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Friday February 16, 2007

Shorts: Bay Area

Proprietor who refused Jewish family photos loses in court

A local Jewish man who claimed anti-Jewish bias by a camera store owner who refused to handle his family photographs has won thousands in a court settlement.

In a Jan. 22 ruling, Mitch Cutler was awarded damages of $4,000, along with $43,880 in legal fees and $3,145 in costs, by the Santa Clara County Superior Court in his case against Los Gatos Camera and proprietor David Muston.

Cutler claimed he was shocked when Muston refused to work on his aging family photos in 2005 as they were snapshots of “Jewish Zionist terrorists.” Muston, however, claimed that description was used by Cutler himself — which Cutler denies.

Muston has told the media he plans to appeal the ruling, but he shut down his 22-year-old camera shop this week. Cutler has said he will donate the fine to Honest Reporting, an organization that combats anti-Israel media coverage.

Focus of Stanford panel: Green technology

Two Bay Area organizations have collaborated to offer a green technology workshop on Monday, March 5 at the Stanford University Faculty Club.

The Northwest Region of American Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Consulate General of Israel have invited a panel of experts to speak, which begins at 4 p.m. and costs $25.

Following the panelists’ presentation, attendants can stay for a 6:30 p.m. dinner and keynote address by Betsy Rosenberg, the host of Air America Radio’s “EcoTalk.” Panelists will also lead dinner guests in small group discussions. The dinner costs an additional $50.

For reservations and more information, contact Daphna Noily at (415) 399-1090 or dnoily@aabgu.org.

Israeli film festival at Temple Beth El

Temple Beth El will kick off its 7th annual Jewish Film Festival early next month, and will showcase Israeli documentary and feature-length films.

The screenings will take place over two Sundays, March 4 and 11. The first day’s films are “Resurgence: Anti Semitism in the 21st Century,” 11 a.m. “Sister Rose’s Passion,” 1 p.m. “Wrestling With Angels,” 3 p.m. “Everything is Illuminated,” 5 p.m. “Hats of Jerusalem,” and “The Tribe,” 7 p.m. Second-day films are “Inner Tour,” 11 a.m. “Lost World of the Holyland” and “The Tribe,” 1 p.m. “Live and Become,” 3 p.m. “Children’s House,” 5 p.m. “Nina’s Tragedies,” 7 p.m.

Temple Beth El is located at 3055 Porter Gulch Road in Aptos. Admission is $7, $8 at the door or 4 for $25. Information: www.theaptos.org.

Holocaust grants awarded

S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services will award its Zisovich Holocaust Education Grants at a ceremony March 1. The awards provide funding for individuals and organizations working on projects or programs that teach about the Holocaust.

The 2007 Zisovich Holocaust Education Grant recipients are: Filmmaker Valerie Landes for “Hideaway,” a film for elementary school children; Lani Silver for her school assemblies on the Holocaust and racism as part of the James Byrd Jr. Racism Oral History Project; Sue Maltiel, director of Hillel Silicon Valley, for a Holocaust education week at San Jose State University.

Other winners are: Morgan Blum, director of education, Holocaust Center of Northern California; Helene Fischman, visual artist, for a show titled “Art from the Ashes: The Artwork of Helene Fischman from Terezin and Auschwitz;” Yaron Lipschitz of the Bureau of Jewish Education for “Shalhevet 2007: A Transformative Journey to Poland and Israel,” for Bay Area high school students (a collaboration between the Bureau of Jewish Education and the Holocaust Center of Northern California); Anne Grenn Saldinger, director of the Bay Area Holocaust Oral History Project; Rebecca Astrachan, a student studying the Holocaust; Leslie Kane, executive director of the Holocaust Center of Northern California; and the Next Chapter Project, a cooperative project of YouthFirst, JFCS’ Holocaust Survivor Services, the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture and the international Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

Established in 1997, the Zisovich Awards have helped more than 25 grantees create projects and undertake studies that further understanding of the Holocaust. Information: www.jfcs.org or call (415) 449-1226.

JFCS offers training for enterprising teens

Jewish Family and Children’s Services has partnered with the National Foundation for Training in Entrepreneurship to launch a new youth leadership program.

The program will give teens ages 14-18 a chance to learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and small business development.

It will build skills and help teens approach work with creativity and empowerment, moving them beyond traditional minimum-wage jobs.

The program includes a two-week summer “biz camp” in August, field trips to local businesses, mentorship, a seed funding competition and opportunities to create business plans.

Adults with business expertise are needed to serve as volunteer mentors, guest speakers and guest judges for business plan competitions.

For more information contact Eric Singer at EricS@jfcs.org or (415) 449-1226.

Maccabi/Birthright trip accepting applications

JCC Maccabi Israel and Taglit-Birthright Israel are gearing up for another 10-day adventure in Israel.

To qualify for the free trip one must be Jewish, between 20 and 26 years old and never have been to Israel on a peer group tour.

The tentative dates for the JCC Maccabi Israel trip are May 27 to June 7. Registration is open at http://register.birthrightisrael.com. For more information, contact JCC Maccabi Israel at (800) 732-1266 or info@jccmaccabiisrael.org.

Charles Chocolates opens retail store

Charles Chocolates, a Jewish-owned premium chocolate company, has opened its first retail boutique in Emeryville.

In addition to the boutique, Charles Chocolates plans to open an 8,000-square-foot kitchen and café in April. The store is the only retail location featuring the entire Charles Chocolates product line.

Founded in 2004 by Charles Siegel, Charles Chocolates products are available at more than 400 locations nationwide or at the Charles Chocolates Web store. The company’s confections were cited in Sunset Magazine’s “Best of the West” and 7x7 Magazine.

Open seven days a week, the new Charles Chocolates boutique is located at 6529 Hollis St., Emeryville. For more information, visit www.charleschocolates.com or call (888) 652-4412.

Free tax preparation offered by JFCS

Jewish Family and Children’s Services is offering free tax preparation for Sonoma County’s low-income families.

This service will be provided until April 14, and families may qualify for a tax refund if eligible for the Earned Income Tax credit. For details or to schedule an appointment, call (707) 571-2048.

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