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Wednesday September 10, 2008

Shorts: Bay Area

Cal prof discusses election at Marin JCC

U.C. Berkeley professor George Lakoff will discuss “Israel, Jews and the U.S. Election” in a conversation with KQED radio host Michael Krasny. The free event takes place Sept. 24 at the Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael.

Lakoff is the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Professor in the College of Letters and Science at Cal. His books include “Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think” and “The Political Mind: Why You Can’t Understand 21st-Century American Politics With an 18th-Century Brain.” He is also a co-founder of the progressive Rockridge Institute.

Lakoff speaks 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. To reserve seats, call (415) 444-8066 or e-mail hben_eliezer@marinjcc.org.

Los Gatos JCC sponsors community barbecue

The Addison-Penzak JCC invites the community to its end-of-summer barbecue Sept. 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the JCC, 14855 Oka Road in Los Gatos.

The event, which is open both to members and nonmembers, will include food, jump houses, races and swimming. There is no cost to attend.

RSVPs are requested to membership@svjcc.org or (408) 357-7499.

Wornick to install new head of school

Susan Weintrob, the new head of school at the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School, will be officially installed during a ceremony Friday, Sept. 12 at the school, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. The ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m.

For more information, contact the school at (650) 378-2600.

Jewish groups mobilize ‘No on 8’ events

A dozen Jewish organizations from around the Bay have joined forces to encourage voters to vote “no” in November on Proposition 8, which, if successful, would make marriage for gay and lesbian couples illegal in California.

The organizations will hold mobilization events to rally against Prop 8:

n 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., S.F.

n 7 p.m. Sept. 17, JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley.

n 3 p.m. Oct. 5, Congregation Shomrei Torah, 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa.

n 4:30 p.m. Oct. 19, Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills.

Organizations advocating for marriage equality include the Jewish Community Relations Council, Progressive Jewish Alliance, LGBT Alliance of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, JCC East Bay, Jewish Mosaic, Congregation Emanu-El, Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, National Council of Jewish Women, Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay, Congregation Sherith Israel, Congregation Beth Am and the Anti-Defamation League.

For more information, check www.noonprop8.com or e-mail Judy Trubowitch at jtrubowitch@jcrc.org.

East Bay series covers baseball, politics and more

This year’s 42nd East Bay Jewish Forum will have a new venue — Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland — in addition to a host of new topics and faces.

The series will kick off its annual 16-lecture lineup with Rabbi Mark Bloom talking “Jews and Baseball” on Sept. 18.

As in years past, all lectures will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday mornings, and will feature speakers on a range of topics. Other lectures this year will include “The Roots of Anti-Semitism” (Oct. 16) and “Election ’08: Jewish Issues and the Jewish Vote” (Nov. 13). Speakers will include Nitzhia Shaked, Noel Kaplowitz and Howard Maccabee.

Temple Beth Abraham is at 327 MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland. A series pass is $125; individual lectures are $10. For more information contact Riva Gambert at the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay at (510) 839-2900 ext. 253.

Faith, geography get spotlight at CSU East Bay

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Cal State East Bay will offer a program on faith in Jerusalem and a lecture by Rabbi Michael Goldberg this semester.

“In the Beginning: Wrong From the Start,” Goldberg will explore the Bible in a historical, literary and philosophical framework. The lecture will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10. Admission is free for OLLI members, $5 for nonmembers.

In “Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths,” philosophy lecturer Kevin Dincher will explore the ideas of sacred geography and religious pilgrimage. The course will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sept. 26, Oct. 3, 10 and 17. The course is $40 for OLLI members, $55 for nonmembers.

The course and lecture will both take place at Cal State East Bay’s Concord campus at 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road. To register for either event, call (925) 602-6776 or visit www.scholarolli.com.

omission

The following award was left out of the Readers’ Choice “Time to celebrate” category in the Aug. 15 issue.

Dance band

“We are like an insurance policy,” says Joel Nelson — that is to say, his band guarantees it will get people out of their seats and onto the dance floor.

With games such as Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero getting kids out of their seats at b’nai mitzvah and a 40-minute hora option for weddings, Nelson certainly keeps the party going. At a party featuring Joel Nelson Productions there is not a single break in the entertainment: “When the band takes a break, I start DJing,” Nelson says.

Joel Abramson Orchestras & Entertainment came in second in the Bay Area.

1st Place

Bay Area

Joel Nelson Productions

(408) 446-5000

www.joelnelson.com

2nd Place

Bay Area

Joel Abramson Orchestras & Entertainment

(510) 891-9980

www.joelabramson.com

correction

In the Readers’ Choice award for DJ, second-place North Bay winner DJ Max is part of Joel Nelson Productions.

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