6 Dec. 10, 2015 www.alamedasun.com Alameda Sun

CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE

with the

Thursday, Dec. 31 • 6PM to 1AM • $50 Adults/$25 Kids (Includes One Raffle Ticket & Other Prizes!)1510 Webster Street, Alameda • Order tickets online at http://winapin.bpt.me

Raffle Grand Prize: A Pinball Machine!

Champagne Toast Snacks & Surprises!

Join us for our 14th Anniversary and

45 Years of Holiday Magic Continues

The 2015 AlamedaHoliday Home Tour

A Fundraiser for Alameda Family ServicesFive “Only in Alameda” Homes Representing the Best of Island Living

Gorgeously Decorated for the Holidays Saturday, December 12 ~ 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Gourmet Shop & Holiday Artisan Boutique ~ 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Elks Lodge, Santa Clara & Oak Street • FREE and Open to the Public

Home Tours ~ 9:30 am to 4:00 pm • Holiday Tea ~11:00 am to 3:00 pmAvailable to Holiday Home Tour Guests

$35 in Advance, $40 @ Elks Lodge Day-of-Tour

Tickets & Information 510-629-6208 or www.alamedaholidayhometour.comBenefits Alameda Family Services: Serving over 800 families and 3,000 people in 2014-15

facebook.com/WhalesAlameda

2060 Lincoln at WillowAlameda • 510-769-8500

Reproductions of 1920’s German Glitter Villages

with added sparkles...

Yesteryears Charm

Offering beautiful complimentary giftwrap

Celebrating

29 Years

Also...Handpainted Glass Ornaments and German Nutcrackers

Happy Hannukah, Alameda

Sun Staff ReportsOn Dec. 8, Bryan Schwartz

released Scattered among the Nations, a collection of photos and stories from the world’s most isolated Jewish commu-nities. The book, which took Schwartz more than 16 years to complete, features captivating images of Jewish communities and their stories of maintaining connections to Jewish culture and customs. The book’s col-laborators, Jay Sand and Sandy Carter, helped Schwartz with photography and content

“Our hope is that through these pages you will realize that no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic stereo-type defines all Jewish people, but that many values and traditions do,” said Schwartz.

The book features commu-nities in, among other places, Peru, Mexico, India, Ghana and Azerbaijan. The diversity of the Jewish people in the book is truly fascinating and exemplifies the community’s uniqueness. In his time traveling, Schwartz came to realize the tenacious commitment to Jewish culture and customs is what kept these communities alive and thriving. Many reside in regions where being Jewish was likely unacceptable, or even pun-ishable.

“Some of the communities were emerging from oppression and they are just now able to openly embrace Judaism,” said Schwartz.

Since the beginning of the book’s development, which began shortly after the fall of the Soviet

Union, the documented communi-ties have dramatically shifted from isolated people to being globally connected by the internet. Many of the people Schwartz visited didn’t know about other thriving Jewish communities, or about the estab-lishment of Israel.

Now, many of the communities have access to Jewish education that they did not have before, and some are even immigrating to Israel or the United States to deepen their connections with the global Jewish population.

Seeing the book’s powerful images and reading the stories of the people who held on so pas-sionately to their Jewish identity demonstrates how traditions and values overcome skin color, lan-guage and, especially, location.

When asked about what he learned most from his travels, Schwartz referred to a Talmudic verse: “The son of Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from all peo-ple, as it is said: From all those who taught me I gained understanding,” (Psalms 119:33).

“I recommend traveling the world with an attitude that every-one has something to teach and this attitude, and those people, can really change and improve your life, Schwartz said.

Schwartz works in Oakland as a civil rights attorney representing workers facing discrimination or unjust payment policies. He lives with his family in Alameda.

To learn more about the book, visit: www.scatteredamongthe-nations.com.

Courtesy photos

Above: Alameda resi-dent Bryan Schwartz has penned Scattered among Nations that describes iso-lated Jewish communities throughout the world.

Below: Bryan Schwartz, local author

Book Explores Jewish DiversityAlameda author pens new edition on ethnic diaspora

Local Happenings

TWIN TOWERS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Corner of Oak Street& Central Avenue

522-6744www.twintowersumc.org

Come CelebrateChristmas!

Sunday, Dec. 209:30 a.m. Choir Cantata

“Now We Sing of Christmas”Christmas Eve, Thurs. Dec. 24

6 p.m. “Peace on Earth” A service of Holy Scripture

and Contemporary Christmas Music8 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service

Christmas Day, Fri. Dec. 25Free Community Dinner

Served Noon-3 p.m. in Social Hall

A Gift to All of Alameda

Thursday, Dec. 10n 10 to 11:30 a.m. Alzheimer’s

Support Group: Meeting sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association for families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s and related disor-ders. Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Ave. (Info: 482-8700)

n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trinity Seniors: Designing holiday flower arrangements with Susan Bell at 11 a.m. Lunch served at noon for $5. Blood pressures at 10. Trinity Lutheran Church, 1323 Central Ave.

n 10:30 a.m. New Member Orientation: Take a tour and learn about the center and the sched-ule of activities. Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Ave. (Pre-registration required: 747-7506)

n 1 p.m. Mastick Movie Matinee: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Free for seniors. Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Ave. (Info: 747-7506)

n 3 to 5 p.m. Satellite Office Hours: Meet with staff members of Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Free to the public. Administrative Conference Room, Main Branch of the Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak St.

n 3:30 p.m. Thursday Craft Day: Crafts for children ages 5 to 12. Dress to get messy. Free. West End Branch Library, 788 Santa Clara Ave. (Info: 747-7767)

n 5:30 to 10 p.m. Christmas Tree Lane: Continues through New Year’s Eve. Thompson Avenue between Fernside Boulevard and High Street.

n 6:30 to 8 p.m. Santa Visits:

Continues, weather permit-ting, through Wednesday, Dec. 23. Thompson Avenue between Fernside Boulevard and High Street.

n 6:30 to 9 p.m. Single Sailors Association: Dinner meeting for single people interested in sail-ing. Ballena Bay Yacht Club, 1150 Ballena Blvd., Suite 151. (Info: 332-9380 or www.singlesailors.org)

n 7 to 9 p.m. Alameda Poetry Writers: Hosted by Mary Loughran and Marilyn Flower. Free-write exercises with prompts. Read your work or just listen. Admission is free; donations appreciated. Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St. (Info: www.frankbettecenter.org or 523-6957)

Friday, Dec. 11n 2 to 3:30 p.m. HIV and Hep C

Testing: Free and confidential test-ing and support referrals. For infor-mation and location, call Alameda Family Services, 629-6300.

n 2 to 9 p.m. Second Friday Open Studio: Holiday bizarre, fea-turing work by local artist Juliet Lockwood and friends. Look Studios West, 640 Lincoln Ave. (Info: 225-268-2994)

n 5:30 to 10 p.m. Christmas Tree Lane: Continues through New Year’s Eve. Thompson Avenue between Fernside Boulevard and High Street.

n 6:30 to 8 p.m. Santa Visits: Continues, weather permit-ting, through Wednesday, Dec. 23. Thompson Avenue between Fernside Boulevard and High Street.

File photo

Christmas Tree Lane (Thompson Avenue) is lighting up the nights through Thursday, Dec. 31.

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