June events

Israel in the Gardens
Yerba Buena Park, SF
June 1, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The premier celebration of Israel and the Jewish community in the Bay Area is ready for lift off. Over 20,000 people will converge on Yerba Buena Gardens for the hottest and freshest in Israeli music, food, film and more.

This massive party is not to be missed. World-renowned musician Idan Raichel, whose enchanting blend of Ethiopian and Middle Eastern sounds has taken the Israeli pop scene by storm, headlines a full day of entertainment and cultural exhibits.

Teens, families, young adults and friends of all ages will love our interactive displays, awesome contests and prizes, and vast offerings of ethnic food, culture and fun. Come early and stay late. Lounge in the grass. Learn about short and long term programs in Israel and meet personally with top local organizations.

On June 1, be sure to treat yourself to an Israel experience like no other in the Bay.

Young Adult After Party

Come enjoy the sunset with our famous sangria and some great tunes at the Israel in the Garden's AFTERPARTY!

The afterparty will take place in the Metreon's 4th floor City View Room. Doors will open at 5 pm following the Idan Raichel Project's performance.

Israeli band Eggroll will perform a special outdoor acoustic set followed by Latke Ball 2007's DJ Mei Lwun.

$10 at the door, $5 for Tzvata members

Free alcohol, light appetizers, and Israeli snacks This event is 21+

Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco
736 Mission Street, SF
Grand Opening Events, beginning June 6 -

DAWN 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008, 8:00 PM - 3:00 AM
The Contemporary Jewish Museum and Reboot, are pleased to announce DAWN '08, an all-night, arts and culture festival and celebration of Shavuot at the grand opening of the Contemporary Jewish Museum, offering guests the opportunity to groove, learn, explore and mingle at the Museum's new building and exhibition space before the doors open to the public the following morning.

DAWN '08 presents a modern twist on Shavuot's traditional all-night rabbinical study sessions: taking place simultaneously throughout the Museum, the evening will offer both ritual and offbeat revelry with ongoing headlining performances and events including a live performance by the band Dengue Fever, a conversation with Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything is Illuminated, theatrical and spoken word performances, premiere film screenings, visual arts, dancing, DJs, lectures, comedy, and open-space discussion forums.

The evening's film series will include back to back screenings of shorts, documentaries, and several film premieres, including the West Coast debut of Sons of Sakhnin United, a film that covers the quixotic journey of B'Nei Sakhnin, the first Arab soccer team to become champions of Israel.

Admission: $12 in advance; $10 for Museum Members, community partners, and students; $15 at the door Space is limited.

AJL gleanings

Another installment in an irregular series of useful and interesting items gleaned from the Association of Jewish Libraries's HaSafran mailing list ...

New Vilna Review is a new Jewish journal based out of Boston.

The Shengold Judaism Wiki is a new Jewish version of Wikipedia, already featuring 1,461 articles in English.

To commemorate Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day, Jacob Richman has posted a list of 166 reviewed and checked Holocaust Web sites.

The Second Nuremberg Haggada has been published online in facsimile by The Jewish National and University Library.

New Guide to Records of Mauthausen Concentration Camp have been added to the offerings from the U.S. National Archives.

Mining the wealth in the digitization projects discusses some Judaica discoveries in the Google Books project.

New Israeli titles updating services is being offered by the National Library of Israel via an RSS feed or HTML page. (Hebrew version)

A new electronic finding aid to the archival collections of Yeshiva University Libraries has been announced.

Bar Ilan University Press has announced the launch of its new English catalog Web site.

Jewish Book Award Nominees and Winners for Book Published in 2007

Where are the paper towels? How do I work the compacts shelves?

... and other mysteries of the new McHenry Library Addition.

These first few months in the new library addition are going to be an adventure as we learn to find our way the new space. There are many new and strange points of interest presented by the building that we'll all be discovering as we go.

Much of the building is actually well-organized and easy to navigate. For instance, most of the books and journals are shelved on floors 4 (A-HT call numbers) and 3 (HV-TR plus Oversized). The Reference Desk as well as the Reference, Government Publications, and Microforms collections are on the 2nd floor. The 1st floor, which is also the entry floor, features the Circulation Desk which provides check-out, interlibrary loan and course reserves services. On the Ground floor you will find the Visual Resource Collection and Special Collections, and the Media Center, which incorporates the old Film & Music Center (FMC) and the Media and Electronic Resource Center (MERC).

It's mostly the new features that produce the greatest challenges. For instance ...

Where are the paper towels? They aren't missing; they're just hidden. (I'm sure that makes it seem so much better, no?) The towel dispensers are integrated into the mirror installations and therefore are out of sight underneath. It must have seemed like a good idea at some point, but any time you need a sign in order to dry your hands, something ain't right.

How do you work the compact shelves? Given the building configuration, compact shelving is a space-saving necessity. However, while it is not as convenient as like the standard, fixed shelving, you will need to learn to work these contraptions to get to some of the collection.

The shelves are moved by a crank. These can be found on one end of each range. (There are no cranks on the center aisle running between the two sections of compact shelves on the 3rd and 4th floors.) The cranks are relatively easy to operate allowing you to move several ranges at a time with one crank.

