San Francisco
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Through August 10. Full-length feature films, documentaries and shorts are included in the 70 films from 19 countries. Our audiences, whether secular, religious or non-Jewish, proudly refer to the festival as “the Bay Area’s favorite Jewish holiday.” July 24-31, Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., SF; August 2-3 and 9-10, Kanbar Hall, Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St., SF. Tickets and schedules online at www.sfjff.org.
Congregation B'nai Emunah Summer Camp. Monday, July 28 – Friday, August 1, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Extended childcare hours before and after camp available. Give your children a week of discovery and fun in a safe, nurturing environment. All are welcome! Cost: $250.00 per child; extended care $100.00 per child. Deadline to register, July 18. Congregation B'nai Emunah, 3595 Taraval St (at 46th Ave.), SF. Contact: Alberta, 415.664.7373 or Jennie, 650.728.5833.
A Touch Away – Award Winning Israeli TV. Three episodes of the series will be shown each Sunday, August 7, 24, and 31, 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. This terrific series was produced for primetime television in Israel and broke ratings records with its broadcast in 2007. A Touch Away takes a slice of contemporary Tel Aviv life and spins out a marvelous multi-family Romeo and Juliet drama. Cleverly scripted and well cast, the story never fails to entertain, but manages also to be a realistic reflection of the ongoing social challenges facing today's increasingly diverse Israeli society. $5 donation per evening. Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St. (at 16th), San Francisco. Contact: for reservations, Greg Lawrence, 415.861.6932, greg@shaarzahav.org; for information, Sara Haber, sara.haber@finisar.com.
Keshet LGBT Weekend at Camp Tawonga. Thursday, August 28 – Sunday, August 31.
Adults spend the morning hiking, creating arts and crafts, and partaking of workshops such as gay parenting, Judaism and your sexuality, adoption, and gay life in Israel. Meanwhile, skilled counselors plan age-appropriate activities for kids, ranging from boating on the lake for young children, to facilitated dialogue about growing up with gay parents for teens. Families spend the afternoon together. And of course, no Keshet Weekend is complete without a Shabbat service, talent show, and crazy dance party! Adults $305. Contact: LGBT Alliance office, 415.369.2863, or lgbt@sfjcf.org. www.tawonga.org/weekend-programs/
Ongoing Events
Same Gender Marriages Performed at Congregation Sha'ar Zahav. All summer long. In order to facilitate the abundance of same gender marriages taking place this summer, Congregation Sha’ar Zahav will perform civil marriage for both Jewish and interfaith couples. These civil marriage ceremonies at CSZ will have a Jewish flavor. Cost: inquire for details. Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., SF. Contact: Greg Lawrence, greg@shaarzahav.org, 415.861.6932 x303.
PJ Library. Registration is underway for the PJ Library, a new Bay Area program from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. PJ Library sends high quality Jewish books and music to registered families once a month for two years. Free for families with young children from six months to five and a half years of age who have a Jewish connection. Register online at www.pjlibrary.org. Contact: Vivien Braly, 415.499.1223 ext. 8106 or vivienb@sfjcf.org. Generously funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation and the Jewish Community Endowment Fund.
Interfaith Family Israel Travel Blog. Blog entries from the first Interfaith Connection trip to Israel for interfaith couples are posted by group members to share their trip experiences. Israel Travel Blog, currently posted on www.jccsf.org/interfaith. Contact: Interfaith Connection, 415.292.1252 or hmcmahon@jccsf.org.
Discussion Series for Interfaith/Intercultural Couples. Seven sessions on Mondays. Call for dates and cost. Reflect on family, child-rearing, holidays and spiritual concerns. With Helena McMahon, LMFT, or John Steinfirst, LCSW. Sliding scale fee. JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., SF. Contact: Interfaith Connection, 415.292.1252 or hmcmahon@jccsf.org. www.jccsf.org/interfaith.
Mishpacha Shabbat. Last Friday of each month, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Shabbat service for families with small children: songs, dancing, arts and crafts, and Shabbat blessings, plus a dairy/vegetarian potluck dinner in the company of families just like yours. Congregation B'nai Emunah, 3595 Taraval Ave. (at 46th Ave), SF. Contact: 415.664.7373.
Raising Your Children in an Interfaith Family. Mondays; call for dates. Focus on child-rearing issues specific to interfaith families, including celebrating holidays, developing family traditions, and talking to children about religion. Examine how your own cultural and religious backgrounds affect your parenting. The cost of this series is based on a sliding scale. Call for costs. JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., SF. Contact: Interfaith Connection, 415.292.1252 or hmcmahon@jccsf.org. www.jccsf.org/interfaith.
