sunday/23

“Snapshot Poetics Now: Queer Encounters with Allen Ginsberg.” Bay Area artists and scholars create performances drawn from encounters with Ginsberg and other Beat artists. At Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., S.F. 2 to 5 p.m. Included with museum admission. Advance reservations recommended. http://www.thecjm.org.

Pianist Hershey Felder in his performance piece about the famous Jewish composer

Gershwin at a discount

The Berkeley Rep sent an email to patrons last week noting that tickets to selected “George Gershwin Alone” performances were 50 percent off during the show’s first week. The one-man show on Gershwin’s life has toured Broadway and London’s West End.

Through Sunday, June 23 on Thrust Stage at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. $17-$38.50 for half-off tickets, $29-$77 regular price. (510) 647-2949 or http://www.berkeleyrep.org

saturday/15

“Omens, Dreams and Curses.” San Francisco Choral Artists and Veretski Pass perform psalm settings, lullabies, folk music in English, Hebrew, Ladino and Yiddish. At St. Gregory Church, 500 De Haro St., S.F. 8 p.m. Also June 16 at Congregation Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City. 4 p.m. $30. http://www.sfca.org. Free concert in the Town Square. Oshman Family JCC presents outdoor summer concert with jazz band Herd of Cats. At JCC’s Jessica Lynn Saal Town Square, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Bring lawn chairs and picnic. 7:30 p.m. Free. http://www.paloaltojcc.org.

monday/24

Ellis Island Old World Folk Band. Klezmer band performs at Garden Gate Creativity Center, 2911 Claremont Ave., Berkeley. 7 p.m. $10-$20. http://www.gardengatecreate.com.

Harvey Milk in 1975

Milk on stage

In “I Am Harvey Milk,” a 12-movement oratorio making its world premiere, Broadway composer Andrew Lippa and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus take the audience through the life of the Jewish political figure and gay rights pioneer, from his boyhood in New York to his assassination in San Francisco.

8 p.m. June 26-28 at Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St., S.F. $25-$65. http://www.sfgmc.org/events/harveymilk2013

tuesday/18

Comedian Samson Koletkar. Indian Jewish stand-up comedian who addresses the absurdities of nature. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 12 p.m. $15, advance reservations suggested. http://www.paloaltojcc.org.

saturday/22

Belly dance. Solo performance by Oreet, whose art is informed by her Yemeni and Sephardic Israeli background. Part of S.F. Ethnic Dance Festival. Also June 23. At Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Lam Research Theater. 701 Mission St., S.F. 2 p.m. $18-$58. http://www.ybca.org.

sunday/16

“Mosaic.” Interview program hosted by Rabbi Eric Weiss. 5 a.m. KPIX TV–Channel 5.

thursday/27

“Gay in a Day.” Short films from the Tel Aviv LGBT Film Festival, with talk by artistic director Yari Hochner. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 7 p.m. Free. http://www.oaklandsinai.org.

monday/17

Immigration reform lunch-and-learn. Bend the Arc meets outside the lobby of Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office to lobby for family reunification in the immigration reform bill. At McKesson Plaza, One Post St., S.F. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. bay.bendthearc.us.

thursday/20

“Change from Within: Law as a Tool for Social Justice.” Discussion about the intersection of the judicial system and social change in Israel, with New Israel Fund Fellows Sama Qudha Tannous, a Palestinian Israeli lawyer, and Carmel Pomerantz, specialist in human-rights litigation. At McManis Faulkner law offices, 50 W. San Fernando St., San Jose. 12 p.m. $10, includes lunch. (415) 543-5055.

wednesday/26

“Turbulence in the Middle East: Which Way Forward?” Panel at AJC’s annual meeting with consul generals from Israel, Italy and Norway. At Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., S.F. 7 p.m.; reception at 6 p.m. $20. RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

thursday/27

“What Is Tikkun Olam?” Talk by Rabbi Daniel Isaacson. Part of American Jewish World Service’s “Bites of Jewish Justice” lunchtime learning program. At AJWS, 131 Steuart St., Suite 200, S.F. 12:30 p.m. Free, bring your own lunch. RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The Jewish Folk Chorus of San Francisco performs at Congregation Sherith Israel in 2009.

