Shorts: The Arts

Events celebrate Israel's independence

The Israel Center of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation will commemorate Israel Independence Day with a weeklong series of events. The celebrations are dedicated to the memory of Naomi Shemer, an Israeli songwriter and composer.

Some 200 students over the age of 18 are expected to attend the Student Dance Party starting 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Studio 57, Pier 33 in San Francisco. Tickets: $5.70-$10. Proceeds will benefit Save A Child's Heart in Israel. Information: www.jfed.org/studio57.

The community celebration will feature the Israeli band Seeds of Sun, the communitywide school choir, Israeli food and dancing beginning 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St. The event is free.

The communitywide school choir and a sing-along with Chen Zambalista will perform 5 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at Peninsula Jewish Community Center, 800 Foster City Blvd. Free.

A surprise DJ will perform at the TZAVTA Young Adults Dance Party 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, at Studio Z, 314 11th St., San Francisco. $10.

Information: (415) 512-6203.




Theater shows two Jewish films

The Lark Theater will present two films about the Jewish experience as part of its classics series.

A family comedy and love story, "Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi" focuses on one boy blessed with extraordinary cooking talents. The movie shows/Saturday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 11.

The documentary "Paper Clips" traces the story of Tennessee middle school students who try to collect 6 million paper clips to represent the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust. The movie shows May 6 through May 12.

The theater is located at 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. Tickets: $5-$8. Information: (415) 924-5111.




Israeli film wins prize at N.Y. festival

new york (jps) | The Israeli short film "Draft," directed by American-born Naomi Levari, who has lived in Israel since 1983, won a special mention in the best student visionary short category at the Tribeca Film Festival in Manhattan this week.

The film deals with a pacifist father who tries to dissuade his son from joining the Israel Defense Forces.

Levari is a recent graduate of the Sam Spiegel Film School in Jerusalem.