Community Events
The PJ Library™: Jewish Bedtime Stories & Songs For Families. The PJ LibraryTM sends high quality Jewish themed books and music to participating families once a month for two years - and it’s absolutely free for families with children from six months to 5½ years of age. Register at www.pjlibrary.org and you will receive a book or CD each month mailed to your home. Cost: free. Contact: Vivien Braly at 415.499.1223 ext.8106, vivienb@sfjcf.org or visit our website www.pjlibrary.org. Generously funded by The Jim Joseph Foundation, with additional support from the Jewish Community Endowment Fund of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.
Chai! Baby. Welcoming newborns and their families into our Jewish community by providing free gifts and educational materials that will assist in creating a Jewish home, and identifying opportunities for involvement in the local Jewish community. Cost: free. Register online at www.sfjcf.org/resources/chaibaby. Funded by the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.
Bay Area Interfaith Research Study. California School of Professional Psychology doctoral candidate needs opinions of members of Jewish-Christian interfaith marriages for her dissertation about religion and marriage. The online survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. All information is confidential. As a thank you for participation, respondents will be entered for a chance to win a gift card from Target or Starbucks. To participate, complete the survey online or email Janice Aron at jaron_research@sbcglobal.net to receive a packet in the mail.
San Francisco
What is Jewish Spiritual Direction? Wednesday, November 12, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Introductory session of The Mikvah and Beyond's Spiritual Direction Groups – Finding Your Spiritual Path, with Rabbi Ryan Bauer and Ellen Benjamin, MA, Spiritual Director. The Mikvah and Beyond is an introduction, in small groups, to Jewish spiritual practices for individuals exploring Judaism, considering conversion, and those who have already chosen Judaism. Includes techniques for meditation and reflection based upon music, traditional and contemporary Jewish spiritual sources. Cost: $60/members; $75/friends of members. Rinder Chapel, Congregation Emanu El, 2 Lake St., SF. Contact: for registration and requirements http://www.emanuelsf.org/register; or Ellen Benjamin at eebenj@aol.com.
Ongoing Events
Introduction to Judaism. Continues Mondays, October 27 through December 22, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. An in-depth, hands-on approach to the basics of Jewish thought and practice through study, discussion and practical experiences. Topics include holiday and life cycle events, theology and prayer, Israeli history and Hebrew. Cost: $50 materials fee. Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., SF. Contact: Gabi Moskowitz at gmoskowitz@sherithisrael.org or 415.346.1720 ext.24.
Mothers Circle. Fridays, twice a month, beginning November 7, 10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. An educational course for a small group of non-Jewish mothers who are raising Jewish children. Topics include Shabbat, Jewish holidays, how to discuss God with your children, and more. Facilitated by a psychologist. Cost: Free. Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., SF. Contact: Carrie Rice at 415.346.1720 ext.18 or crice@sherithisrael.org.
Chosen Family: A Discussion Series for LGBT and Queer Interfaith Couples. Seven weekly sessions beginning Monday, December 1, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Interfaith couples who are also part of the LGBT community face unique challenges and opportunities in creating a chosen family. Join us for discussions about relationships, creating meaningful ritual and community, and discover new ways to address important and often sensitive issues that arise. Couples of all genders, races, ethnicities and religions are welcome. Facilitated by Karen Erlichman, LCSW and Helena McMahon, LMFT. Cost: $275 per couple for the entire series; sliding fee scale also available upon request. JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., SF (at Presidio). Contact: Helena McMahon at 415.292.1252 or hmcmahon@jccsf.org. http://www.jccsf.org.
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.
Mishpacha Shabbat. Last Friday of each month, 5:30 - 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.
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 Geronimo Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. Sunday, November 23, 4:00 p.m. The San Geronimo Valley’s 3rd Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, hosted this year by Gan HaLev, in conjunction with St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church, San Geronimo Valley Presbyterian Church, and Spirit Rock. Cost: Donations appreciated. San Geronimo Valley Community Center, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo (5 miles west of Fairfax). Contact: 415.488.4524 or shalom@ganhalev.org.
