friday [may 9]

Shabbat in Hackensack Temple Beth El in Hackensack celebrates Israel’s 60th birthday with a program, Shabbat dinner, and kabbalat Shabbat services, beginning at 6 p.m. All are welcome. Program is $18 for adult members, $25 for adult non-members; $9 for children. Reservations, www.templebethelhackensack.org or (201) 342-2045.

Shabbat in Emerson In celebration of Israel’s 60th birthday, Cong. B’nai Israel in Emerson holds kabbalat Shabbat services, 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Mark W. Kiel will ask "We are free. We are Free?" (201) 265-2272.

Shabbat in River Edge Temple Sholom in River Edge holds family Shabbat services with a sign language interpreter, 7:30 p.m. (201) 489-2463, ext. 202.

Shabbat in Jersey City Temple Beth-El in Jersey City marks Yom Ha’Atzmaut during kabbalat Shabbat services, 8 p.m. (201) 333-4229.

saturday [may 10]

Shabbat in Teaneck The Jewish Center of Teaneck holds the Three "Cs"— Cholent, Cugel, and Conversation after Shabbat services that begin at 9 a.m. Rabbi Lawrence Zierler and congregants will discuss "Labeling Judaism: Do We Understand What Our Movements Stand For Today?" Refreshments. (201) 833-0515.

Musical tribute to Israel Temple Beth Tikvah in Wayne honors Israel with a musical tribute, 7 p.m. Among those performing are a 30-voice choir, youth choir, band ensemble, and guest soloists. Cost: $18 a person, $10 for children younger than 13. (973) 595-6565.

Casino night Temple Beth Rishon of Northwest Bergen County in Wyckoff holds a casino night with a light buffet dinner and silent auction, 7-10 p.m. The event will be held at the Gerrard Berman Day School, 45 Spruce St., in Oakland. (201) 891-4466.

Live shiur Torah Links and Young Israel of Fair Lawn offer a live shiur broadcast at YIFL, 11-05 Saddle River Road, of Rabbi Yisroel Reisman from Brooklyn, 10:30 p.m. Coffee and cake at 10. Live shiurim will be ongoing. Sponsorships and dedications welcome. (201) 797-1800 or www.yifl.org

sunday [may 11]

Celebrating Israel Benjamin Krasna, Deputy Consul General of Israel in New York, will discuss "The Challenges and Rewards of Representing the Jewish State: One Diplomat’s View," for a lecture celebrating Israel’s 60th anniversary at Cong. Beth Aaron in Teaneck, 8:30 p.m. Information, e-mail Deena at dyellin@aol.com or call Aliza at (201) 833-0801.

monday [may 12]

Lunch and learn The Point and Counter Point series with Arnold Rogoff meets at the YM-YWHA of North Jersey in Wayne for an open discussion, noon. Free; bring lunch; coffee and tea will be served. (973) 595-0100, ext. 228 or www.ymha-nj.org

Education day Teaneck/Hackensack Hadassah meets at Temple Emeth in Teaneck for its annual Education Day, 1 p.m. Dr. Thelma Borodkin, who recently spent three weeks in Israel, will discuss "Israel at 60." All are welcome. Refreshments. (201) 692-0224.

Feature film The Treasure Hunting in Film series at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly concludes its series "The 25 Best Films of All Times" with Ernst Lubitsch’s romantic comedy "Trouble in Paradise," 7:30 p.m. Harold Chapler introduces the film and leads a discussion afterward. Each film is $3 for members, $4 for non-members. Inbal, (201) 569-7900, ext. 339.

Israel and the Palestinians Dr. Stephen P. Cohen, a Harvard-trained psychologist whose career focuses on citizen diplomacy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, discusses "Israel and the Palestinians" at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly, 7:30 p.m. Free. (201) 569-7900, ext. 460.