If your synagogue or organization is sponsoring an activity of particular interest to interfaith families, please let us know at bridges@sfjcf.org.
North Bay
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. August 9-11, San Rafael. Full-length feature films, documentaries and shorts are included in the 70 films from 19 countries. Our audiences, whether secular, religious or non-Jewish, proudly refer to the festival as “the Bay Area’s favorite Jewish holiday.” The Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 4th St., San Rafael. Tickets and schedule online at www.sfjff.org.
Children-Family Shabbat. Friday, August 22, 6:30 p.m. Free. Sponsored by Gan HaLev, the Jewish Congregation of the San Geronimo Valley, Marin County. 10 Rock Ridge Rd., Woodacre. Contact: Gan HaLev office, 415.488.4524 for reservations; call 415.488.4861 for directions.
Preparing Spiritually for the High Holidays. Saturday, September 6, 10:00 a.m. Shabbat service with Rabbi Daniel Kohn. Gan HaLev, the Jewish Congregation of the San Geronimo Valley, is an independent and unaffiliated group that started gathering in 1992. As ‘post-denominational' Jews, our membership represents a broad spectrum of Jewish life, practice, and backgrounds. 232 Frustuck Ave, Fairfax (call for directions). Contact: Gan HaLev office, 415.488.4524.
Penina Maier Jewish School Open House. Sunday, September 7, 10:00 a.m. Teachers will be present, refreshments will be served. Classes will meet once a week on Sunday mornings, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., beginning September 14. Your child will be placed in a class by appropriate level and age. Free. San Geronimo Valley Community Center, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo. Contact: 415.488.4524. Sponsored by Gan HaLev, the Jewish Congregation of the San Geronimo Valley, Marin County.
Ongoing Events
PJ Library. Registration is underway for the PJ Library, a new Bay Area program from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. PJ Library sends high quality Jewish books and music to registered families once a month for two years. Free for families with young children from six months to five and a half years of age who have a Jewish connection. Register online at www.pjlibrary.org. Contact: Vivien Braly, 415.499.1223 ext. 8106 or vivienb@sfjcf.org. Generously funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation and the Jewish Community Endowment Fund.
Gan Israel Preschool Enrollment for 2008-2009. Ongoing; session begins in September. Program offers a Jewish education to children of all faiths between the ages of 2-5. Gan Israel currently has many young interfaith families in the Petaluma, Novato and Rohnert Park area. Gan Israel Preschool, B'nai Israel Jewish Center, 740 Western Ave., Petaluma. Contact: Preschool office, 707.763.5136, or Leslee Lauritzen, leslee@bnaiisrael.net.
Osher Marin JCC Preschool Enrollment for 2008-09. Ongoing. A full range of pre-school programs for children ages 2-5. Tours available. Osher Marin JCC ECE, 200 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. Contact: 415.444.8042 or sfarael@marinjcc.org. www.marinjcc.org.
Tot Shabbat. First and third Saturday monthly, 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Shabbat prayers using movement and song for children ages 2-5. With Jonathan Bayer. No RSVP needed. Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. Contact: 415.479.3441. www.rodefsholom.org.
Parenting Matters: Jewish Wisdom for Mindful Parenting. Beginning mid-October, morning group. Dates and times TBD. Parenting Matters is a parenting discussion group for interfaith and unaffiliated Jewish parents raising young children (5 years and younger). This interactive 8-week learning program from the Jewish Community Federation will explore basic Jewish principles and apply them to our modern parenting concerns. All levels of learners are welcome. Reservations recommended. Cost: $180 per family (scholarships available upon request). Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. Contact: Vivien Braly, 415.499.1223 x8106 or vivienb@sfjcf.org. www.jcfparentingmatters.org.
If your synagogue or organization is sponsoring an activity of particular interest to interfaith families, please let us know at bridges@sfjcf.org.
Peninsula
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. August 2-7, Palo Alto. Full-length feature films, documentaries and shorts are included in the 70 films from 19 countries. Our audiences, whether secular, religious or non-Jewish, proudly refer to the festival as “the Bay Area’s favorite Jewish holiday.” CineArts@Palo Alto Square, 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. Tickets and schedules online at www.sfjff.org.
Outdoor Shabbat Service. Friday, August 8, 6:15 p.m. Erev Shabbat service in our beautiful outdoor garden. No cost. Peninsula Temple Beth El, 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo. Contact: Cindi Serbin, 650.341.7701.
