Rose Hacker and her father, Abraham Goldbloom, in Berlin, 1929

Imagining the past

For more than 10 years, writer and historian Moira Roth has used published texts, plays and performances to create a narrative about a fictional Czech Jew, Rachel Marker. A new multimedia installation at the Magnes will add another layer to Roth’s project, “Through the Eyes of Rachel Marker.” The exhibition will include materials about two real women, both Jewish, who have influenced Roth: English activist Rose Hacker (pictured), who at age 100 began to write op-eds for a London newspaper, and Alice Herz-Sommer, a London-based pianist who was imprisoned with her son in the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley. Exhibit through June 28. http://www.magnes.org

sunday/13

Photo hunt and party. Photography contests in conjunction with “Radical Camera” (see Ongoing), followed by a party. At Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., S.F. Contest at 1 p.m., party at 3 p.m. Free for photo hunt participants (museum admission waived); $12 general. http://www.thecjm.org.

“Balancing Act.” Work by Bay Area sculptor Ilana Davis, who transforms recycled materials into bronze sculptures. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Opening reception at 5 p.m. Exhibit through April 5. Free. http://www.paloaltojcc.org.

ongoing

“The Art of Prophetic Justice.” Works of San Francisco artist Bernard Zakheim. “Wide-Angle Lens.” Jewish photographers in the 1940s and1950s. Through Feb. 3. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. http://www.bjesf.org/adults_events.htm.

“California Dreaming.” Multimedia exhibit exploring Jewish life in the Bay Area from Gold Rush to present. Through April 28. “The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats.” Exhibit of art by the author-illustrator. Through Feb. 24. “The Radical Camera.” Photography exhibit on New York’s historic Photo League. Through Jan. 21. At Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., S.F. http://www.thecjm.org.

“Imaging Religions.” Visual and textual expressions of religious beliefs. Includes Jewish scrolls, Orthodox coins, Catholic paintings and more. Through Jan. 31. At Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley. Free. http://www.gtu.edu.

“A Retrospective: Then and Now.” Ceramic Judaica by Susan Duhan Felix. Through Jan. 27. At Jewish Heritage Museum at Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville. (925) 648-2800.

“Traces of Memory.” Exhibit pieces together new ways of understanding Poland’s Jewish heritage. Through February. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Free. http://www.marinjcc.org.

“A War on Modern Art: The 75th Anniversary of the Degenerate Art Exhibition.” Selections from exhibit by the Nazis in 1937 that aimed to turn public opinion against modern art. Through Feb. 24. At Cantor Arts Center, Palm Drive at Museum Way, Stanford University. http://www.museum.stanford.edu.

saturday/12

College a cappella group. Tufts University’s Shir Appeal performs. At Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. 7 p.m. $10-$36. http://shirappeal.brownpapertickets.com.

thursday/17

Emerging Jewish voices. Freestyle musician and storyteller Joti Shephi and his band kick off series of monthly performances at JCC East Bay. At JCC, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7 p.m. $15. http://www.jcceastbay.org.

saturday/19

Tin Pan Alley sing-along concert. Music of George Gershwin, Isaiah Berlin and others. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. $6-$12.50. http://www.legalmaster.com/lm08000.htm#singalong.

sunday/20

Jewish folk and gospel concert. With Rabbi Menachem Creditor. At Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. 3 p.m. $13-$15. http://www.netivotshalom.org.

monday/21

Red Hot Chachkas. Klezmer band performs. At Saul’s Deli, 1475 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. 6 p.m. No cover. http://www.saulsdeli.com.

wednesday/23

Ellis Island Old World Folk Band. Klezmer music by 32-year-old group. At Le Bateau Ivre Restaurant, 2629 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. 7 p.m. No cover.  http://www.musikers.com.

thursday/24

“Beyond Bubbie: Stories from the Recipe Box.” Evening of noshing and storytelling about food and family. At Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., S.F. 6:30 p.m. $10-$15. http://www.thecjm.org.

ongoing

“4000 Miles.” Amy Herzog’s new play about 21-year-old Leo who bicycles cross-country and shows up at the Greenwich Village home of his feisty 91-year-old grandmother, a character based on Herzog’s own leftist grandmother. Previews Jan. 17, opens Jan. 23. Through Feb. 10. At American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary St., S.F. $25-$120. http://www.act-sf.org.

“Acid Test.” Warren David Keith channels Ram Dass, aka Richard Alpert, the Jewish Harvard professor who dropped acid in the 1960s, found his guru and explored his spirituality. Script by S.F. resident Lynne Kaufman. Through Feb 17. At the Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 5 p.m, Recommended for 17 and older. $15-$50. http://www.themarsh.org.

