2006-2007 Cultural Calendar: Special Events (Archives)

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Engaging with Israel - Leaders and Visionaries for the 21st Century

An Israel Symposium

Israel's future success rests in its ability to create unique solutions to the fundamental questions of the relationship between religion and state, the role of a substantial Arab minority in a Jewish state, and the possible framing of a constitution. The nation must reconcile values and goals that often seem irreconcilable. This day-long symposium, featuring a variety of leaders and visionaries from Israel and the Diaspora, provides a forum for broad dialogue within the Bay Area Jewish community about these issues and the role the Bay Area community can play in resolving them.

Keynote Speaker: Colette Avital, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset.

Also Featuring:

• Shira Ben Sasson Furstenberg, SHATIL's Religious Pluralism Project Coordinator.
• Nidal Abed El Gafer, Legal advisor for SHATIL’s Mixed Cities Project in Lod.
• Gil Gan-Mor, a lawyer for Hamoked: Center for the Defense of the Individual, and an advisor to the Aguda, an LGBT organization. He is a new NIF Civil Liberties Law Fellow.
• Israela Gratziani, Head of the Legal Department of Yedid, a community empowerment organization with offices throughout Israel.
• Neal Levy, Executive Director of Israel Center, San Francisco.
• Eliezer Yaari, Israel Director of the New Israel Fund.

Sunday, September 10, 2006, 10 a.m – 4:30 p.m .
San Francisco Jewish Community Center.
Cost: General $40 | Student $18. To register, please call The New Israel Fund at (415) 543-5055.
online registration

Presented by
The Israel Center of San Francisco, The New Israel Fund, the Taube Center for Jewish Life at the JCCSF, and the Constulate General of Israel in San Francisco

To Life! Festival

A premiere street festival showcasing Judaic and Israeli fine art, music, dancing and food.

Sunday, September 17, 2006, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Califormia Ave., Palo Alto. Info: www.newbridges.org/ToLife, or cal 650.852.3553

One Voice - Arab-Jewish program

is a non-partisan grassroots movement working to awaken the silent majority of Israeli and Palestinian moderates to seize back the agenda from violent extremists (www.OneVoiceMovement.org). Although it is a young organization (founded in 2002), the movement has already grown to over 210,000 Israeli and Palestinian members, has organized hundreds of town hall meetings, rallies and workshops and has provided thousands of Israeli and Palestinian youth with conflict-resolution, community mobilization, and leadership training.  

OneVoice has built unprecedented coalitions across a broad spectrum of politics, transcending the "left vs. right" or "Palestinian vs. Israeli" divides, and demonstrating that the real conflict sets the vast majority of moderates - on both sides -  against a small minority of violent absolutists who seek to derail the peace process.  The Board ranges from Sheikh Tamimi, the Chief Palestinian Islamic Justice, to Edgar Bronfman Sr., the President of the World Jewish Congress.

OneVoice's International Education Program involves bringing pairs of Israeli and Palestinian young (18-28) activists to campuses around the world to talk about how groups can and should work together to jointly fight against extremism, polarization, dehumanization and divestment. OneVoice is looking for groups of mixed beliefs, religion and ethnicity to come together in support of this program. 

October 23 - 28, 2006. Locations and times TBA.

Shabbaton for Students

Talk, breath, kvetch, eat, and celebrate Israel at a Student Leadership Retreat.

Keynote speaker: Neil Lazarus

Neil Lazarus is an internationally acclaimed expert in the field of Middle East, Israel Advocacy and effective communication training. More...

Friday, October 27 through Saturday, October 28. Walker Creek Ranch, 1700 Marshall, Petaluma Rd, Petaluma. Info: The Israel Center, or call 415.512.6203

Keynote Speaker: Mr. Alon Ben-David

Alon Ben-David is a television and print journalist, who has been covering the Middle East conflict for the last 20 years. Specializing in defense and military issues, Mr. Ben David is currently a Senior Defense Correspondent for Israeli Channel 10 and Middle East Correspondent for the London-based Jane's Defence Weekly. He presents on-air military news and analysis daily, including on-the-scene reporting.

