Shorts: Bay Area

Emanu-El puts pews up for sale

Congregation Emanu-El has come up with a unique way to raise funds as it prepares to renovate its sanctuary. Six rows of pews are about to be removed to make way for a remodeled bimah in the San Francisco synagogue, and they are up for sale.

"It came up in conversation — what are we going to do with them?" said Gary Cohn, the synagogue's executive director. "We thought, we could store them, toss them out or sell them to members. It's a whimsical idea, but maybe there is someone who has a sentimental reason for wanting one."

The pews are going for $1,800 each, or $36,000 for all six rows (totaling 24 pews).

Buyers have until Aug. 20 to purchase the pews. Proceeds will benefit the Robert C. Levy Prayerbook Fund to buy copies of the new prayerbook, Mishkan T'filah, and for scholarships for Israel trips and summer camps.

Information: Cathy Lewis at (415) 751-2541 ext. 142 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).




Diller Teens raise money for Israel

The Diller Teen Fellows have organized a benefit dinner to raise money for ELEM, an organization for northern Israel youth in crisis.

Representatives from Diller's Israeli counterpart, Manhigut Esreh, will speak at the event about life in northern Israel during the current crisis.

The evening of food, entertainment and speakers will take place at Kanbar Hall in the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F., on Wednesday, Aug. 9 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person. Information: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).




Israeli tennis star bows out at Stanford

Shahar Peer, Israel's 19-year-old entrant in the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford, managed to bounce the tennis tourney's local favorite before being eliminated in the second round.

Peer fell to Samantha Stosur, 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday, July 26.

Peer had previously dumped first-round foe Amber Liu, who won two singles titles at Stanford, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.