Support for Orthodox divorced moms A support group for Orthodox divorced mothers to share ideas and resources meets with social worker Debbie Fox at Jewish Family Service, 1485 Teaneck Road, in Teaneck, 7:30 p.m. Laura, (201) 837-9090 or e-mail thelivingroom@jfsbergen.org

Israeli hero speaking in Mahwah Col. Shimon Katcha Cahaner will discuss his famed career in the Israel Defense Forces at a Jewish National Fund event at Beth Haverim/Shir Shalom in Mahwah, 7:45 p.m. Free. (201) 926-6444.

tuesday [may 13]

Social program for survivors Café Europa, a social program for Holocaust survivors, meets at the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/Cong. B’nai Israel for a Yom Ha’Atzmaut program, 11 a.m. Noam Greenberg, press officer at the Consulate General of Israel in New York, will discuss Israel. Lunch served. The group is sponsored by Jewish Family & Children’s Service of North Jersey and is supported by the Claims Conference and private donations; transportation can be arranged. (973) 595-0111.

Luck and mazel The Senior Daytime Program at Temple Beth Tikvah in Wayne meets to hear congregant Emily Schuman discuss "What is Luck? Mazel vs. Haynehoreh," 1 p.m. Cost: $5. (973) 694-7478 or (973) 595-6565.

Ceramics The Chabad Center of Passaic County in Wayne offers "Ceramic Crafts" for 3- to 5-year-olds, 4:30 p.m. Cost: $5 a session, weekly through May 27. Chani, (973) 694-6274.

Celebrating Israel Cong. Shomrei Torah in Wayne marks Israel’s 60th birthday during a themed event, "To Israel With Love." Activities include Israeli-style dinner at 6:30 p.m., booths by religious school students representing Israeli cities, talk by Israeli soldier Uri Lerner, and musical tribute to Israel by Naomi Miller. Proceeds will benefit One Family Fund, which aids victims of terror in Israel. Adults, $18; $5 for children, 4-17; free for those younger than 3. (973) 696-2500.

Israeli cooking Temple Emanu-El in Closter offers "Learn to cook like a sabra" with Northern Affairs’ head chef, 6:30 p.m. Cost: $25. (201) 750-9997.

wednesday [may 14]

Lunch and learn The Point and Counter Point series at the YM-YWHA of North Jersey in Wayne meets, noon. Free; bring lunch; coffee and tea will be served. (973) 595-0100, ext. 228 or www.ymha-nj.org

Ice cream social/open house Temple Beth Rishon in Wyckoff hosts a "welcome open house ice cream social," 7 p.m. Membership incentives until May 30. Helene, (201) 891-4466.

Dinner with author Lucette Lagnado, author of "The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit," speaks at an Emunah dinner at a private home in Teaneck, 7:30 p.m. Sephardic buffet dinner. Proceeds will benefit the Libby Kolb Center for the Creative Arts in Israel. Mindy, (201) 836-1545. To buy the book, Joanne, (201) 833-9114.

Kosher chocolate story Robin Lerner of Le Chocolate in Teaneck is the guest speaker for the Hispano Hebraico club of the Jewish Center of Teaneck, 8 p.m. Sweet samples served. Free. (201) 833-0515.

thursday [may 15]

Senior trip The senior social club at the YM-YWHA of North Jersey in Wayne travels to the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse to see "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers." Cheryl, (973) 595-0100, ext. 228.

Senior program Seniors at Cong. Shomrei Torah in Fair Lawn meet for lunch and a discussion, "Experiences of a Jewish Chaplain in Iraq and Afghanistan," with Rabbi Ira Kronenberg, director of religious services at the Daughters of Miriam/Gallen Institute in Clifton, 11:15 a.m. Cost: $5, includes lunch. Checks payable to Shomrei Torah Senior Program. Reservations, Varda, (201) 791-0327 or Esther, (201) 791-7785.

Artist’s reception The Mark Gallery in Englewood, 11 Grand Ave., hosts a reception marking the U.S. solo debut of Hungarian artist Peter Lajtail Langer’s work reflecting his secular and Jewish life, 6-9 p.m. (201) 568-6275 or www.mark-gallery.com

Adoption information The YM-YWHA of North Jersey in Wayne offers "Options for Adoption," an information seminar with Helene Casper of Cradle of Hope Adoption Center, Marylou Facher, a social worker from Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, and Anne Mollen, senior clinician at JFS Metrowest, 7 p.m. Free. Arlene, (973) 595-0100, ext. 280.