Mr. Ben-David has covered all major events in the region in the last two decades, including the first and second Intifada, the assassination of Prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, the Disengagement from Gaza, and israel's long war in Lebanon, including the recent round. He has reported from scenes of major global events, such as the 9/11 attack in NY.

Mr. Ben-David holds a BA in political science from Tel Aviv University and a Master's in public administration from Harvard University.

Wednesday, November 1, 2006. 7:30. Jewish Community Center, 3200 California @ Presidio, San Francisco. https://www.israelcentersf.org, or call 415.512.6203

Conference: Career, Business & Employment in Israel

Mr.Zeev Boim, Absorption minister, will be attending a career conference in Palo Alto.

Register today to hear about career opportunities in Israel. Meet specialist and HR representatives from Israel. Learn about Israel tax issues and get personal advice from the specialists.

Wednesday, November 1, 2006. 6:30 pm. Crown Plaza Cabana Hotel - 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. For more information and for registration: www.bisraeli.org.il / 415.844.7503 / Hadara Alook

A Fundraising Event to Support Israel Featuring:
Singer & Songwriter Gelena

with Firebird Dance Theatre / Artistic Director Lotta Burton

Come to enjoy the show and make a tax deductible donation to direct Israeli funds helping victims of war and supporting IDF soldiers.

Sunday, November 5, 2006. 6:30 pm. Beth Am Social Hall, 26790 Arastradero Rd., Los Altos Hills. $18 in advance / $20 at the door. More info: Inna at 650.493.4661.

More about Gelena...

Co-sponsored by the Israel Center, Congregation Kol Emeth, Congregation Etz Chayim, Israel Action Committee at Temple Beth Jacob, Sisterhood at Congregation Beth David, theatres Backyard, TheatreGames, Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center, weekly West-East.

San Francisco Jewish Book Fest

Immerse yourself in the wealth of contemporary Jewish literature. SF Jewish BookFest is a day-long festival featuring today's most talked about authors of books of Jewish interest. E.L. Doctorow (The March, Ragtime) kicks off the day with a featured dialogue with Adam Hochschild (Bury the Chains). Rebecca Goldstein (Spinoza), Gary Shteyngart (Absurdistan), Ayelet Waldman (Love and Other Impossible Pursuits), Sandy Tolan (The Lemon Tree) and Marion Winik (Above Us Only Sky) are among the authors scheduled to appear throughout the day -- with many more to be announced soon.

Sunday, November 5, 2006. 11:00 am- 6:30 pm. San Francisco JCC, 3200 California St., San Francisco. More info...

Fourth Annual Bible By The Bay Conference:
The Bible - Read It Your Way!

Over 20 workshops with prominent Bay Area scholars, clergy and master teachers concluded with dinner and an evening concert titled “The Bible in Son.

Join prominent, multicultural Bay Area scholars, clergy and master teachers for workshops and presentations addressing everything from biblical theology to biblical beverages and how the prophets of ancient Israel can inspire contemporary spiritual practice. Keynote speaker Bruce Feiler is the bestselling author of Walking the Bible, Abraham and Where God Was Born.

Sunday, December 3, 1:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m.
The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California @ Presidio, San Francisco.
Click for info and registration

Co-sponsored with Lehrhaus Judaica and the Bureau of Jewish Education

YAD Latke Ball

The original and best annual party for Jewish young adults in the Bay Area! Over a thousand people enjoy amazing DJs, including DJ Solomon, and party until 2:00 a.m.

Saturday, December 23, 2006, 9:00 p.m.
Mezzanine, 444 Jessie Street @ Mint, San Francisco. (map)

Sponsored by: Young Adults Division, JCF.
Contact: YAD, 415.512.6280, yad@sfjcf.org

A Christmas day treat featuring an Israeli film double feature, a bonus short film and traditional Chinese food.

Monday, December 25, 4:30 p.m. (dinner served at 6:15 p.m.)
JCCSF, 3200 California St. (@ Presidio), San Francisco (Kanbar Hall).
Tickets: $12 for members, $15 for non-members. Advance ticket sales at the JCCSF front desk, 415.292.120.
Details: www.jccsf.org.

