Kol Shofar expansion clears another hurdle
Conservative Congregation Kol Shofar’s protracted expansion project sailed through its probable final public hearing during a March 5 Tiburon Town Council meeting.
The Town Council unanimously upheld the Tiburon Design Review Board’s prior approval of the expansion project. That decision had been appealed by the Tiburon Neighborhood Coalition, which opposes the synagogue’s plans to build an 8,300-square-foot multipurpose room and other additions.
“Unless I’m mistaken, that’s the last public hearing for this project,” said Ron Brown, a synagogue past president and spokesman.
“What has to be done [now] is complete the architecture and get building permits and that’s not a public process.”
In a Jan. 15 tentative ruling, Marin Superior Court Judge James Ritchie heavily supported Kol Shofar in a lawsuit filed by its anti-expansionist neighbors.
Ritchie on Monday released his final ruling, which also sided with Kol Shofar. The neighbors are entitled to appeal, but Brown said that he hopes they won’t.
Funds for non-forced ghetto laborers
Survivors of Holocaust-era ghettos are eligible for a new German government fund, compensating them for “work without force.”
In order to qualify for the onetime payment of $3,037 one must have found one’s own work or been “placed in the job on demand.” Those who have suffered forced labor are not eligible for the fund.
The Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay and Bet Tzedek Legal Services are aiding survivors in determining eligibility and filling out applications. For more information, call Rita Clancy, the JFCS’ Holocaust Survivor Services Coordinator, at (510) 558-7800 ext. 257.
Manischewitz Cook-Off names championz
Fantastic Flounder Rolls were a recipe for victory for Joy Devor from Far Rockaway, N.Y., who won the Simply Manischewitz Cook-Off held Feb. 28 in New York City.
Devor, a mother of six, competed in a one-hour cooking competition against five other finalists, including Evan Levy of Danville. The final event was the culmination of three regional cook-offs (including one in San Francisco).
Participants had to create a recipe using at least one Manischewitz product. Fantastic Flounder Rolls featured Tam Tam crackers; Levy’s Southwestern Potato Kugel used a package of potato pancake mix.
Devor won a GE Profile kitchen as well as cash prizes for a grand prize package valued at $25,000.
To see recipes from all cook-off participants, visit www.manischewitz.com.
Theater to stage Jewish plays
The Magic Theatre and the Commonwealth Club of California will present “Identity in the New Millennium: Three Jewish Perspectives,” a series of three staged readings of new plays.
The series kicks off with “Ariel Sharon Hovers Between Life and Death and Dreams of Theodor Herzl,” a controversial work by New York Jewish playwright David Zellnik. Presented on Monday, March 24, the play is a critique of Zionism and its founders.
The series continues with Karen Hartman’s “Goliath” on March 31, and concludes with David Copelin’s “The Rabbi of Ragged Ass Road” on April 7. All performances at the Commonwealth Club, 595 Market, S.F. Tickets: $12. For information, call (415) 441-8822.
JCRC organizes freedom seders
The Jewish Community Relations Council will hold three “freedom seders” in honor of Passover.
The annual tradition begins with a freedom seder 4 p.m. March 30 on the Peninsula at Christ Episcopal Church, 1040 Border Road, Los Altos. The theme is “A Seder to End Human Trafficking.”
Rabbi Joel Fleekop of Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos and Jian Hu, abbot of the Zen Center in Sunnyvale, will co-lead the seder. Cost is $18 per adult. To make a reservation, contact JCRC at (650) 961-1922 or email kstiller@jcrc.org.
The second freedom seder will be 6:30 p.m. April 14 at the Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. The multicultural event features music and poetry from Marin’s diverse communities. It will be led by Rabbi Lee Bycel of American Jewish World Service and Rev. Carol Hovis of the Marin Interfaith Council. To register by April 9 call (415) 444-8000.
The third JCRC seder occurs 6:30 p.m. April 25 at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St. The theme is “Escaping Economic Bondag.” Individuals who have overcome struggles will speak. Rabbi Elisheva Salamo will lead the seder. Tickets cost $30. To register by April 10, call (415) 292-1233 or email jtrubowitch@jcrc.org.
1,000 camperships available
In an effort to make Jewish overnight camp affordable for all children in the greater Bay Area, five local organizations have joined forces to offer 1,000 scholarships, or camperships, to Jewish children.
The JWest Camping scholarships will be administered by the Foundation for Jewish Camping and the S.F.-based Jim Joseph Foundation. Applications can be found at www.onehappycamper.org. Eligible teens include those who:
n Will be entering grades six to eight in the fall of 2008.
n Live in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington or Wyoming.
n Are not currently enrolled in a Jewish day school.
n Have never attended a Jewish overnight camp.
The Bureau of Jewish Education also is assisting families with financial aid. Eligible Jewish children must be ages 7 to 18, and plan to attend a Jewish overnight camp in 2008 and live in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Solano, San Francisco and parts of Santa Clara counties are also eligible.
The grants are made available by Jewish Community Endowment Fund and the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay. Applications are available online at www.bjesf.org.
Networking event in the East Bay
George Zimmer, founder of the Men’s Wearhouse, will deliver a speech called “Trust and Servant Leadership: the Keys to Success for Men’s Wearhouse” at an East Bay networking event April 2.
In addition to discussing leadership, he will examine the role Jewish values play in his business model.
Zimmer, a Jewish businessman and CEO of a Fortune 500 company, will be speaking to the Business and Professional Division of the East Bay Community Federation, a networking association that fosters professional development, Jewish education, and philanthropy.
The event is open to the public and will be held at the Claremont Resort and Spa, 41 Tunnel Road, Berkeley. It starts at 6 p.m. Admission is $54, which includes a light dinner. RSVP by March 26. Call (510) 839-2900 for more information.
Jewish vintners to celebrate their roots
“Connecting With Our Roots,” the third annual Napa Valley Jewish Vintner’s Celebration, will bring about 40 winemakers together to celebrate wine, cuisine, camaraderie and history.
There will be Jewish winemakers from California and Israel at this three-day event, taking place at various Napa Valley locations from June 20 to 22.
A $650 ticket includes an evening wine reception at a private country estate, exclusive winery open houses, a gala at the Culinary Institute of America and a brunch at the Napa Valley Museum. Tickets purchased before May 10 are $600. Call (707) 968-9944 or go to www.jewishvintners.org for more information or to make reservations.
O.U. promotes growth outside N.Y.
The Orthodox Union is encouraging Jews living in the established Orthodox communities in the New York area to consider moving to North American communities on the brink of significant growth.
In April, the O.U. will showcase 13 cities at an event in New York, among them Denver, Houston, Omaha, San Diego and Vancouver, B.C.
The communities were chosen because they have a sufficient religious infrastructure — including a day school, Orthodox synagogue and access to kosher food — as well as a potential for growth.
“Orthodox Jewish life is well established in each of these communities,” O.U. President Stephen Savitsky said in a news release. — jta
Correction
San Francisco State University professor Fred Astren’s name was misspelled in an article last week. J. regrets the error.
CopyrightJ, the Jewish news weekly of Northern California