Shorts: Bay Area

Contra Costa JCC launches 2009

lecture series

Starting this month, the Contra Costa Jewish Community Center will present Dialogues 2009, a monthly lecture series featuring six distinguished public figures. The series begins Jan. 21 with a lecture by Boalt Hall School of Law professor Jesse Choper speaking on the subject of religious freedom and the separation clause.

Other speakers through May include Admiral (Ret.) Michael Baker, who will speak on bioterrorism; NPR correspondent Richard Gonzales, who will talk about his career in radio journalism; U.C. President Mark Yudof, who will discuss the state of the U.C. system; and Noah's Bagels founder Noah Alper, who will talk about business ethics.

All lectures take place at the CCJCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Series packages are available starting at $175 for all six lectures. For more information, (925) 938-7800 or online at http://www.ccjcc.org.




Marin opens shelter with help from local synagogues

A temporary emergency shelter has opened in Marin, symbolizing a victory for the Marin Organizing Committee, a collective of congregations and nonprofits working to improve the county's public policy.

For the next several weeks, Marin's homeless community will have a place to sleep, while members of the MOC work on establishing a permanent building and more affordable housing for those in need. The existing shelter will be operated by a partnership of existing nonprofits.

The announcement comes just weeks after the MOC, which includes members from congregations Rodef Sholom and Kol Shofar, held a candlelight procession in downtown San Rafael to advocate for the shelter.

More than 250 people representing 15 organizations with the MOC marched to show their support.




Kohn intern program accepting applications

In its 24th year, Jewish Vocational Service's Kohn summer internship program is looking for some good college students — 33, to be exact.

Applications for the program, which is open to students who have completed at least one year of post-high school education and whose primary residence is in the Bay Area, are now available online. Participants are assigned to a Jewish agency or synagogue in the Bay Area for an eight-week internship, and attend once-a-week seminars on professional development and Jewish communal service. The interns also receive a $2,500 stipend.

Participating agencies have included the Jewish Coalition for Literacy, the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, j., the Holocaust Center of Northern California and Shalom Bayit.

The deadline for applications is April 1. For information or for an application, visit http://www.jvs.org/kohn.htm, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call (415) 782-6225.




Foundation offering Israel trip scholarships

The Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay is offering scholarships to high school and college students for Jewish programs of travel, study or volunteering in Israel.

Students residing in Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa and Solano counties may apply. Examples of eligible trips include Let's Go! Israel and Hebrew University's summer ulpan.

Scholarships range from $360 to $3,000. The foundation gives an average of $78,000 in Israel scholarships each year.

Financial aid applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed each quarter. Upcoming deadlines are March 2 and May 8.

For information or to receive an application contact Polly Zavadivker at pollyatjfeddotorg, or call (510) 839-2900 ext. 210.




L.A. couple gives $25 million to UCSF stem cell program

Eli and Edythe Broad, prominent Jewish philanthropists from Los Angeles, recently donated $25 million to help build the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCSF.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, plus officials from UCSF and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, joined Broad and his wife, Edythe, to praise their contribution at a news conference in San Francisco last month.

"Scientists have made significant headway in understanding the basic biology of stem cells in recent years, and UCSF scientists have been at the forefront of these efforts," Broad said in a statement.

The $123 million building, which is slated to open in summer 2010 at UCSF's Parnassus campus, is designed to enhance scientists' efforts to develop innovative treatments for diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer.




Rabbi Judah Dardik leads lecture series

Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland is presenting a free lecture series with Rabbi Judah Dardik.

The next lecture, "The Entire 613 Mitzvot Mentioned in the Bible, Including Those Which are Not in Practice Today," will take place 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13. There will be lectures every Tuesday at 8 p.m. through June 9.

Upcoming lectures include "When Do We Do It? Themes and Practices of the Jewish Holidays," "People of the Books — But Which Ones? Navigating Prayer Service" and "Jewish Texts and Library."

Beth Jacob Congregation is located at 3778 Park Blvd., Oakland. For more information, call (510) 482-1147.




Mah jongg tourney coming to Santa Rosa

Congregation Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa will host its first Wine Country Mah Jongg Classic on Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the synagogue, 2600 Bennett Valley Road.

The Chinese-American tile game is experiencing renewed popularity, said Rachel Blum, an avid player who is helping to coordinate the tournament.

Registration costs $40 and includes a continental breakfast, snacks, lunch, boutique and door prizes.

All levels of players are welcome, but walk-in registration will not be accepted for the event. To pre-register, contact Lisa Isaac at (707) 591-3911 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or Rachel Blum at (707) 538-2435 or e-mail racheltennis @comcast.net.