Feature Film:
Broken Wings (2002) כנפיים שבורות

A moving drama about a family's attempts to overcome the loss of their father and the tensions that surface as grief is faced in differing ways. The Marom family (the mother, a hard working nurse, and her four children) is trying to pick up the pieces. Just as this small and hurting family seems to give up and collapse, a shocking event brings its members back together and a sense of new beginning prevails. The film is based on writer/director Nir Bergman’s personal childhood in Haifa. The character of the younger son Ido, who responds to the disintegration of the family by obsessively filming himself with a video camera and attempting dangerous feats, is based on Bergman own experiences. Bergman won the Israeli Academy Award for the direction of Broken Wings, which was shown in several international film festivals and distributed commercially in the United States.

Written and directed by Nir Bergman
With: Orly Silbersatz-Banai, Maya Maron, Dana Ivgi   
Hebrew with English subtitles

Bonus Short:
Excerpts from Sea Horses (1998) קטעים מתוך סוסי ים

As a cinematography student at the Sam Spiegel Film School in Jerusalem, Nir Bergman wrote and directed a short film that later served as the basis for Broken Wings. The brilliant short film, which also takes place in Haifa, was screened at several international film festivals and won numerous awards. The clips from the short movie will give new perspective to the feature film.

Written and directed by Nir Bergman
With: Irit Gidron, Maya Maron
Hebrew with English subtitles

FeatureFilm:
The Big Dig (Blaumilch Canal) (1970) תעלת בלאומילך

Ephraim Kishon, the greatest Israeli satirist of the 1950s and ‘60s, created a hilarious comedy about a madman who escapes from an asylum in Tel Aviv and starts digging a canal right in the middle of one of the main junctions of the city (The corner of Alenbi and Ben Yehuda streets). Due to the bureaucratic mess in the city’s administration and a multitude of intrigues, not only does nobody try to stop him, but he actually gains the help of the police, the city chief engineer and the clueless mayor. Thanks to this crazy project, Tel Aviv is about to turn into a second Venice, while the single city clerk who yells the truth is sent to the asylum. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award (Kishon’s earlier features, Sallah and Officer Azulai won Golden Globes and were Oscar nominees).
 
Written and directed by Ephraim Kishon
With: Bomba Tzur, Shaike Ophir, Nissim Azikri, Shraga Friedman, Oded Teomi
Hebrew with English subtitles

Jewish Summer Camps and Israel Programs Fair

The event presents summer camps and Israel Programs for all ages from all over the U.S., Israel and around the world, including trips for English, Hebrew and Russian speakers.

More...

Sunday, January 28, 2007, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Free Admission.
Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto

Sunday, January 28, 2007, 4:00 pm – 7:00 p.m. Free Admission.
Contra Costa Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek

Comedy Night with Rich Aronovitch

Join Rich Aronovitch as he takes you on a crazy tour through the Holy Land to see the funnier side of Israel.

Thursday, January 25, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
The Coffee House on UC Davis Campus.

Sunday, January 28, 2007, 7:00 p.m.
Neto Caffe, 135 Castro Street, Mountain View  (corner of Castro Street and Evelyn Avenue).

Sponsored by: Hillel of Silicon Valley; Jews, Israelis, and Friends at Foothill And DeAnza Colleges; MASA Israel Programs; the Israel Center

The ABCs of the American Public School System

A Forum For Israeli Parents

Learn how to secure a comfortable environment for your children in school. Topics include:

• How the system works--how to be an effective advocate for your child
• Effective ways to address the Middle East conflict in the classroom
• How Jews & Israel are represented in curriculum & materials
• Jewish holidays--what are your rights and responsibilities?

Thursday, February 1, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Creekside Park Building, 10455 Miller Avenue, Cupertino.
Info: dfisher@jcrcsv.org or (408) 358-3033 or kstiller@jcrc.org or (650) 961-1922

Sponsored by: JCRC and other organizations.