Second Generation group A monthly group for children of Holocaust survivors sponsored by The Living Room at Jewish Family Service of Bergen County in Teaneck, 1485 Teaneck Road, meets for a discussion with Irit Felsen, "Survivor Families Into the Future: An Evolution of Self and Relationships," 7 p.m. Cost: $18. Laura, (201) 837-9090 or e-mail thelivingroom@jfsbergen.org

Book discussion Michelle Kaplan continues the YM-YWHA of North Jersey in Wayne’s Recreating Your Life Book Club with a discussion on Wayne Dyer’s "The Power of Intention," 7:30 p.m. Members, $5; $7 for non-members. (973) 595-0100, ext. 228.

Middle East politics/terrorism Daniel Pipes, an expert on Middle East politics and international terrorism, speaks at Cong. Kol HaNeshamah in Englewood, 7:30 p.m. (201) 816-1611.

Film in Closter Temple Emanu-El in Closter hosts a screening of the Academy Award-nominated film "Beaufort," based on the novel by Ron Leshem, at the Closter Cinema, 8 p.m. Cost: $18. Reservations, (201) 750-9997.

Celebrating Israel Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Felix, founder and dean of Orot Israel College for Women in Elkana, discusses "Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael Through the Eyes of Rav Kook," for a lecture celebrating Israel’s 60th anniversary, at Cong. Beth Aaron in Teaneck, 8:30 p.m. Rav Felix is also the director of education for the Jewish Agency in North America and for Yeshvot Bnei Akiva, for students in Israel. Information, e-mail Deena at dyellin@aol.com or call Aliza at (201) 833-0801.

friday [may 16]

Shabbat in Mahwah Beth Haverim/Shir Shalom hosts an open house kabbalat Shabbat, 6 p.m. At 7, there will be a "Grandparent Shabbat," followed by a Coney Island-themed oneg. (201) 512-1983.

Shabbat in Tenafly Cong. Beth Tikvah in New Milford holds instrumental kabbalat Shabbat services with Cantor Steven Blane at the Clinton Inn in Tenafly, 7 p.m. (201) 261-4847.

saturday [may 17]

Shabbat in River Edge Cantor Ronit Josephson leads tot Shabbat for children younger than 6 and their parents at Temple Sholom in River Edge, 9:30 a.m. (201) 489-2463, ext. 202.

Live shiur Torah Links and Young Israel of Fair Lawn offer a live shiur broadcast at YIFL, 11-05 Saddle River Road, of Rabbi Yisroel Reisman from Brooklyn, 10:30 p.m. Coffee and cake at 10. Live shiurim will be ongoing. Sponsorships and dedications welcome. (201) 797-1800 or www.yifl.org

sunday [may 18]

Hadassah spring conference The Northern New Jersey region of Hadassah holds its annual Spring Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Englewood. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. (973) 472-1401 or www.nnj.hadassah.org

Disabled Israeli vets honored Barnert Temple in Franklin Lakes hosts a breakfast in honor of 10 disabled Israeli veterans, members of the Zahal Shalom program, 9 a.m. All are welcome. Free. Reservations, (201) 848-1800.

Town-wide garage sale The sisterhood of Temple Beth Tikvah in New Milford sponsors the 18th annual New Milford garage sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Maps available at 8:45 a.m. at the shul, 435 River Road, and at Borough Hall, 930 River Road. (201) 261-4847.

Garage sale The Glen Rock Jewish Center Nursery School holds a garage sale with gently used baby and children’s items and household goods, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (201) 652-6624.

Book sale The YJCC in Washington Township holds a gently-used book sale, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Monday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.; and Tuesday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (201) 666-6610, ext. 222.

Conservative Judaism Rabbi William Lebeau, former dean of the Jewish Theological Seminary, will discuss "Why I am a Conservative Jew," for the Selma Meltzer memorial lecture at Cong. Gesher Shalom/JCC of Fort Lee, 9:30 a.m. Breakfast served. Reservations, (201) 947-1735.

