Shorts: Bay Area

Bay Area teens off to Israel

Next week, 111 Bay Area teens will leave for Israel on "Let's Go Israel!" — the largest locally sponsored trip to visit the Jewish state since 2000.

The violence of the second intifada put a halt to community trips to Israel. When trips started up again, only a handful of teens began going.

But participation this year is almost double the count from last year's trip, which included 63 teens. Only 13 went the year before that. Both years, the trips were sponsored solely by the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay.

In addition to that federation, this year's one-month "Let's Go: Israel!" is co-sponsored by the Bureau of Jewish Education, the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley.

As of July 5, the Web site www.letsgoisrael.com will feature news about the trip.




E. Bay congregations hold online auction

The Aquarian Minyan of Berkeley, Kehilla Community Synagogue of Piedmont and Congregation Beth Sholom of San Leandro are holding an auction to benefit the three congregations.

The silent auction — with jewelry, art, food and personal and professional services — began online June 19 at www.aquarianminyan1.cmarket.com. New items will be added, and bidding will continue until July 20.

A live auction also will be held at a garden party and luncheon, with entertainment by Fran Avni, Dick Charlins and Barry Barkan, from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at 8898 Terrace Drive, El Cerrito.

Tickets are $15 or $12 in advance at www.aquarianminyan.org.

Information: Abigail Grafton at (510) 843-3131 or www.aquarianminyan.org.




Oakland Kosher expands its hours

After years of being a favorite lunch spot in the East Bay, Oakland Kosher has expanded and is now open for dinner two nights a week, Sunday and Thursday.

It will thereby become one of only a handful of full kosher restaurants in the Bay Area.

Co-owner Yuval Atias hopes, soon, to be open five nights a week. The restaurant is located at 3419 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. Information: (510) 839-0177.