Shorts: Bay Area

Ex-Polish president to speak at JCCSF

Aleksander Kwasniewski, the president of Poland from 1995 to 2005, will speak at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco on Wednesday, May 17.

In a talk specifically about Poland and the Jews, Kwasniewski will address dialogue and reconciliation as prerequisites for mutual coexistence.

The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7:30 p.m. at the JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. Free.




Documentary slated on Israeli refuseniks

A new documentary called "Refuseniks," about Israelis who choose to go to prison rather than serve the army in the West Bank or Gaza Strip, will be shown as a benefit for the Bay Area-based Jewish Voice for Peace. The filmmaker, Sonja de Vries, is a former resident of the Bay Area.

The movie will be followed by a Q&A session with Dan Tsahor, an Israeli conscientious objector, and Iraq war resister Stephen Funk.

"Refuseniks" will show 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 at the Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. $10 in advance online at www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org or $13 at the door. Information: (510) 465-1777.