Shorts: Bay Area

Local Jewish chefs will give delectable insight at Temple Israel

After a successful first run last year, the Jewish Chefs Series is returning to Temple Israel in Alameda for five consecutive Sundays, beginning Jan. 25.

Five iconic Jewish Bay Area chefs and cookbook authors will be sharing culinary secrets, stories and family recipes as well as offering cooking demonstrations and tastings.

This year's lineup begins on Jan. 25 with Alice Medrich, local chocolate guru and author of "Cocolat: Extraordinary Chocolate Desserts." Each event runs from 10:30 a.m. until 12 p.m.

The rest of the schedule: Feb. 1, Maralyn Tabatsky, proprietor of the Have Your Cake bakery, one of the Bay Area's best sources for certified kosher cakes; Feb. 8, Vivi Moshonov, owner of the Sophia Café, a Mediterranean restaurant in Albany; Feb. 15, Cindy Gershen, owner of the Sunrise Bistro, a healthy home-style eatery in Walnut Creek; and Feb. 22, Michael Wild, renowned chef at Bay Wolf in Oakland.

Following each event, chefs will sign cookbooks and sell specialty items not available in stores.

The series, which drew packed houses last year, is a fundraiser for the Temple Israel religious school.

Advanced tickets can be purchased through Temple Israel by calling (510) 522-9355. The cost is $100 for the entire series, or $25 for each event at the door. Temple Israel is located at 3183 Mecartney Road in Alameda. For more information, visit http://www.temple israelalameda.org.




Panel will discuss Jewish-Muslim relationships

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto and Abraham's Vision are presenting a cross-cultural panel discussion about the relationship between the American Jewish and Muslim communities.

Speakers include Daniel Sokatch, CEO of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, Huda Abu Arquob and Aaron Hahn Tapper, co-executive directors of Abraham's Vision, a nonprofit focusing on "conflict transformation."

The discussion will take place 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Kehillah Jewish High School, 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, contact Jane-Rachel Schonbrun at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).




Nosh and celebrate our next president

Have "Bagels and Coffee With Barack" on Inauguration Day. The East Bay JCC will host the event starting 9 a.m. Tuesday,

Jan. 20. Attendees can watch the swearing-in ceremony of the 44th president, Barack Obama, while celebrating with a free breakfast. The East Bay JCC is at 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. For more information, call (510) 848-0237.