ART
HOLIDAYS & SPIRITUAL
FRIDAY | December 4 “RITUAL TEXTILES FOR JEWISH LIFE CYCLE”—In another session
examining UC Berkeley’s Magnes Collection, curators Francesco Spagnolo and Shir Kochavi talk about an artistic 19th-century German wimpel, a Torah binder made from circumcision cloth. 12-12:30 p.m. Free, with registration. tinyurl. com/ritual-textiles
FRIDAY | December 11 “THE SHAPE OF HANUKKAH LAMPS”—Magnes Collection cura-
tors Francesco Spagnolo and Shir Kochavi talk about an 18th-century Italian menorah and what we can learn from how menorahs are shaped. 12-12:30 p.m. Free, with registration. tinyurl.com/Hanukkah-Lamps
FRIDAY | December 18 “HANUKKAH AND SURVIVAL”—
Magnes Collection curators Francesco Spagnolo and Shir
Kochavi present a 1940s menorah in a talk subtitled “A Workshop for ‘Displaced Persons’ in Germany, 1945.” 12-12:30 p.m. Free, with registration. tinyurl.com/Magnes-Collection
ONGOING CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM
736 Mission St., S.F. “Levi Strauss: A History of American Style”—Story and impact of the Jewish merchant who helped invent blue jeans. Through Jan. 10, 2021. “Threads of Jewish Life”—S.F. Jewish community of 100-150 years ago shown via clothing and ritual textile items from Magnes Collection. Through Feb. 28, 2021. “Zohar Studios, The Lost Years”—30 images depicting N.Y. Jewish life by 19th-century immigrant photographer Shimmel Zohar. Through Feb. 28, 2021. Covid-19 health protocols in place. Reserve admission time in advance. thecjm.org/exhibitions
BENEFITS & SOCIAL EVENTS SUNDAY | December 6
MONDAY | December 14
B’NAI SHALOM GALA—Walnut Creek
“AJC: DIPLOMACY AT 75”—S.F.
synagogue presents online gala, with live and silent auctions, honoring Howard and Susan Geifman. Optional dinner from Oakland Kosher, for a charge, delivered to your home with RSVP by Nov. 24. 5 p.m. Free, donations encouraged, with registration. bshalom.org/ gala
chapter of American Jewish Committee celebrates the 75th anniversaries of both itself and the United Nations, honoring U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Poland’s honorary consul Tad Taube. With a Hanukkah candlelighting and invited Bay Area leaders. 6-7 p.m. Free, with suggested donation, with registration. tinyurl.com/ Diplomacy-75
WEDNESDAY | December 2 “COOKING DEMO WITH MICHAEL SOLMONOV”—The famous chef
shares Hanukkah recipes for apple shrub, latkes, artichokes, poached salmon, and sfenj with cinnamon and sugar. For novices and experienced cooks. Presented by S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation and other Federations. 5-6:30 p.m. Free, with registration. tinyurl.com/federation-cook
SUNDAY | December 6 “SUNDAY STORIES: THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MENORAH”—Contemporary
Jewish Museum presents a talk about the first large-scale public menorah lighting in the U.S., in 1975 in San Francisco spearheaded by rock promoter Bill Graham. 10-10:30 a.m. Free. thecjm.org/ programs/802
THURSDAY | December 10 “BEE BRIGHT: HANUKKAH CANDLE MAKING”—Herbalist Chelsea
Taxman leads a workshop on honeybee hives, pollinators and how to make your own Hanukkah candles. Presented by Urban Adamah. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Free, with registration. tinyurl.com/bee-bright
“MAKE LATKES!”—Lifestyle/food
bloggers Gabi Moskowitz and Kristin Posner share new twists on potato pancakes, including Japanese latkes. Have on hand: potatoes, onions and a grater. Presented by the Contemporary Jewish Museum. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free, advance registration required. tinyurl.com/ Virtual-Latkes
FRIDAY | December 11 TRI-VALLEY CULTURAL JEWS HANUKKAH—Humanistic Jewish
community based in Pleasanton
presents a secular lighting, naming ceremony and virtual dreidel games. Have your own menorah, candles and dreidel on hand. 7-8 p.m. $10 suggested for nonmember adults, with registration. tinyurl.com/cultural-hanukkah
SUNDAY | December 13 “HANUKKAH MEDITATION RETREAT”—Urban Adamah and
the Jewish meditation center Makor Or present a day of Hanukkah-themed meditation, practice and prayer. With candlelighting and singing. Led by Jewish meditation icon Norman Fischer and Rabbi Dorothy Richman. 10 a.m.5 p.m. $36-$72, with registration. tinyurl.com/Meditation-Hanukkah
“DIZZY DREIDEL COOKIE WORKSHOP”—Cooks from Culinary