“The Listener.” Solo show by Charlie Varon telling comedic stories about a group of retirement-home residents in San Francisco. Through Jan. 27. At the Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia St., S.F. $15-$35. http://www.themarsh.org.

saturday/12

“Making Trouble: Three Generations of Funny Jewish Women.” Documentary explores what it means to be funny, female and Jewish. At Congregation Beth Israel Judea, 625 Brotherhood Way, S.F. 7 p.m. Free. (415) 586-8833.

sunday/13

“A Serious Man.” Coen brothers’ film explores the life of a middle-age Jewish man during a period of personal and professional crisis. At JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., S.F. 10 a.m. $15-$25. http://www.jccsf.org.

saturday/19

“Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance after the Holocaust.” Documentary on how to reconcile faith with the Holocaust. At Congregation Shomrei Torah, 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. 7 p.m. Free. http://www.shomreitorah.org.

A rabbi of note

Rabbi Sharon Brous, the Marin Jewish community’s second scholar-in-residence, is a big name — a macher, if you will. Brous is the founding rabbi of the Los Angeles–based progressive Jewish community Ikar, and last year Newsweek rated her as one of the nation’s most influential rabbis. Brous will give talks Jan. 11-13 on topics from “Visions of the Jewish Future:  Innovation and Inspiration” to “When the World Is on Fire: Jewish Responses to Chaos and Crisis.”

6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 at Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael; 10:30 a.m., 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 at Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon; and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 13 at Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. http://www.marinjcc.org/weekend

saturday/12

Evening with Anne Frank’s stepsister. Eva Schloss discusses her experience hiding from the Nazis and the discovery and printing of her stepsister’s famous diary. At Orinda Theatre, 4 Orinda Theatre Square, Orinda. 7:30 p.m. $20-$90. http://www.jewishcontracosta.com. Also Jan. 13 at Congregation Chevra Thilim, 751 25th Ave., S.F. 6:30 p.m. $10-$360. http://www.sfshul.org. Also Jan. 14 at Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton. 7:30 p.m. $15-$90. http://www.jewishtrivalley.com. Also Jan. 15 at Vacaville Performing Arts Theater, 1010 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville. 7:30 p.m. $15-$30. http://www.vpat.net/events.htm. Also Jan. 16 at Piedmont Community Hall, 711 Highland Ave. Piedmont. 7:30 p.m. $15-$18. http://www.jewishoakland.org.

sunday/13

“Biblical Heroes in Opera.” Conversation and screening of video excerpts with opera expert Peter Grunberg of the San Francisco Opera and Rabbi Yoshi Fenton, associate director of Jewish LearningWorks. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7 p.m. $10-$15. http://www.paloaltojcc.org.

“Digging the Bible: Archaeology and Biblical History.” Professor Aaron Brody, director of the Bade Museum at the Pacific School of Religion, discusses archaeological discoveries relating to biblical accounts. At Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. 11 a.m. $10. http://www.kolhadash.org.

“Anti-Semitism and Anti-Israelism in the 21st Century.” Talk by Seth Brysk, Central Pacific regional director of Anti-Defamation League. At Rossmoor Hillside Club House, 3400 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek. 4 p.m. Free. RSVP to (925) 938-4738 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

“Anti-Semitism in Indonesia.” U.C. Berkeley professor Jeffrey Hadler discusses Jewish history and ethnic politics in the largest Muslim country. At Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central, Richmond. 10:15 a.m. $5 suggested. http://www.tbhrichmond.org.

monday/14

“Who’s Afraid of Assimilation? Rethinking the Purposes of Jewish Education for the 21st Century.” Talk by Jon Levisohn, professor of Jewish education at Brandeis University. At Stanford University, Levinthal Hall, 424 Santa Rita Ave., Palo Alto. 7:30 p.m. Free. http://www.stanford.edu/dept/jewishstudies.

tuesday/15

“LGBT Rights and Community in Israel.” Leaders of the Israeli LGBT organization Aguda discuss 37 years of progress in Israel. At Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. Free. http://www.oaklandsinai.org.

thursday/17

“Jewish Eastern Europe: A Family Journey.” Marc Dollinger, professor of Jewish Studies and Social Responsibility at S.F. State, discusses his family’s journey last summer through Eastern Europe. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. http://www.jewishlearningworks.org.

“Israel: the Complex Road Ahead.” Talk by Israeli Consul General Andy David. At Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. Free. RSVP required. http://www.tbaoakland.org.

“Cooking Jewish: Baking and Braiding Challah.” Class taught by Chana Scop. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 9:30 a.m. $20. http://www.marinjcc.org/challah.

wednesday/23

“On the Wings of Eagles: The Story of Israeli Immigration.” Talk by Riva Gambert of the Jewish Federation of the East Bay. At Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. 7:30 p.m. $10. http://www.bethemek.org.

