The PJ Library™: Jewish Bedtime Stories & Songs For Families. The PJ Library™ 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 five and a half 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.

Congregation Sha’ar Zahav High Holiday Services.  Cost: Free. RSVP requested. Contact: 415.861.6932 ext304 or shaun@shaarzahav.org.

Ongoing Events

Introduction to Judaism. Tuesdays, October 14 and 21, then Mondays October 27 through December 22, 6:30 to 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.

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 - 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.

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College High Holiday Schedule. Great for learners and pros: explore the meaning of a real fast; attend a Yizkor memorial service for our sacred dead; and experience the service of the closing of the gates of repentance at the end of Yom Kippur with shofar blowing at dramatic sunset over the water!

Cost: $125/adult; children are welcomed and participate at no cost. (No one turned away if unable to pay this amount.) Cost covers all the services, a prayer book, Kiddush after all services, and a break-fast. RSVP encouraged. Contact: Rabbi Henry M. Shreibman at 415.491.4000 or hshreibman@RRC.edu, or fax reservation to 415.948.6659. (Location of evening services in Novato TBA upon reservation. Location of the Chapel on Treasure Island: go to Avenue of the Palms, right on California St.)

Family Sukkah Building. Sunday, October 12, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Join us while we build and decorate our JCC sukkah and enjoy a short talk by Grace Ann Walden on cooking for the season. Sukkah kits will also be for sale. Cost: Free. Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. Contact: Hagar Ben-Eliezer at 415.444.8066 or
hben-eliezer@marinjcc.org.

Gan Halev High Holiday Services, led by Rabbi Daniel Kohn.

Cost: $275. Services open to non-members. Financial considerations considered. All services except Tashlich at the 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. www.ganhalev.org.

Let’s Celebrate Sukkot! Sunday, October 12, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Let’s build a sukkah, make decorations, and share a snack under it while we enjoy music and our friends. For families with children ages birth through 3 and their siblings. Cost: Free. Osher Marin JCC Annex, 200 N. San Pedro Rd, San Rafael. Contact: Melody Horowitz, ECE /Family Connections at 415.444.8045 or mhorowitz@marinjcc.org.

The JCC, Sonoma County Jewish Film Festival. Presenting 3 internationally-acclaimed award-winning films.
October 23: Noodle 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:15 p.m. at the Rialto in Santa Rosa
Oct. 28 and 30: Orthodox Stance 7:15 p.m. at Boulevard Cinemas in Petaluma
Oct. 29 and 30: Bad Faith 7:15 p.m. at Sebastopol Cinemas
To order tickets please download the order form from the website and mail in with payment, or call 415.528.4222. For the full festival schedule, cost, and information, visit www.jccsoco.org.

Ongoing Events

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, 707.763.5136, or Leslee Lauritzen, 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

Parenting Matters: Jewish Wisdom for Mindful Parenting.  Beginning October 30, Thursday mornings, 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, 415.499.1223 x8106 or vivienb@sfjcf.org.  www.jcfparentingmatters.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.

If your synagogue or organization is sponsoring an activity of particular interest to interfaith families, please let us know at bridges@sfjcf.org.

Keddem Congregation High Holy Days Services. Keddem is a community-led, Reconstructionist Jewish congregation, passionately committed to infusing tradition with new meaning. Everyone is welcome to attend our High Holy Day services at no charge, as space permits.

Advance reservations required. Includes family services, children's activities and more. Visit www.keddem.org for complete listing of times. Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. Contact: 650.494.6400 or hhd_reservations@Keddem.org.  

Congregation Shir Hadash Holiday Services. Family services geared to children ages 2–6 and their families. Open to the public, so please feel welcome to bring your friends. Cost: free. Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. Contact: Nadine Toby, 408.358.1751 ext 5, or office@shirhadash.org.

Ongoing Events

Parenting Matters: Jewish Wisdom for Mindful Parenting.  Beginning October 31, Friday mornings, 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 Jewish Community Center, 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.

Tri-Valley Cultural Jews High Holiday Observances. Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 p.m. Rosh Hashanah. TVCJ serves those whose Jewish identity is based on culture, heritage and family, rather than on religion. Non-traditional families and intermarried households are welcome. Open to the public; $10/non-member adults; no charge for children. For a complete schedule of observances visit our website www.eastbaysecularjews.org.  Bothwell Center, 2466 8th St. (between I and G downtown), Livermore. Contact and reservations: 925.485.1049 or CulturalJews@aol.com

Witness Our Welcome (W.O.W. Service). Sunday, October 19, 4:00 p.m. Seventh annual High Holiday interfaith worship celebration welcoming all God’s children: gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight allies.  Includes a wide range of inclusive faith communities throughout the Bay Area. Open to non-members, but we require a donation of $100/adult ticket. 1 ticket admits to all High Holiday services, and kids are free. Beth Chaim Congregation, 1800 Holbrook Dr., Danville. Contact: 925.736.7146 or admin@bethchaim.com, or visit www.bethchaim.com.

Sukkot (Festival of Booths). Friday, October 17, 7:00 p.m. Celebrate this lovely harvest festival and move outside into our Sukkah (Festive Booth) set up in our own courtyard.  After the intensity of the High Holy Days, we begin the year with a great harvest of joy. Our High Holiday services are open to non-members, but we require a donation of $100/adult ticket. 1 ticket admits to all High Holiday services, and kids are free. Beth Chaim Congregation, 1800 Holbrook Dr., Danville. Contact:  925.736.7146, admin@bethchaim.com, www.bethchaim.com

Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah). Friday, October 24, 7:00 p.m. celebrate our people’s joyful connection to Torah, and do so with spirited live music, dancing and singing.  Come prepared to dance, sing and immerse yourself in the warmth of our spiritual community. Cost: Open to non-members, but we require a donation of $100/adult ticket. 1 ticket admits to all High Holiday services, and kids are free.   Beth Chaim Congregation, 1800 Holbrook Drive, Danville. Contact: 925.736.7146, admin@bethchaim.com, or visit www.bethchaim.com.

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.  

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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