Safety day The Gerrard Berman Day School Solomon Schechter of North Jersey in Oakland holds "Safety First: A Hands-On and Fun Approach to Safety Education," for 3- to 7-year-olds, 10- 11:30 a.m. Free. Parents must accompany children. First-responders will be there with an ambulance, police car, and fire truck. Photograph IDs available. Sylvia, (201) 337-1111, ext. 208.

Sharsheret lunch Sharsheret, a national not-for-profit organization supporting Jewish women facing breast cancer, hosts its annual benefit luncheon with raffle and silent auction, at the Marriott at Glenpointe in Teaneck, 10:30 a.m. Rifky Atkin is the guest of honor and Sirena Silber will receive the Lisa Altman Volunteer Tribute award. (866) 474-2774 or visit www.sharsheret.org

Lag B’Omer in Wayne Cong. Shomrei Torah in Wayne celebrates Lag B’Omer beginning with "Olympic" games for children, 10:30 a.m. At noon, there will be a barbecue. All are welcome. Free. Reservations, (973) 696-2500 or office@shomreitorahwcc.org

Yiddish festival The YM-YWHA of North Jersey in Wayne hosts "Yiddish Fest," 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Honorees include Itsye Mordkhe Schaechter, Aaron Lansky, Zalmen Mlotek, and Joseph Walkowitz. The event includes a recreation of the Lower East Side, Mainstage shows, magic and puppet shows, a petting zoo, crafts, food, and activities. (973) 595-0100, ext. 237.

Lag B’Omer in Emerson Cong. B’nai Israel in Emerson hosts a Lag B’Omer picnic with games and a barbecue at Pascack Brook Park, Emerson Road in Westwood, 1-4 p.m. All are welcome. Adults, $10; children younger than 12, $6. (201) 265-2272.

In New York

sunday [may 11]

Family workshop Yeshiva University Museum, 15 W. 16th St., offers a family workshop "Scents of Jerusalem: Spice Box Creations," for those older than 6, 2-4 p.m. Free with museum admission. Also May 18. (212) 294-8330 or www.yumuseum.org

monday [may 12]

Jewish rock musical Black Box Entertainment presents the rock musical "Soul Searching" at Daryl Roth’s D-Lounge Cabaret, 101 E. 15th St., between Union Square East and Irving Place, 9 p.m. Cost: $15 plus a two-drink minimum. Also May 13 at the Bowery Poetry Club at 10 p.m. www.soulsearchingarockmusical.com

wednesday [may 14]

The Moth literary program "The Moth," known as "New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket" hosted by award-winning author/host Jonathan Ames, with storytelling by Tony Award-winners James Naughton and Joanna Gleason and NPR commentator Frank Deford, is at the Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, 7 p.m. www.mjhnyc.org or (646) 437-4202.

Israel and the press The JCC in Manhattan hosts "Israel, the Jews & the Press: Exploring the Myths," 7 p.m. (646) 505-4444.

Artists in recital Violinist Miriam Fried and pianist Jonathan Biss perform for the 92nd Street Y’s Distinguished Artists in Recital series, 8 p.m. (212) 415-5500 or www.92Y.org/concerts

thursday [may 15]

Evening with film director Victoria Barrett, a producer/director/writer/actress discusses "Desperate Hours," her recent production about Turkey’s rescue of thousands of Jews facing certain death during the Holocaust, in the Turkish Center, 821 United Nations Plaza, 7 p.m. The film is airing nationally on 75 PBS stations. Sponsored by Istanbul University Alumni Association USA. Reservations, e-mail contact@iumezusa.org

sunday [may 18]

West Point memorial The American Veterans of Israel host the annual remembrance at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to honor Col. David "Mickey" Marcus who was among the 40 American and Canadian volunteers who died in Israel’s War of Independence, 11 a.m., in the Jewish Chapel at West Point. Breakfast will be served at 10. Photo ID required. (212) 685-8548.