13 shy of a century

Thirty-three years older than the San Francisco Giants and 11 years older than the Golden Gate Bridge, the Jewish Folk Chorus of San Francisco is ready to give its annual concert — it’s 87th annual! The concert will
feature songs of love and work, strength and hope, sung in Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino, Russian and English.

2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 16 at Jewish Community High School of the Bay, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. $8-$15, discounts for advance purchase. http://www.jewishfolkchorussf.org

friday/14

“Out and About.” LGBT potluck Shabbat dinner. Bring a dish to share. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 6 p.m. Free. RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

saturday/15

“Songs and Stories by the Sea.” YeaShOre Community bonfire and singing. At Ocean Beach across from Beach Chalet, 1000 Great Highway, S.F. Look for the windsock. 7 p.m. Free. http://www.yeashore.org.

tuesday/18

Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley annual meeting. Speakers Dalia Rabin-Pelossof, former Israeli politician and daughter of Yitzhak Rabin, and Jim Koshland, past president of S.F. Jewish Community Federation. Poolside barbecue, awards. At Levy Family Campus, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 6 to 8 p.m. $10. http://www.jvalley.org.

friday/21

Pride Shabbat Cookout. Gay Pride–themed, ally-friendly Shabbat barbecue. People of all genders, sexualities and Jewish backgrounds welcome. At Moishe House, 1250 Fell St., S.F. 8 p.m. Free. http://www.keshetonline.org.

sunday/23

Silicon Valley Jewish Music Festival. Performers include Dan Nichols and Eighteen, the Moshav Band, Six13 and the Klezmakers. Also food, carnival games, vendors. Bring a blanket and lawn chair. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 3 to 8 p.m. $5-$7. http://www.SiliconValleyJCC.org/music.

Bible engraving of David and Jonathan, by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1860)

Homosexuality in the Scriptures

“The Myth of Biblical Homophobia” is a two-session class that will explore how biblical text often is used to condemn LGBTQ people and those who love them. But what does the Hebrew Bible really say about same-sex
relations? Was the friendship of David and Jonathan (above), recorded in the Books of Samuel, romantic or sexual love, and does that even matter? Rabbi Michael Rothbaum, an East Bay–based educator, will lead the discussion.

7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 and June 26 at Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. $20 for both sessions. RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). http://www.netivotshalom.org

friday/14

East Bay LGBT Shabbat. Renewal service co-sponsored by Aquarian Minyan, Chochmat HaLev and Kehilla Community Synagogue. 6:30 p.m. veggie/fish potluck; 7:30 p.m. service. At Chochmat HaLev, 2215 Prince St., Berkeley. http://www.chochmat.org.

saturday/15

“Avodat Lev: Service of the Heart.” Musical Shabbat morning service without Torah. Includes movement, contemplative time on the farm. At Urban Adamah, 1050 Parker St., Berkeley. 10 a.m. Free with advance registration. http://www.urbanadamah.org.

friday/21

Community Pride Shabbat. Spiritual leaders from Congregation Beth David, Temple Emanu-El, Congregation Shir Hadash, Congregation Sinai and Addison-Penzak JCC co-lead service with members of LGBT Jewish community. At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. 6:30 p.m. Free. http://www.beth-david.org.

“Meditation, Movement & Mah Jongg.” Women’s weekend Shabbat retreat. Led by Julie Emden of Jewish LearningWorks and Rabbi Leslie Alexander of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. At Land of the Medicine Buddha, 5800 Prescott Road, Soquel. $275. RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

saturday/22

Havdallah bonfire. Popcorn, chai and a dance party presented by Urban Adamah and East Bay Moishe House. At Urban Adamah, 1050 Parker St., Berkeley. 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Free in advance; $5 at the door. http://www.urbanadamah.org.