Shorts: Bay Area
Friday, October 24, 2008 | bySonoma JCC celebrates Simcha Sunday
Introducing Sonoma County’s unaffiliated Jewish population to its active Jewish community is the goal behind the 15th annual Simcha Sunday, which will take place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa.
According to festival organizer Karen Gould, accomplishing that task should be no problem for the more than 1,000 she expects to attend.
Participants at the free event — hosted by the Sonoma JCC — will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from nearly 30 resources within the local community, the East Bay and San Francisco, including the Bureau of Jewish Education, Camp Tawonga, Hadassah and Sonoma County synagogues.
“We want to get people connected somehow with a synagogue, social service or a volunteer,” Gould said. “It’s going to be a fun, free afternoon with the Jewish community.”
Fifteen artists, who are either Jewish or have a specific interest in the Jewish community, will display their work, ranging from stained glass to quilted purses, calligraphy to watercolor prints.
Storyteller Liora Brosbe will entertain audience members young and old, and families can take part in face-painting or art projects sponsored by local preschools.
The entertainment continues with Israeli folk dancing and Zim Zum, a local klezmer band. Bring your own drum or borrow one from the JCC and join the drum circle, which will introduce participants to JCC’s spirituality program and meditation retreat.
Knishes, kugel, kosher hot dogs, Mediterranean wraps, baked goods and other foods will be available for purchase.
The Veterans Memorial Building is located at 1351 Maple Ave. in Santa Rosa. For more information, visit http://www.jccsoco.org.
Israeli permaculture expert to visit Bay Area
Bustan, an Israeli nonprofit that focuses its work in the Negev desert, will hold two workshops on permaculture and environmental justice next week in the Bay Area.
“Permaculture for Justice” will be taught by Michal Vital, a nationally renowned planner, green building consultant and Bustan volunteer. She will talk about the history of the Bedouins in Israel and how Bustan’s Permaculture for Justice project is helping to build a joint Bedouin-Jewish community, preserve the Bedouin way of life, and address ecological issues due to the Bedouins “unrecognized” status in Israel.
Vital will speak at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 in Walnut Creek and at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 in San Rafael. Both events will be held in private homes; there is a suggested donation of $20.
To RSVP for the Walnut Creek gathering, visit http://www.favors.org. To RSVP for the San Rafael gathering, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
For more information about Bustan, visit http://www.bustan.org.
Show, discussion focus on Darfur
Bay Area monologuist Josh Kornbluth has spun voter fatigue into a one-man show about the fundamentals of democracy, called “Citizen Josh,” which he’ll perform to raise funds for Darfur on Nov. 2.
Immediately following the 6:30 p.m. performance, refreshments will be serviced and Kornbluth will host a dialogue with MoveOn.org co-founder Joan Blades and Rabbi Lee Bycel of the American Jewish World Service. The event will benefit children in Darfur through the work of the American Jewish World Service.
The fundraiser will take place at Berkeley’s Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave. For more information, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call (510) 549-9447 ext. 101
Rabbis, cantors declare opposition to Prop. 8
A group more than 250 California rabbis and cantors has publicly declared opposition to Proposition 8, which would amend the state Constitution to ban gay marriage. The clergy members come the major Jewish denominations, including Conservative, Humanistic, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Reform and Renewal.
In a signed letter, the rabbis and cantors said “all are created b’tzelem elohim, in the image of God” and that they affirm the “most fundamental human right, after the necessities of food, clothing and shelter, is the right to affection and the supportive love of other human beings.”
The effort was organized by Jews for Marriage Equality, the Progressive Jewish Alliance, the Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Bay Area Kol Tzedek (Voice of Justice) Coalition and the Jewish Community Relations Council.
For a list of participating rabbis and cantors, visit http://www.jewsformarriage equality.org and click on “supporting leaders.” For more information, call Rachel Biale, at the Progressive Jewish Alliance, (510) 527-8680.
Athletes sought for Israel Maccabiah Games
Whether you leap over hurdles, swing a racket or steal bases, Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel is looking for you to be part of its roster of Jewish athletes representing Team USA at the 18th Maccabiah Games in July, 2009 in Israel.
Roughly 9,000 of the world’s best Jewish athletes from six continents and more than 60 countries will compete at the Maccabiah Games, considered the world’s third largest international athletic competition.
All athletes interested in competing can go to http://www.maccabiusa.com to apply for a team. Details regarding age and gender requirements, if applicable, can be found by clicking on each sport. Tryouts are ongoing for some sports, so organizers want potential participants to refer to the Web site for more information.
So far, three Bay Area residents have been named as coaches: Ben Quittner of Palo Alto (open water polo); Adam Cooper of Concord (men’s soccer); and Emily Feldman of San Ramon (women’s basketball).