East Bay Destinations

Housed in a wood-shingled mansion, the Judah L. Magnes Museum (2911 Russell Street, Berkeley; 510-549-6950, closed Friday and Saturday) has a permanent collection of ceremonial objects, coins and medals, Holocaust artifacts, Torah binders and a 7,500-book library. Also on site is the Western Jewish History Center, an archive and research center that preserves original manuscripts and institutional records from 13 Western states, some from the Gold Rush.

Resources

j., the Jewish news weekly of Northern California (263-7200), is a print and online publication of local, national and international news, opinion, arts and events. It began publishing online in 2003, but its print version dates from 1895. Originally called Emanu-El, it was renamed the Jewish Community Bulletin in 1946, then the Northern California Jewish Bulletin and finally the Jewish Bulletin of Northern California.

A Traveler’s Guide to Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries of the California Gold Rush by Susan Morris is a 99-page self-guided tour of seven cemeteries in historic Gold Rush towns, all about 100 miles east or northeast of San Francisco. The largest cemetery, in Marysville, has 55 headstones. Available from Judah Magnes Museum (510-549-6950).

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