Events in the Wider Community

TRANSKEIT: Affirming Gender Diversity for Jews and Allies. November 12-14, beginning Saturday evening. At Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley.  Transkeit is a community building gathering sposored by the LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion’s Jewish Roundtable & Transgender Roundtable. It features ritual, cultural programming, workshops, meals together and schmoozing. We welcome all transgender, genderqueer and gender noncomforming Jews and allies. Help continue to build a vibrant and safe Jewish trans community for all of us.  More information and registration at transkeit.event.brite.com.  Registration is $18. No one turned away for lack of funds.  For more info, contact Rabbi Jane Litman at jlitman@clgs.org.

Bend the Arc Justice Team invites you to participate in a monthly informal gathering: STARTING WITH OURSELVES: A JEWISH OPEN SPACE FOR ANTI-RACISM. Next gatherings:  November 10, Berkeley JCC, December 1, Berkeley JCC.  For more information, contact Leila Davari-Bitton at ldavari@bendthearc.us.

 
Youth United for Black Lives: A Workshop from SURJ Bay Area & White Youth Challenging Racism: Sunday November 13, 2016 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Where: Oakstop (1721 Broadway #201, Oakland, CA 94612)

FREE with donations accepted
RSVP’s are encouraged but not required

This workshop is intended for white high-school age youth who want to deepen their anti-racist thinking and better understand the systems of power and privilege that reproduce and maintain white supremacy. Through dialogue, role-playing and reflection, this workshop will explore the intersection of white identity and racism and develop tools to identify and challenge racism in ourselves and in our communities. Youth will leave with resources on how to plug in to anti-racist programs and organizing in the Bay Area.

For more information email us at whiteyouthchallengingracism@gmail.com and check us out online at challengingracism.weebly.com/

Photo: Lea Delson

KLEZCALIFORNIA YIDDISH CULTURE FESTIVAL. Sunday, December 4, 1-7pm.  At JCC East Bay, Berkeley. Co-sponsored by Kehilla. Interactive music, song, dance for all ages  Workshops and CABARET BY THE BAY in Berkeley. (Presented by KlezCalifornia, the JCC East Bay and New Yiddish Theater) Individual event tickets: $10 – $25 / Festival Passes: $20 – $50  /  Kids 6 – 12 free. Info and/or tickets: www.KlezCalifornia.org or 415.789.7679

Now’s Your Time to Change the World:  Re-Ignite: An Encore Career Program of the Ignite Institute at Pacific School of Religion for Changemakers in Discernment, in partnership with Mather LifeWays.  Join a new program of discernment, study, and training designed especially for late career or post-retirement individuals seeking to apply their skills and experience as agents of positive social change. This four-day intensive program will facilitate the process of taking personal inventory, of incorporating spiritual practice and social analysis, and of finding meaningful opportunities for immersive, inspiring social change work. Through a combination of lecture, movement, peer discussion, experiential exercises, spiritual practice, and reflection, participants will re-ignite their passion for changing the world.   Re-Ignite November 2016:  Dates: 11/17 – 11/20, from 8:30-3:30 each day.   Cost: $1500*  (sliding scale available – $500-$800)  Continuing Education Units available. Register now at www.igniteatpsr.com/reignite www.igniteatpsr.com/reignite or contact Erika Katske for more information (ekatske@psr.edu)

Rays of Hope Tour.  Meet Israeli and Palestinian Peace Builders,  April 30 – May 12, 2017.  

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

* Meeting I-P peace builders *
* Palestinian and Israeli tour guides and discussion facilitators *
* City tours of Old Jerusalem, Haifa, Old Jaffa, Nazareth and Rawabi *
* Visit Druze & Bedouin villages, Bahai Temple, Machane Yehuda * Bethlehem Museum*
* Enjoy a dinner with an Israeli and a Palestinian family and lunch with the Druze *
* Participate in a service project in the West Bank and in Israel *
* Converse with politicians * And much more *

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

True, it is a most difficult time to feel hope for the Middle East. It is also the most important time to seek out those who are acting proactively to foster peace.

On the Rays of Hope tour, visit with peace builders from the West Bank and Israel, who choose to work together based upon mutual respect for each people’s humanity and needs. Listen to their personal narratives, learn about their work, and engage them in discussion.

Meet with groups focusing on education, tourism, religion, sports, medicine, ecology and commonalities, such as having lost family members through I-P violence. The composition of these groups is diverse, encompassing a wide range of religious, ethnic and national identities within their membership. Each organization works, in it’s own way, to live now, the very world it envisions for the future.

TOUR LEADERS AND TOUR AGENCY

Judith Gussmann and Seema Dajani have experience as co-facilitators of Jewish-Palestinian dialog and as presenters on various aspects of Palestinian-Jewish relations. The Rays of Hope tour is arranged through MEJDI, a joint Palestinian-Israeli tour agency used by National Geographic Explorer for their Middle East tours.

To learn about MEJDI, the itinerary and pricing info, please go to:
www.mejditours.com/open-tour/rays-of-hope-tour