Shorts: Bay Area

Mazon co-founder to speak in Bay Area

Leonard Fein will speak about Jewish social justice in today's world on Sunday, Aug. 27 in El Cerrito.

Fein is co-founder of the Jewish anti-hunger organization Mazon, the Jewish Coalition for Literacy and Moment Magazine.

The event is co-sponsored by Progressive Jewish Alliance and JGate. A vegetarian barbeque will be held prior to Fein's talk.

The barbeque is at 6:30 p.m. and the talk at 7:30 p.m., at 409 Liberty St., El Cerrito. RSVP: (510) 527-8640 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).




Rodef Sholom puts out call to help family

Members of San Rafael's Congregation Rodef Sholom are coming together to help congregants in need.

Several weeks ago, fire raced through the home of Fairfax resident Cindy Ross, her son Gabriel and her mother, Paula. They lost everything and are now in temporary housing.

Rodef Sholom has put out the word that the family urgently needs several items, including new bedding (sheets, comforters and pillows) for two queen-sized beds and one full-sized bed; towels; a set of pots and pans; and some basic kitchen utensils. Anyone able to help is asked to call Ross directly at (415) 459-3134.




Sinai rabbi postpones retirement for a year

Rabbi Steven Chester of Oakland's Temple Sinai had announced his retirement for June 2008. But when negotiating his last five-year contract, he asked for a clause allowing him to add a one-year extension if he wanted to remain.

He recently sent a letter to the congregation announcing that he will stay that extra year.

"I want to see the present project of the capital campaign, new campus development, through to completion," he wrote. "This project is very important to me, and I wish to be here when it is completed and our new buildings are dedicated."




World Union slates awards in San Mateo

For the first time, the World Union for Progressive Judaism is holding its international humanitarian awards celebration in the Bay Area.

The dinner will honor Rabbi Roberto Graetz of Lafayette's Temple Isaiah and philanthropists Joanne Harrington and Lorry Lokey.

Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, will be the keynote speaker.

The awards dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 at the Peninsula Golf and Country Club in San Mateo.

Information and registration: (415) 392-7080 ext. 12 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).




JIMENA pushes for rights in Congress

Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa (JIMENA) has embarked on a campaign to get the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab countries discussed in Washington whenever Palestinian refugees are mentioned.

The resolution, H. Res. 848/S. Res. 494, already has significant support in the House, and JIMENA is asking rabbis to mention it in their High Holy Day sermons.

The resolution has been assigned to the International Relations Committee in the House and to the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate, where it is pending.

JIMENA hopes to record the communal and personal losses of the almost 1 million Jews who lived in the Middle East and North Africa before time erases the memories of these communities and their culture.

In addition, the organization is looking for people whose families are from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Iran.




Fund to help Seattle victims

seattle (jta) | A fund was established to assist victims and families of the July 28 shooting at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Donors can visit http://www.jewishinseattle.org to make a contribution.

The money, administered through the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, may be used to help with renovation and security costs for the Seattle federation's offices.

On Aug. 15 the alleged shooter, Naveed Haq, pleaded not guilty. Charges include aggravated first-degree murder, attempted murder, and others. He is due back in court Aug. 30.