Shorts: Bay Area

Anti-disengagement rally outside Israeli consulate

A rally will take place in front of the Consul General of Israel's office in San Francisco at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 19 to protest the Israeli government's decision to withdraw from the Gaza Strip. The rally is also meant to show solidarity with the settlers of Gush Katif, who have vociferously objected the withdrawal, which is scheduled for next month.

The rally will be one of many nationwide sponsored by Americans for a Safe Israel and others. They are also planning an "Orange Shabbat" this weekend to highlight the plight of the settlers who are being removed from their homes.

Another rally already was held June 26 in Sacramento. A group called Come Answer the Call — described as a faith-based driven initiative of Christians and Jews — gathered with several right-wing Israeli speakers and evangelical Christians who oppose the disengagement.




Trial dates set for Bagel Beer brewer

Gregory Newcorn, the former Bagel Beer brewer accused of pocketing $1 million of investors' money, will have his day in court.

The Fairfax entrepreneur, who was charged with grand theft in April, is scheduled for pretrial hearings at the Marin Superior Court on Sept. 8, with a preliminary hearing on the docket for Sept. 14.

If found guilty of embezzlement, he could face up to six years in prison.




ADL hires new assistant director

The Anti-Defamation League hired Tami Holzman as its new assistant director in San Francisco. She will investigate and respond to allegations of discrimintation and harassment and organize community forums on ADL's responses to bigotry.

Holzman graduated from U.C. Berkeley, where she also did development work. She taught religious school at her synagogue, Oakland's Temple Beth Abraham.




Poetry workshop for teenage girls

The Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center will host "Sisters of Song: A Week-Long Workshop for Emerging Poets" from Monday, July 18 through Friday, July 22.

Open to girls of all backgrounds between the ages of 13 and 19, the goals of the workshop are to foster a fun atmosphere where the participants can express themselves through poetry.

Led by Yosefa Raz, the workshop will include writing exercises, visiting authors, field trips and a communitywide poetry reading at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 24, in the BRJCC auditorium, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley.

The workshop costs $50 and scholarships are available. For more information, call 510-848-0237 ext. 130 or e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).