Once you open the row you need, you can lock the crank to prevent anyone else from closing the row on you. (We're assured that the odds of being injured or killed by closing shelves is fairly low.) To lock the crank, press in the center of the hub (marked "TAB") until it snaps into position and the red circle shows. (Now, wasn't that simple?) Conversely, if a shelf won't roll, you can unlock the crank by pulling out the center hub.

How do I get from from here to there? Much of the confusion about getting around the new space stems from the fact that we are currently in temporary quarters, a fraction of our future building. Chopped up as it is, the building doesn't always make sense. For instance, the temporary entrance brings you to what will be the far end of the complete building. And services such as Reference Desk and the Circulation Desk are in temporary spaces where you won't encounter them without making an effort. The newness of the space and the ongoing work contribute to confusion as well. As we figure things out, we're doing whatever we can to help you get around. (Maybe we should hand out compasses or bread crumbs?)

Many of us who work in McHenry have come to think of these first months in the new space as a dress rehearsal. We may be open and all Library services are in full operation but we're still getting used to the newness and waiting for all the kinks to be worked out.

Israel @ 60 events

WIZO's Dance Party for Adults
Concert and live music with Hapittot local Israeli rock band
Wednesday, May 7, 8:00 pm

Israel @ 60 Educational Symposium. Arts, Diversity, Conflict
The Jewish Community Relations Council presents a day of learning dedicated to educating the community about multiple aspects of life in Israel. Keynote lectures by Alan Kaufman and Steven Spiegel.
Thursday, May 8, 10:00 am-6:30 pm, JCC, 3200 California Street, San Francisco

Israel Independence Day Celebration
Featuring Israeli Singer/Songwriter Miki Gavrielov
Featuring Israeli singer Miki Gavrielov, children's activities and dancing.
Thursday, May 8, 5:00-9:00 pm (concert starts at 7:00 pm) Temple Beth Jacob, Redwood City

Israel Fest: 2008
A light Israeli dinner and dance to the beat of Israeli music; Jeremy Shafer's interactive show for children; the award-winning documentary Exodus 1947.
Thursday, May 8, 6:00-8:30 pm, Congregation Beth El, Berkeley

Yom Ha'atzmaut Party: Diamonds are Forever
Celebrating Israel's 60th birthday for Young Adults.
Two dance floors with DJ Rafi & DJ Eli, Israeli food, raffle with amazing prizes.
May 10, 8:00 pm, The Cellar, San Francisco

Israel in the Park: Celebrate Israel's 60th Birthday in Santa Cruz!
Live music including 'Til The Soil featuring Shalom Bochner and Laurie
Tannenbaum, food, crafts, a visit with the Israeli Vice Consul from San
Francisco, a Bounce House for kids, Israel information, and much more!
This FREE event has been organized by Santa Cruz Hillel and the Santa
Cruz Israel Action Committee student group with co-sponsorship by Temple
Beth El, Congregation Beth Israel (Carmel), Chadeish Yameinu,
Congregation Kol Tefillah, and other local Jewish / Israel
organizations. Bring the whole family and celebrate Israel's culture in
the park. For more information: 426-3332

(This event will be smoking and alcohol free; there are no pets allowed
and no parking at the UCSC Inn)

Sacramento Salute to Israel
Live Music - Mini Street Market - "Taste of Israel" Food Court - Israeli Folk Dance Unique Art Exhibit & Israel Achievements Displays - Israeli Martial Arts Demonstration Cool Teen Zone - Fun Activity Area for Kids - Young Adults "Israel @ 60" After party Traveling Jewish Theatre Presents "The Never Ending Greeness" - Community & Israel Booths & Displays
Sunday, May 11th 1:00 - 4:00 pm, Capitol West Steps, Sacramento

Israel@60 Festival - Silicon Valley's Israel Independence Day Celebration
Outdoor festival with food vendors, Israeli-style outdoor market, art exhibits, speakers, professional carnival games, prizes bounce houses, clowns, musicians, and more. Join the fun with a very special art exhibit & sale from Yavneh Day School in the JCC Auditorium. Don't miss our Main Stage which will feature synagogue youth choirs and Yavneh's school choir for your entertainment pleasure. We also have panels of speakers scheduled on topics related to Israel, including "Israel: A Historical Perspective" at 1:00 pm and "Current Trends in Israel-Silicon Valley Hi-Tech Ventures" at 2:00 pm.
Sunday, May 11, 2008 --- 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, Levy Family Campus, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos

Israel in the Gardens
Enjoy Israeli music through live all-day performances; participate in a variety of activities for teens, young adults and families. Special Israel @ 60 performance by The Idan Raichel Project, 60 Years of Israeli Achievements Interactive Exhibit, Israeli Film Festival, family and children activities, artists, reunions and much more. Admission is free. For more information: www.israelinthegardens.org
Sponsors include the Israel Center/San Francisco, the Jewish Community Federation/San Francisco, the Consulate General of Israel, the JCRC, Tzavta and the Jewish Community Federation and Foundation of the Greater East Bay
Sunday, June 1, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco