Shorts: Bay Area

Two arrests made in San Jose hate crimes

Two teenagers were arrested Saturday, June 11, on suspicion of using a chemical to burn swastikas and racial epithets into the lawns of nine San Jose homes several weeks ago.

Both suspects live in San Jose. Matthew Baptista, 18, was one of those arrested, but the second was not identified because he is a 17-year-old juvenile.

Baptista was booked into Santa Clara County's main jail, and the 17-year-old into juvenile hall for two offenses relating to hate crime vandalism, police said.

Investigators were tipped off by people who knew the suspects.




Panel to discuss Israel criticism

Do American Jews have the right to publicly criticize Israel? And if they do, does it undermine Israeli security?

Those questions will the topic of debate on Wednesday, June 22, at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center in San Rafael.

Moderated by Rabbi Doug Kahn, executive director of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council, the panel will feature activists from S.F. Voice for Israel, Jewish Voice for Peace and the Tikkun Community.

The panel is sponsored by the Israel Action Committee of Congregation Rodef Sholom. It begins 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at the Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. Pedro Road, San Rafael.




Interfaith meeting in Pacific Grove

An interfaith gathering — called "Healing the World: Sacred Visions for a New America" — will take place at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove from Friday to Sunday, July 22 to July 24.

The weekend conference will feature leaders from many different faiths, including Rabbi Michael Barenbaum, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael. Young adults are especially encouraged to attend.

The conference is sponsored by the Pacific Network for Mission Education and The Interfaith Center at the Presidio. The Board of Rabbis of Northern California is a co-sponsor.

To register or for information: www.healingtheworld.info or (530) 272-7227.




Bayside Havdallah

It's bonfire season again. YeaShOre and Chochmat Halev will host an evening of "Sea Side Singing" Saturday, June 18 in Berkeley.

The festivities will commence after a sunset Havdallah ritual. Classic bonfire fare — kosher smores and roasted potatoes — will be provided. But guests are encouraged to bring snacks as well as friends, songs and musical instruments to the event, which will be held from 7:30 p.m. until midnight at the Olympic Circle Sailing Club, Berkeley. Information: www.yeashore.org.




Congregation Beth El bidding farewell to Vine Street

Congregation Beth El in Berkeley is holding its "Farewell to Vine Street" Shabbat service at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 1.

The Reform synagogue has been in its current home for the past 55 years. Its clergy hope to be installed in its new home on Oxford Street in August, but until then the congregation will meet at the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center.

Congregation Beth El is located at 2301 Vine St., Berkeley. Information: (510) 848-3988.




Women's spirituality conference at Emanu-El

Anita Diamant, author of "The Red Tent" and several other books, will be keynote speaker at a daylong conference on Jewish women's spirituality Sunday, July 10.

The conference is being put on by Chochmat HaLev, the Jewish meditation center in Berkeley, in conjunction with Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco, which is hosting the event. Numerous area synagogues and organizations are co-sponsors.

The conference will feature several of the Bay Area's prominent female rabbis and educators, many of them from the Renewal movement.

The conference goes from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., San Francisco. Advance registration is required, and onsite childcare is available for an additional charge.

To register or for information: www.chochmat.org or (510) 704-9687, ext. 16.




Tikkun building progressive network

Tikkun magazine is sponsoring a conference on spirituality-based activism from Wednesday to Friday, July 20 to July 23, at U.C. Berkeley.

Speakers will include political activists from a number of faith traditions. Among them will be nonviolence activist Arun Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma.

The Tikkun goal for the confab, as well as for a second conference taking place next February in Washington, D.C., is to build a network of spiritual progressives to challenge the religious right in America.

Registration is free for U.C. Berkeley students for the local conference. To register or for information: www.tikkun.org or (510) 528-6250.