Artistas lead a cookie-baking class for all ages. Parental supervision requested for younger bakers. Presented by the JCCSF and Ghirardelli Square. 10-11:30 a.m. Free, advance registration required. tinyurl.com/dreidel-cookie
“THE MYSTERIES OF HANUKKAH”—
Congregation Ner Shalom in Cotati presents a synagogue benefit, an online mini-retreat with text study, contemplation, movement, music and mysticism. Led by Reb Irwin Keller. Have Hanukkah candles on hand for night session. 12-3 p.m., 6:30-7:30 p.m. $118, with registration. tinyurl.com/Mysteries-Hanukkah
“THE KVETCH WHO STOLE HANUKKAH”—Chochmat HaLev in Berke-
ley presents dramatic readings of that story and “I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel.” With a Hanukkah haiku and limerick contest, music and dancing. 5-6 p.m. $5, free for members, with registration. tinyurl.com/Stole-Hanukkah
BOOKS
ON STAGE
WEDNESDAY | December 2
THURSDAY | December 3
CHEF INA GARTEN—The Barefoot
“NOT NORMAL”—LABA East Bay’s
WEDNESDAY | December 9
SUNDAY | December 6
“A TREASURY OF YIDDISH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE”—Edi-
WORKER’S CIRCLE/ARBETER RING ANNIVERSARY—Celebration of 120
Contessa talks about her book “Modern Comfort Food” in conversation with comedian-author Michael Ian Black. Part of “JCC Book Fest in Your Living Room” series. Presented by JCC Literary Consortium and JCCs across the nation. 4:30 p.m. $45 includes book. Registration required. tinyurl.com/book-jcc
tor-translator Miriam Udel talks about “Honey on the Page,” her anthology of nearly lost, early 20th-century Yiddish children’s literature she collected from around the world. Jewish LearningWorks event for 11 and up. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free, with registration. tinyurl. com/Yiddish-Literature
cultural lab presents a dance, poetry and ancient text teaching on the themes of standing out or fitting in. Led by LABA East Bay fellows choreographer Marika Brussel and poet Caroline Kessler, and a guest teacher from LABA New York. 7:30 p.m. Sliding scale, with registration. tinyurl.com/ cultural-lab
years nationally and 72 years in Northern California. Featuring three musical works in progress by klezmer trio Baymele, klezmer accordionist Jeanette Lewicki and Cantor Sharon Bernstein. 4-5:15 p.m. Free, with registration. tinyurl.com/workers-circle
KIDS & FAMILY SUNDAY | December 6
SUNDAY | December 13
WORNICK HANUKKAH PARTY—For
“ARTBASH LIVE: HANUKKAH”—
ages 3 to 5 and their families, presented by Wornick Jewish Day School. With activities and music by songleader Isaac Zones. Bag pickup 4-5 p.m. Dec. 3, along Balclutha Drive near the school in Foster City. 10-10:45 a.m. Free, advance registration required. tinyurl.com/wornick-party
Contemporary Jewish Museum conducts an online, hands-on art project for families. Pick up free supply kits at CJM, Beth Sholom (S.F.), Netivot Shalom (Berkeley), Contra Costa Jewish Day School (Lafayette) and Marin JCC (San Rafael) 2-5 p.m. Dec. 11, and Peninsula JCC (Foster City) 3-6 p.m. Dec. 10. Zoom class 4:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Free, with registration. thecjm.org/programs/801
Note to readers: All events virtual unless otherwise indicated.
Calendar November 27–December 17
For more listings see jweekly.com/calendar
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JEWISH CALENDAR
Candlelighting Nov. 27 | Kislev 11, 5781 Light candles at 4:34 p.m. Shabbat ends at 5:34 p.m.
Dec. 4 | Kislev 18, 5781 Light candles at 4:33 p.m. Shabbat ends at 5:33 p.m.
20 11.27.2020 | J. THE JEWISH NEWS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | JWEEKLY.COM
Hanukkah scavenger hunt Uncover the message of Hanukkah! Embark on a journey to spread light around town! Build your own dreidel sculpture! An in-person scavenger hunt, with appropriate health protocols, gets kids ages 8-12 out of the house for one brief hour of fun. Includes lunch.
At Chabad of Contra Costa, 1671 Newell Ave. 12:301:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. $10 per child, $25 per family, with registration. tinyurl.com/chabad-hunt
Dec. 10 | Kislev 24, 5781 First night of Hanukkah Light candles after nightfall
Dec. 11 | Kislev 25, 5781 Light menorah 18 minutes before sunset Light Shabbat candles at 4:33 p.m. Shabbat ends at 5:34 p.m.