Bay Area Purim Parties

Co-sponsored by the Israel Center

Student Purim Party at Santa Cruz

Where: E3 playhous
435 Front street, Santa Cruz
When: Thursday, March 1, 2007. 10:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Cover: $3 in advance
$4 at door with costume
$5 at door without costume

More info: 408-529-6653, or MoMoniE11@aol.com
Costume contest, Israeli DJ , Belly dancers, and more....

ISO Purim Party at Stanford

Where: Lyman Atrium, Stanford University (map)
121 CAMPUS DR, BLDG. B
When: Friday, March 2, 2007. 8:45 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Free Entrance!

Featuring DJ Boaz, Israeli, rock and 80s music, costume competition with great prizes, free drinks, alcohol, and snacks...

The Hub's Annual Purim Party

Join the Hub's annual Purim party! Three rooms for drinking and dancing featuring world music ensemble Gamelan X, Flutist/Beatboxer Tim Barsky, and DJs Justintime, Illin Ills and Boaz. Hosted by Poet Joshua Walters. Full cash bar and dinner menu available. Costumes highly encouraged!

With DJs Justintime (Mixerfriendly), Illin Ills (Felonious) and Boaz (NYC)

21 and over only!
Where: Bruno's, 2389 Mission Street, San Francisco
When: Saturday, March 3, 2007. 9:00 p.m.

$8.00 Member & Students / $10.00 Public ($2 off with costume)

More info and Ticekts

Presented in association with San Francisco Hillel for Grad Students, Hillel at Stanford, the Israel Center, MASA, Bay Area Tribe, and Second Saturdays at The Cellar.

The State of the State of Israel

Internal Issues & Challenges

Second Annual Sherith Israel Symposium on Contemporary Issues featuring guest educators lexandra Benjamin and Benjamin Segal from Melitz–Centers for Jewish-Zionist Education, Jerusalem

9:00 Registration, coffee & treats

9:30 Keynote: Dr. David Biale, Emanuel Ringelblum Professor of Jewish History, University of California, Davis

10:30 Melitz interactive breakout sessions
A: The Proposed Constitution: What Will Change, What Won’t
B: Israeli Religious Pluralism: New Perspectives

Noon Lunch: Aviva Meyer, National Outreach Associate Director, New Israel Fund, Washington, DC

1:30 Melitz interactive breakout sessions
C: Israeli Democracy in a Divided Society: Identity & Loyalty
D: Gays and Lesbians: Rejection & Acceptance

3:00 Multimedia Presentation: Loolwa Khazzoom, Director, Tapestry: Weaving the Multicultural Threads of Jewish Identity, Berkeley (www.tapestry-online.com)

Special exhibit: Israeli political cartoons.

Sunday, March 18, 2007, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St. (at Webster), San Francisco.
Info: 415.346.1720 / www.sherithisrael.org

Co-sponsored by: The Israel Center, JCF and Congregation Sherith Israel.

Mimouna!

A Traditional Jewish-Moroccan Celebration of Liberty, Community, Friendship and Hospitality.

Live music from the Yuval Ron Ensemble.

Kosher dietary laws will be observed.

What is MIMOUNA?
The word Mimouna in Hebrew is linked to “emuna,” faith. In Arabic it means good fortune. This joyous holiday celebration is rich in Jewish Moroccan symbolism and customs. Mimouna is celebrated in Israel, at the conclusion of Passover, to connect all the diverse Israeli peoples. In recent years, North American Jews have embraced the celebration as well.

Decorated homes are opened to all to enjoy the food and festive atmosphere. Hosts typically serve mint tea with mufleta (a pancake-like treat) dipped in honey and butter. Other symbolic sweets, along with coins representing prosperity, delight Sephardim and Ashkenazim alike. Friends greet one another with the traditional blessing, TIRBACHU V’TISADU, “Be Prosperous and Lucky.”

Wednesday, April 11, 2007. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Kehillah Jewish High School, 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto
Info: JIMENA / 415.977.7407.
Tickets: adults $15, young adults (13-21) $10, children (under 13) $5 (at the door: adults $20, young adults $12, children $7). RSVP by March 26th to get discount ticket prices.

Co-sponsored by the Israel Center and other organiztions.

