Shorts: Bay Area

Marin talk slated on Israel after Arafat

Zeev Maoz, a professor of political science at U.C. Davis, will talk about Israel in a post-Arafat era at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center.

The former director of the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, Maoz will discuss the risks and opportunities facing Israel and the Palestinians.

Co-sponsored by the S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council, the talk is at the Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. A $5 donation is suggested. Information: (415) 444-8000.




Sandoval re-elected despite mailers

Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval, who had been hit with graphic and anonymous mailers accusing him of being an anti-Semite, held off seven challengers to win re-election earlier this month.

The incumbent District 11 supervisor polled nearly 60 percent of the vote in San Francisco's weighted electoral system. He was declared the winner on Friday, Nov. 5.

A number of San Francisco Jewish groups saw the mailers — which were emblazoned with a photograph of a synagogue vandalized with a swastika — as misleading and sensational. Sandoval told j., that "all's well that ends well," but he speculated that the inflammatory mailers may have knocked 10 percent off his polling numbers.




Burlingame temple taking part in donor Shabbat

Burlingame's Peninsula Temple Sholom is participating in a "national donor Sabbath" to promote awareness about organ donation at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12.

During Shabbat services, a speaker will discuss organ donation as it pertains to Jewish law, and a donor and recipient will also speak. The program is sponsored by the California Transplant Donor Network and the Division of Transplantation, Health Resources and Services Administration.

The synagogue is at 1655 Sebastian Drive. Information: (650) 697-2266.




Orinda softball player honored

Rachel Levinson was named a first-team All-American softball player by the Jewish Sports Review following a banner career at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

She is a graduate of Miramonte High School in Orinda.

Levinson, who played first base, led the Dragons with a .289 batting average and finished her four years as the school's all-time fielding percentage leader (.9897). Her 125 hits rank No. 13 on the school's all-time list.




Experts to discuss threats to Israel

Two of Israel's preeminent scholars will discuss the range of strategic challenges Israel is facing in a talk at 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 22.

Efraim Inbar, director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University, and Eyal Zisser, department chair of Middle East and Africa History at Tel Aviv University, will speak about the threats posed to Israel by Syria, Lebanon, Iran and the Palestinian Authority, as well as stateless international terror organizations.

Co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Consulate General of Israel, the talk is free and will take place at the Jewish Community Center of S.F., 3200 California St. Information: (415) 844-7507 or (415) 957-1551.




Maccabi Tae Kwon Do enthusiasts wanted

Marty Marcus is looking for a few good men — and women.

The Concord resident and Israeli dual citizen was named the chairman of the Maccabi Tae Kwon Do martial arts team earlier this year, and he's now on the search for athletes. He's got roster spots for two competitors from every weight class, a total of 16 athletes. Potential fighters can contact Marcus at (510) 882-0215 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).