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Friday February 8, 2008

Shorts: Bay Area

Israeli biologist in town for stem cell talk

Biologist Yair Reisner will be in the Bay Area to talk about new Israeli developments in stem cell research. Reisner’s presentation will focus on the use of embryonic porcine stem cells in creating replacement organs in humans.

The lecture, which takes place Sunday, Feb. 10, is a presentation of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science Bay Area Region. Reisner is the director of the Gabrielle Rich Center for Transplantation Biology at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

The event begins with a cocktail reception at 4 p.m. at the Westin Palo Alto, Siena Room, 675 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. Admission is free. For more information, or to RSVP, call (415) 981-4001 or email bayarea@acwis.org.

Isaiah launches Israel series

Temple Isaiah of Lafayette will launch a series of Wednesday evening lectures titled “Understanding Israel: A New Way to Discover Israel’s Past, Present and Future.” The course explores the tragedies and triumphs of modern Israel.

The Feb. 13 lecture features David Akov, consul general of Israel for the Pacific Northwest region, with a lecture titled “The Israel/American Relationship, Then and Now.” On Feb. 20, S.F. State professor and native Israeli Nitzhia Shaked speaks on “The Synagogue and State in Israel: Separating the Powers.” On Feb. 27, Ken Cohen lectures on “How Israel’s Government Works,” while the concluding lecture March 5 features Lehrhaus Judaica founding director Fred Rosenbaum on “Israel and the Heritage of the Holocaust.”

Each lecture takes place 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, from Feb. 13 through March 5. Tuition: $55/members, $65/non-members. Childcare available. Contact Temple Isaiah (925) 283-8575 for more information.

Israel extravaganza at Beth Israel-Judea

Bring your dancing shoes and Congregation Beth Israel-Judea will provide the beats. An Israeli Extravaganza at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 celebrates the Jewish state’s 60th year. After Havdallah services with Cantor Ellen Schwab, music will be provided by Israel-born folk musician Achi Ben-Shalom and Israeli band Kol Creation. Food will be provided (as will henna tattoos) and, to top it all off, it’s free.

Beth Israel-Judea is located at 625 Brotherhood Way, S.F. Information: Call (415) 678-0327.

New York klezmer band to play Sonoma State U.

The Catskill Klezmorim, a six-member band, will perform 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 at the Warren Auditorium on the campus of Sonoma State University.

The New York-based group has performed at numerous campuses, synagogues and Jewish community centers, and is a musical interlude in the long-running lecture series “Lost and Found: Living in a Post-Holocaust World.”

For more information, contact Myrna Goodman, director of SSU’s Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide, at (707) 664-4076.

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