“Meeting Israel’s Environmental Challenges.” Talk by Madeleine Levine of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. At Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. Free. (510) 318-6453.

thursday/24

“Mysteries of the Mikvah.” Talk by Rabbi Judah Dardik on uses of the ritual pool. At Beth Jacob Congregation, 3778 Park Blvd., Oakland. 7:30 p.m. $7. http://bethjacoboakland.org.

Current events in Israel. Talk for young adults by Israeli Consul General Andy David. At Jewish Community Federation, 121 Steuart St., S.F. 6:30 p.m. Free. http://www.jewishfed.org.

Omri Casspi in February 2011 photo-ap/rich pedroncelli

Casspi’s return

When the Sacramento Kings drafted Omri Casspi in the first round in 2009 and he became the first Israeli-born NBA player, the Northern California Jewish community had much to kvell over. Unfortunately, the Kings traded Casspi to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011, and although Casspi hasn’t quite filled LeBron James’ shoes as the Cavs’ small forward (he’s averaging  just under five points a game this season), he’s still in the league. His team will play the Kings on Jan. 14, Jewish Heritage Night, and Casspi will do a Q&A before the game. Mosaic Law Congregation Rabbi Reuven Taff will sing the national anthem.

7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14 at Arco Arena, Sacramento. $11-$44. http://www.kingsticketsave.com/celebrateisrael

saturday/12

Israeli folk dance party. Café Shalom presents monthly dancing and munchies. At St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 1399 43rd Ave., S.F. 7:30 p.m.$5-$8. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

“Second Saturday.” Night for Jewish young adults with dancing, drink specials and appetizers. At the Cellar, 685 Sutter St., S.F. 8 p.m. $15 includes four drinks. http://www.cellarsf.com.

sunday/13

“Spa for the Soul.” Spa day celebrating Jewish women, with keynote talk by Miriam Lipskier, director of the Chabad Student Center at Emory University. At Piedmont Community Hall, 711 Highland Ave., Piedmont. 6 p.m. $36. Advance registration required at http://www.jewishoakland.org/celebrate.

monday/14

“Blue Monday.” Evening for young adults presented by the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation. At Eve Lounge, 575 Howard St., S.F. 6 p.m. $10. http://www.jewishfed.org.

thursday/17

Silicon Valley Widow and Widowers Group. Meeting plus tai chi exercise program. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 1 p.m. Free. (408) 252-2323 or (408) 866-535.

friday/18

Senior Shabbat lunch. With entertainment. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 12 p.m. $5-$7.50. http://www.siliconvalleyjcc.org.

monday/21

Mitzvah Day. Projects address issues of poverty, hunger, homelessness, the environment. At Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 8 a.m. http://www.paloaltojcc.org. Also in Berkeley through JCC East Bay with the Watershed Project. 9 a.m. RSVP for location to http://www.jcceastbay.org.

wednesday/23

Golden State Warriors basketball game. Young adults event. Sponsored by East Bay Jews, CalGrads, East Bay Minyan and Moishe House. At Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. 7:30 p.m. $28. http://www.eastbayjews.org/warriors/index.html.

friday/18

“Music and Soul of Argentina.” Shabbat service with Argentinian cantors Diego Rubinsztein and Ines Kapustiansky. At Temple Isaiah, 945 Risa Road, Lafayette. 6:30 p.m. Free. http://www.temple-isaiah.org.

sunday/20

Tu B’Shevat family hike. Hike at Castle Rock State Park focusing on mindfulness. At Castle Rock Park, Los Gatos. RSVP to (408) 357-7411 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) by Jan. 15 for meeting location. http://www.svjcc.org.

friday/11

“Our Religious Brains.” Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger discusses his book about the intersection of cognitive science and religion. 8 p.m. Also Jan. 12 talk “How Do We Know Right from Wrong?” 5 p.m. At Temple Isaiah, 945 Risa Road, Lafayette. Free. http://www.temple-isaiah.org.

sunday/13

Hebrew storytelling. For children 5 and younger. At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 11 a.m. Free. http://www.jewishlearningworks.org.

“The Voice of Thunder.” Mirka M. G. Breen discusses her book for young adults’ book about two 10-year-old friends during the Six-Day War. At Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave., Berkeley. 3 p.m. Free. http://www.afikomen.com.

“Jews of the Chocolate Trail.” Rabbi Deborah Prinz discusses her book about connecting Judaism’s historical and contemporary connections to chocolate. At Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. 9:30 a.m. Free. http://www.shirhadash.org.

sunday/20

“Among the Enemy.” Steve Genirberg discusses his memoir about escaping World War II Ukraine by joining non-Jewish forced labor groups in Germany. At Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central, Richmond. 10:15 a.m. $5 suggested. http://www.tbhrichmond.org.