Alternative Shabbat Service. Saturday, August 9, 10:30 a.m. Keddem’s services are member led and participatory. Parshat D’varim. No charge; no reservations required. Kehillah Jewish High School, 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Contact: keddem@keddem.org or 650.494.6400. Sponsored by Keddem Congregation, www.keddem.org.
Ongoing Events
Parenting Matters: Jewish Wisdom for Mindful Parenting. Beginning mid-October, morning group. Dates and times TBD. Parenting Matters is a parenting discussion group for interfaith and unaffiliated Jewish parents raising young children (5 years and younger). This interactive 8-week learning program from the Jewish Community Federation will explore basic Jewish principles and apply them to our modern parenting concerns. All levels of learners are welcome. Reservations recommended. Cost: $180 per family (scholarships available upon request). Peninsula Jewish Community Center, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. Contact: Vivien Braly, 415.499.1223 x8106 or vivienb@sfjcf.org. www.jcfparentingmatters.org.
PJ Library. Registration is underway for the PJ Library, a new Bay Area program from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. PJ Library sends high quality Jewish books and music to registered families once a month for two years. Free for families with young children from six months to five and a half years of age who have a Jewish connection. Register online at www.pjlibrary.org. Contact: Vivien Braly, 415.499.1223 ext. 8106 or vivienb@sfjcf.org. Generously funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation and the Jewish Community Endowment Fund.
Tot Shabbat. Third Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and Torah for families with children up to age six. All are welcome. Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. Contact: 408.358.1751 or office@shirhadash.org. www.shirhadash.org.
Tot Shabbat. Saturday, August 16, 9:00 a.m. A morning filled with songs, stories and play time, especially for toddlers through kindergarten and their families. No cost. Peninsula Temple Beth El, 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo. Contact: Cindi Serbin, 650.341.7701.
If your synagogue or organization is sponsoring an activity of particular interest to interfaith families, please let us know at bridges@sfjcf.org.
East Bay
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. August 2-9, Berkeley. Full-length feature films, documentaries and shorts are included in the 70 films from 19 countries for this 28th annual SFJFF. Our audiences, whether secular, religious or non-Jewish, proudly refer to the festival as “the Bay Area’s favorite Jewish holiday.” The Roda Theatre (at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre), 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. Tickets and schedule online at www.sfjff.org.
Let’s Go to the Movies! Saturday, August 9, 8:15 p.m. Join other interfaith couples for an evening at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. We will view Strangers, a story about love, Israeli-Palestinian style. Come early for dinner together. Cost: you pay the cost of your dinner and ticket, conversation is free! Roda Theater, 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley. Contact: Dawn Kepler, 510.839.2900 x347, dawn@jfed.org.
The Freylekh: Dance Parties at the JCC. Sundays, July 27 and August 31. Dance lesson, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; live music/group dance, 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Get ready to stomp, shvitz and boogie down for an evening of Yiddish dancing led by master dance leader Bruce Bierman. Some of the Bay Area’s best klezmer groups will perform live music at these evenings for all ages. Cost: $10 and up, sliding scale. JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley. Tickets online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/38602. Contact: 510.848.0237 or ilyat@jcceastbay.org. www.jcceastbay.org/jcc/arts_culture_dance.htm.
Ongoing Events
PJ Library. Registration is underway for the PJ Library, a new Bay Area program from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. PJ Library sends high quality Jewish books and music to registered families once a month for two years. Free for families with young children from six months to five and a half years of age who have a Jewish connection. Register online at www.pjlibrary.org. Contact: Vivien Braly, 415.499.1223 ext. 8106 or vivienb@sfjcf.org. Generously funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation and the Jewish Community Endowment Fund.
Interfaith Couples Discussion Group. Groups form on an ongoing basis, with dates and times to be arranged. Each group covers topics and concerns of importance to interfaith couples, including child-rearing, holiday celebrations, extended family, and clarifying religious/ethnic values. We'll share effective ways to address these important and often delicate matters, and lay the ground work for decision making, in a warm and non-judgmental environment. Fee is based on a sliding scale; no one is turned away for lack of funds. Groups meet in Oakland or Walnut Creek. Sponsored by Building Jewish Bridges: Outreach to Interfaith Couples. Contact: Dawn at 510.839.2900 x347 or 925.943.1484 or email dawn@jfed.org. www.jfed.org/bjb.
If your synagogue or organization is sponsoring an activity of particular interest to interfaith families, please let us know at bridges@sfjcf.org.
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