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Newsbriefs: June 2006

Diaspora Dinner set for June 10

Temple Emanu-El will host a Diaspora Dinner IX: The Cuisine and Jews of Latin America on Saturday, June 10, at 6 p.m. The cost of the gourmet dinner is $40 per person, with a wine pairing available for an additional $18.
A historical presentation on the Jewish communities established in Latin America concludes the evening. Seating is limited to 80 diners. Call 292-0939 for more information.

Women of Temple Emanu-El hold Luncheon June 11

The annual Women of Temple Emanu-El Donor Luncheon will be held on June 11 at the Los Gatos Tollhouse. The cost is $54 per person. All proceeds benefit the programs of WOTE. This year's special entertainment includes a Frank Sinatra sound-alike, a silent auction and raffle. For more information, contact the Temple office at 292-0939.

Staying svelte in your senior years

Over 60 and concerned about your weight? No? Maybe you should be!
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley will present a Wellness
Program for seniors on June 14. Caroline H. Fee, associate director
in the Division of Health Professions, San Jose State University, will speak about Weight Management issues. The program will be held at The Chai House, 814 St. Elizabeth Drive, San Jose, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Avital Agam at JFS 357-7450

Melton Adult Ed begins second year at APJCC

After its first year's overwhelming success the Melton Adult Mini School will begin its second year at the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center in September. Classes for new students will begin on Monday morning, September 11 or Wednesday evening, September 13. The two year program consists of thirty two- hour classes each year.
Hebrew University in Jerusalem writes and supervises the curriculum which includes a class on “Purposes of Jewish Living” which covers essential Jewish theological concepts and ideas as they unfold in the Bible, Talmud, Responsa and other sacred and modern texts. This class includes topics including God, Creation, Revelation, Suffering, Mitzvot, Prayer, and Israel. The second class during the first year of the program is “Rhythms of Jewish Living” where students study the central ideas and texts which create our daily, weekly, annual and life cycle observances.
Last year's classes filled up well before they began. Classes are $475 for the year; $400 for JCC members and community teachers, and reduced for couples registering together. Need based scholarships are available. These classes are made possible by the JCC and a grant from the Myra Reinhard Family Foundation. For more information or to register contact director Dottie Miller at MeltonSV@aol.com or call the JCC registrar at 357-7402.

Jewish Literature Discussion groups

Los Altos Library, part of the Santa Clara County Library System, will host a free five-part reading and discussion series called “Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature - Identity and Imagination.” The series explores Jewish literature and culture through scholar-led discussions of contemporary and classic books on a common theme. The library's series will explore the theme of “A Mind of Her Own: Fathers and Daughters in a Changing World.”

The library is one of about 60 libraries nationwide which recently received grants to host the series developed by Nextbook and the American Library Association (ALA). Local support for the series is provided by The Friendss of the Los Altos Library. The first program will explore Tevye the Dairyman by Sholem Aleichem, and will be held on Sunday, August 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. All programs will be held at Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. For details or to register, please contact Miriam Marr at mmarr@library.sccgov.org or (650) 968-7138.

Additional books will be discussed once per month at the library. These books are: September 17, Bread Givers by Anzia Yerzierska; October 22, 1185 Park Avenue: A Memoir by Anne Roiphe; November 12, American Pastoral by Philip Roth; December 10, Bee Season by Myla Goldberg. Dr. David Mesher, professor of English at San Jose State University, will provide background and lead a discussion of the book at each session.

APJCC presents Jews of Color photography exhibit

The Addison-Penzak Jewish Co-mmunity Center is offering a phorography display titled Jews of Color: In Color! The exhibit challenges stereotypes of the Jewish people, portraying five communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America through photographs whose populations share the outward appearance and lifestyles of the people who surround them, with one major difference...they are practicing Jews. Featured communities include India's Bene Israel and Menashe communities, Mexico's Venta Prieta community, Ghana's House of Israel, and Zimbabwe's Shona Jews.

Please visit this exhibit through June 25 on the second floor at the Levy Family Campus, 14855 Oka Road in Los Gatos. For more information, call 358-3636 or visit scatteredamongthenations.org.

SVCCJ's 41st Gala Event

Almost 500 business and civic leaders gathered on Saturday, April 22, at the San Jose Fairmont Hotel for the Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice (SVCCJ) 41st annual gala and fundraiser. $300,000 was raised to promote its 10 major programs serving 35,000 people yearly.

As part of its ongoing efforts to educate, mediate and ultimately alleviate discrimination and racism, SVCCJ honors community leaders who have demonstrated their commitment to securing and building a community based on respect and appreciation for diversity and on justice for us all.

Guests of honor and recipients of SVCCJ's annual Silicon Valley Exemplary Community Leadership Awards were Caretha and Kenneth L. Coleman, David House and Stanley T. Myers.

Project Noah Food Drive

Over 400 Jewish adults and families in need in the Silicon Valley received Passover food baskets as part of Jewish Family Services’ Project NOAH Passover Food Drive. Matzah, grape juice, gefilite fish and other kosher Passover food items were distributed.

“These isolated seniors are largely unseen by the community, and greatly appreciate the warmth of a home delivered package,” said JFSSV Executive Director Mindy Berkowitz. “These visits leave them with a warm and positive feeling about their Jewish community.”

Volunteers included the Levy Campus facility staff, Yavneh Day School students parents and staff, Congregations Shir Hadash and Beth David, Ha Lev volunteers and Connections 2006 volunteers.

Hadassah Card Party

Hadassah invites the community to an afternoon of games and lunch on Friday, June 9, at 11 a.m. at the Cribari Auditorium. The cost is $20. Please contact Janet Truman at 238-3803 or Ellie Kass at 532-9135.

Biblical historian at Shir Hadash on July 23

Convinced of the historicity of the Biblical narrative, five years ago Dr. Steve Collins of Trinity Southwest University and his colleague, Professor Thomas Winder, took up the hunt for the famous towns of Sodom and Gemorrah mentioned in Genesis 19. Winder will be speaking at Congregation Shir Hadash on Friday, July 23, as part of the Shabbat Service. He will be talking about the results of that hunt--the story of the discovery of The Cities of the Plain, described in the Torah passages. Included will be a digital slide show of pictures, maps, and real artifacts, detailing the misguided searches of the past, and the incredible discovery of the real city of Sodom.

Prof. Thomas Winder is Professor of Hebraic Studies at Trinity Southwest University & The Museum of Archaeology and Biblical History, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He also is a candidate for a Ph.D. in Biblical Archeology. Thomas started his Bible education in Jerusalem at the Institute of Holy Land Studies. He is fundraising director of the “Cities of the Plain Archaeological Project” in Jordan, which is excavating Tall el-Hammam, 'The City of Sodom.'

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