Sunday, August 31, 2008

Greater Jewish Community News

FEDERATION
PICNICFEST RETURNS!
One week from tomorrow, September 7th, there will be the 5th annual PicnicFest. A gathering of East Bay Jewish friends and family with free ice cream, children's entertainment, beer and wine gardens and music by the fabulous Israeli-American band "Moshav". The event is free and sponsored by the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay at Joaquin Miller Park 11am to 4 pm."

The PJ Library
The Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay is distributing free of charge, age-appropriate Jewish-content books and music on a monthly basis to families with children from 6 months to age 5½. Just sign up using the menu at the following link: http://63.151.43.13/pjlibrary/index.htmlCreated and supported by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in Massachusetts, The PJ Library is funded nationally in partnership with local philanthropists and organizations. In the East Bay, the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay is proud to partner with the Jim Joseph Foundation as the primary funder of this innovative program.Questions: Click on the following link for frequently asked questions:http://63.151.43.13/pjlibrary/faq.html
Financial Aid for College and Israel TripsRestricted endowment funds from The Jewish Community Foundation offer a variety of need-based financial aid awards. Please visit http://www.jfed.org/scholarships to review eligibility guidelines and download application forms.

Jewish Dance FREYLEKH!
A hot new klezmer dance party and cabaret featuring members of the celebrated Bay Area shtetl rock band KUGELPLEX . This month featuring master Yiddish singer, songleader and humorist, Gerry Tenney. Yiddish Dance lesson with Yiddish dance maven, Bruce Bierman: 7:00pm-8:00pm. Cabaret: 8:00-10:00pm. $10--$20 sliding scale. Kinder 12 and under/$1.00. Yiddish culinary delights served. JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Berkeley. (800)836-3006. A presentation of the Jewish Dance Theatre with the JCC of the East Bay. Co presented by KlezCalifornia, the Jewish Music Festival and Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring of Northern California

Inter-Synagogue Talmud Group
Join us for Talmud study with Rabbi Judah Dardik of Congregation Beth Jacob on Sunday, August 31, at 7pm at Beth Israel. Rabbi Dardik will teach the sugya dealing with 'shomeah k'oneh', listening is equivalent to answering. Rabbi Dardik has recently returned from a Sabbatical in Israel. Newcomers and beginners are welcome to our group. Each meeting over the past year has featured a different teacher and a new topic.
Grief and Growing
Grief & Growing, a healing retreat for bereaved families and individuals, will be held over the weekend of September 12-14. The retreat takes place at Camp Tawonga, on the outskirts of Yosemite. If loss is an issue for you (regardless of relationship to you or length of time that has elapsed) --- join us for our 11th annual weekend of community, support, Shabbat, healing and outdoor beauty. Grief & Growing is co-sponsored by the Bureau of Jewish Education, Next Steps/ Sinai Mortuary, the Bay Area Healing Center and Camp Tawonga. There are brochure-applications in the shul lobby. You can learn more from the website: www.jewishhealing@iogaing.org. Financial assistance is available. Vicky Kelman is one of the co-directors. You can contact her at: vkelman@bjesf.org.