Shorts: Bay Area

Santa Clara County committee drops anti-Israel resolution

Members of the Jewish community came in large numbers last week to ensure an anti-Israel resolution would not be adopted by the Committee on Social Issues of the Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission.

The resolution, introduced by a private citizen, blasted the Santa Clara County sheriff, Laurie Smith, for attending a training program in Israel that "promotes racial profiling based on ethnic and religious discrimination."

The S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council rallied some 300 people Friday, Sept. 9, from the pro-Israel community to show up at the meeting. About 40 of them publicly criticized the resolution, causing the committee to drop the resolution outright.




Anti-war protest, counterprotest scheduled for Sept. 24

A San Francisco anti-war protest by the anti-Zionist group ANSWER scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24, will be countered by San Francisco Voice for Israel.

The protest march begins at Dolores Park at 11 a.m., near Dolores and 18th streets in the Mission District. In mass e-mails, Voice for Israel stated it would be present in case the event devolved into an anti-Israel diatribe.




Congregation offering free High Holy Day tix

As part of a nationwide program to lure Jews back to the Conservative movement, the United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism has launched a new initiative, "Come Home for the Holidays," a Project Reconnect program.

Participating synagogues will offer free High Holy Day tickets to adults in their 20s and 30s who had formerly been active in Conservative Judaism.

Locally, Congregation Beth Sholom of San Francisco is participating. Those interested should contact the synagogue at (415) 221-8736. For further information, go to http://www.projectreconnect.org.