urban Adamah staff
8:00 pm: Vegetarian potluck dinner! Please bring a vegetarian dish to share for the potluck dinner after the service.
Date: Friday, Aug. 8
Time: 6:30 – 8pm
Place: Urban Adamah, 1050 Parker St, Berkeley
This event is free and open to the public, but kindly register in advance here.
Overwhelmed by Argument: The Conversation I Want to Have Now
Convened by Josh Kornbluth
We care, and because we care, we despair. Will there be any outcome for Israelis and Palestinians, for Israel and Palestine, in which both Peoples are acknowledged and respected? Where one group’s national aspirations are not deemed unworthy? This is the conversation Josh wants to have, the conversation we believe we need. We need is as Jews. We need it as people. We need it as one People among many Peoples. Will there ever be a solution? We don’t know. We worry. Everyone suffers when some suffer. And so someone who cares is convening a loving, respectful conversation with a very clear mandate: More hope, More dignity, More love.
Here are the rules for the conversation Josh invites us to share:
1) If your position is that Israel should cease to exist as the Jewish Homeland, that is not the conversation we are going to have.
2) If you believe Jews are better than Palestinians, that is not the conversation we are going to have.
3) If you believe that only Jews have the right to a state, that is not the conversation we are going to have.
4) If you believe Israel’s concerns about security are imagined, that is not the conversation we are going to have.
The jumping-off-point for our conversations will be these two books:
The Crisis of Zionism, by Peter Beinart
My Promised Land, by Ari Shavit
Dates: 2 evenings: Wednesday Aug. 13 & 20
Time: 7:30pm-9pm
Place: Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave, Berkeley
Class fee: $20 (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Registration is required – please register with Daniel at office@netivotshalom.org.
Tot Shabbat Services
Bring your tot to Tot Shabbat! Beginning September 5th, Temple Beth Hillel will hold Tot Shabbat Services the first Friday of the month,6:00 – 6:30 p.m., followed by a family potluck and Shabbat service at 7:30 p.m. Please join us!
Open to the Community.
Date: First Friday of the Month beginning September 5
Time: 6:00 – 6:30 pm
Place: Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central, Richmond
Questions/Information: www.tbhrichmond.org or 510.223.2560