friday/21
Diane von Furstenberg. The iconic Jewish fashion designer and daughter of an Auschwitz survivor talks about the lessons she learned while building a global brand. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. Event is sold out, but live stream viewing available at jccsf.org/ondemand.
Radical, mystical Judaism. Rabbi Arthur Green, a scholar of mysticism and Hassidism and founding rector of the rabbinical school at Hebrew College, is scholar-in-residence at Congregation Emanu-El, where he will give a series of talks on “Radical Judaism,” “Mysticism and the Post-Modern Jew” and “Rediscovering the Hassidic Masters.” Green, regularly cited by Newsweek as one of the country’s most influential rabbis, also will lead a “mystical Havdallah” at a restaurant for the young adult community.
6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 at Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. Free. Also Sunday, Nov. 23 at Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. Free. And Saturday, Nov. 22 at Ella’s Café, 500 Presidio Ave., S.F. 8 p.m. Free, but registration requested. www.emanuelsf.org
“Jewish Yoga for Baby and Me.” Gentle yoga class with a Jewish flavor for new moms and dads and their babies, led by Rabbi Mychal Copeland. Also Dec. 5 and Dec. 19. At Parents Place, 200 Channing Ave., Palo Alto. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Free. carol@jewishbabynetwork.org
Artist in residence Liz Lerman. The dancer, artist and choreographer participates in services and leads workshops all weekend. At Temple Isaiah, 945 Risa Road, Lafayette. Free. RSVP to nathanb@temple-isaiah.org. www.temple-isaiah.org/education/scholar-lectures
saturday/22
“The Mitzvah of Being a Surrogate Mother.” Jenessa Schwartz discusses her journey as a surrogate and the Jewish legal views on surrogacy. At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. 1:30 p.m. Free. www.beth-david.org
monday/24
World Zionist Organization meeting. WZO’s Bay Area region will discuss relationships among the international community, diaspora Jewry and the State of Israel. Co-sponsored by StandWithUs/SF Voice for Israel. At Jewish Federation of the East Bay, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley. 6:30 p.m. Free, but RSVP required. aliyafastman@gmail.com or (510) 292-956
tuesday/2
“Graphic Lives: Identity, History and Comics Form in Art Spiegelman’s ‘Maus.’ ” U.C. Berkeley professor Hertha D. Sweet Wong talks about Spiegelman’s use of the comic form to chronicle his father’s experience in the Holocaust. At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free. (510) 845-6420
“Messages from the Dead Sea Scrolls: A Judeo-Christian Perspective.” Lehrhaus Judaica executive director Jehon Grist discusses what the Dead Sea Scrolls say about early Judaism and Christianity. At Congregation B’nai Shalom, 74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. 6:45 p.m. $10-$15. office@bshalom.org or (925) 934-9446