Yom Ha'Shoa, Holocaust Memorial Day

A memorial service conducted by the Jewish and Israeli communities of the Peninsula.

Wednesday, April 16, 2007.
Jewish Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.
Info: www.israelihouse.org, or call 415.844.7503

Yom Ha'Zikaron, Israel Memorial Day

Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. We gather to remember the heroes and heroines who gave the ultimate sacrifice for Jewish independence.

Palo Alto
The Consulate General of Israel will conduct the ceremony with the Israeli Scouts. In Hebrew
Sunday, April 22. 7:00 p.m. Gunn High School, Spangenberg Theatre, 780 Arastradero Rd.
Info: 415.844.7503. www.israelihouse.org

San Francisco
Israel Center hosting: the Jewish community comes together in commemoration. In English.
Monday, April 23. 9:00 a.m. Jewish Community Federation, 21 Steuart St.
Info: The Israel Center of the JCF 415.512.6203. www.israelcentersf.org.

East Bay
Saturday, April 22, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Location TBA. Riva@Jfed.Org 510.839.2900 X2 53

"Roots and Routes: Roots of conflict, Routes to peace"

Special Friday Night Discussion Panel

Friday, April 27, 2007. Services start at 8:00 p.m., discussion follows.
Temple Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Plugas, Redwood City, CA 94061

Featuring
Avshalo (Abu) Vilan, MK Meretz Party
David Meir-Levi – Local Israel Advocate and Educator
We will be engaging in a dialogue and exchange of ideas from two individuals that love Israel, however, see the “roots and routes” from different points of view. We invite you to ask your questions and engage in a thoughtful exchange of ideas and perspectives.

Avshalom (Abu) Vilan is the co-founder of the internationally acclaimed Israeli peace movement, PEACE NOW, is a veteran Israeli peace activist, kibbutz manager and educator, as well as a former campaign director for the "Mapam" and "Meretz" parties. Vilan is a member of Knesset from Yachad party.

David Meir-Levi is an American-born Israeli currently living in Palo Alto, CA. He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University, and an MA in Near Eastern Studies from Brandeis University. He taught Archaeology and Near Eastern History at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and at the University of Tel Aviv in the 60's and 70's, during which time he completed his service in the Israeli military. Upon returning to the USA, Mr. Meir-Levi has worked as a professional Jewish educator, most recently in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Since the outbreak of the second Intifada (9/29/00), he has lectured throughout northern California and abroad at synagogues, churches, universities, and service organizations on topics related to the history of the Arab-Israel conflict and the roots of terrorism in the Arab world.

Israel in the Gardens 2007

The Jewish communities of the Bay Area gather for the yearly day-long celebration of Israel at Yerba Buena Gardens. The special event features an assortment of activities and fun for the entire family, with attraction for kids and young adults, a marathon of Israeli movies and shorts, theatrical performances, Israeli food, tchotchkes and the top of Israeli music as headliners.

Sunday, June 3, 2007. 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. After-Party to follow.
Yerba Buena Gardens , San Francisco.
Info: www.israelinthegardens.org / 415.512.6203

Six Days, Four Decades: Israel, Forty Years After the 1967 War

Shortly after the State of Israel celebrated its nineteenth Independence Day, a war that lasted six days between Israel and its neighboring Arab countries: Egypt, Syria and Jordan, reshaped the geographical, political and demographic map of the Middle East.

The Israel Center presents a special event, marking the war that started on June 5. Past, present and future of the post 1967 Middle East, the occupation, the unification of Jerusalem, the peace process and Israeli-Palestinian relationship will be discussed.

David Akov, Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest Region will
Open the program. Neal Levy, the Executive Director of the Israel Center will moderate a panel, whose participants are Steve Rothman, the Director of the San Francisco office of the New Israel Fund and Yitzhak Santis, the Director of Middle East Affairs of the Jewish Community Relations Council. At the end of the event Ari Sendal’s musical film “West Bank Story,” the 2006 Academy Award winner for best live action short film, will be screened.

Monday, June 4, 7:30 , 2007. 7:30 pm.
PJCC 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City.
Info: 650.212.PJCC (7522) .
Tickets: $5.

For all events, see the calendar