Ongoing Events
Parenting Matters: Jewish Wisdom for Mindful Parenting. Thursday mornings, beginning October 30, 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Parenting Matters is a parenting discussion group for Jewish and interfaith 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: $75 per person (scholarships available upon request). Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. Contact: Vivien Braly at 415.499.1223 ext.8106 or vivienb@sfjcf.org. www.jcfparentingmatters.org.
Gan Israel Preschool 2008-2009. 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 at 707.763.5136, or Leslee Lauritzen at leslee@bnaiisrael.net.
Osher Marin JCC Preschool 2008-2009. 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
Penina Maier Jewish School. Sunday mornings, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Gan HaLev's Sunday School welcomes children (toddlers through B'nai Mitzvah) and their families for a culturally enriched program of Jewish education and celebration. This year we are again offering our Kinder Class of music and movement for toddlers. Classes are held at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo. Contact: Gan Halev at 415.488.4524.
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.
If your synagogue or organization is sponsoring an activity of particular interest to interfaith families, please let us know at bridges@sfjcf.org.
Peninsula
Bagels, Lox and Learning: The Yad Vashem Names Recovery Project. Sunday, November 9, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. The Names Recovery Project helps Holocaust survivors enter the names of their loved ones and others into Yad Vashem’s Central Database, enabling their memory to be preserved. Only 3 million of the 6 million killed in the Holocaust are registered; only 2,000 names have been submitted from the United States. In this presentation Bobbi Bornstein, Volunteer Coordinator of JFCS in Palo Alto, will discuss the project in more detail and welcome your participation. Suggested donation: $5.00 per person. Multipurpose Room, Kehillah Jewish High School, 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Contact: 650.494.6400. www.keddem.org.
Chopshticks. Wednesday, December 24, 7:00 p.m. and Thursday, December 25, 6:00 p.m.
Why spend the holidays alone when you can spend it laughing out loud with other Jews? Headlining this year's event is Gary Gulman who has found success as one of the most unique, charming voices in contemporary American Stand-Up Comedy, with numerous television appearances, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman. This annual local tradition of great comedy and gourmet Chinese food is a yearly sellout and tickets must be purchased in advance at www.paloaltojcc.org. Cost: $70. Ming’s Restaurant, 1700 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto. Contact: Boris Vladimirsky at 650.852.3509 or bvladimirsky@paloaltojcc.org.
Ongoing Events
Parenting Matters: Jewish Wisdom for Mindful Parenting. Friday mornings, beginning October 31, 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. Parenting Matters is a parenting discussion group for Jewish and interfaith 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: $75 per person (scholarships available upon request). Peninsula JCC, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City. Contact: Vivien Braly, 415.499.1223 x8106 or vivienb@sfjcf.org. www.jcfparentingmatters.org
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.
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
The 20th Contra Costa Jewish Book & Arts Festival: Refusenik. Monday, November 3, 7:30 p.m. Refusenik is the first retrospective documentary to chronicle the 30 year movement to free Soviet Jews. Told through the eyes of activists on both sides of the Iron Curtain - many of whom survived punishment in Soviet Gulag labor camps. The film is a tapestry of first-person accounts of heroism, sacrifice, and ultimately, liberation. Cost: $12; students 10-18, $5. Purchase tickets at www.jfed.org/book08 or www.ccjcc.org. Beth Chaim Congregation, 1800 Holbrook Dr., Danville.
Ongoing Events
Demystifying Judaism. Monthly, beginning Sunday, October 19, 10:30-11:45 a.m. Rabbi Winer presents this year-long course for newly-engaged Jews, lifelong learners, those who haven't cracked a book since b'nai mitzvah, Jews-by-choice, Jews-by-birth, non-Jewish spouses and the Jews who love them, and for anyone who has a question about Jewish ritual, practice or faith. Visit www.bethemek.org for complete schedule of dates. Drop in as often as you like. Cost: free. Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. Contact: 925.931.1055, bethemek@bethemek.org, or fax 925.931.1054. hase tickets at www.jfed.org/book08 or www.ccjcc.org. Beth Chaim Congregation, 1800 Holbrook Dr., Danville.
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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