The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marblehead will kick off its series on immigration with an informational meeting on Wednesday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. at 28 Mugford St. The purpose of the series is to provide the facts behind immigration, the impact of undocumented people on existing systems, and the impact of policies on immigrants’ lives and of other historically marginalized citizen communities. The event includes a panel discussion and question-and-answer session. For more information about the event or future programming, contact rev.uucm@yahoo.com.
The bakers of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church will hold their 2013 Easter Bread (Babka) Sale on Friday, March 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the church social hall, 64 Forrester St., Salem. To place an order or for more information, call 978-744-5869.
The 34th annual Good Friday Walk will be held Friday, March 29, and will begin and end at St. John the Evangelist Church on Cabot Street in Beverly. Registration is from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. A portion of the route will head down Hale Street to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms, where lunch will be served. Following lunch, walkers will retrace the route back to St. John the Evangelist Church. Transportation options are available for seniors; call Alan Battistelli at 978-927-5847 to make arrangements. Youth leaders are encouraged to set up walking teams within their schools; five hours of community service credits will be awarded to students who complete the walk. All registered walkers will receive T-shirts. The walk raises funds for North Shore families in need. For more information, registration forms and volunteer opportunities, contact Diane Battistelli at drbreynolds@comcast.net or visit www.goodfridaywalk.org.
To celebrate its 50-year anniversary, St. Richard’s Parish in Danvers will host a 10-day and eight-city/location Mediterranean cruise, departing Sept. 20 from Rome. The cities/locations include Rome, Sicily, Athens, Ephesus, Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Naples. The cruise fare begins at $2,336.90, and airfare to Rome ranges from $996 to $1,200. For more information, call Roger and Dot Richard at 978-777-0270 or email RogRnDot@aol.com.
Children of all ages are invited to experience the Model Matzah Bakery on Sunday, March 17, at 3:30 p.m. at the Chabad of Peabody, 83 Pine St. Each child will bake their own matzo from scratch. Parents are invited to join their children or join in a discussion/class on how to create a fun, interactive Passover Seder. The class will be led by Raizel Schusterman. The cost is $5 per child and free for parents. Reserve a spot at raizel@jewishpeabody.com.
On Sunday, March 17, Joanne Caras, the author of “The Holocaust Survivor Cookbook” and “Miracles & Meals,” will discuss how each cookbook was created and share the most moving and miraculous stories in each book. The cookbooks are a collection of recipes and stories from more than 240 Holocaust survivors. Autographed cookbooks will be available for purchase. The event will be held from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. at Temple Beth Shalom, 489 Lowell St., Peabody. Admission is a $10 donation. Coffee and refreshments will be served. For more information, to preorder cookbooks or to reserve a spot, contact Mary Pickett at 781-334-5950 or pickett_m@hotmail.com.
Join the Chabad of Peabody for a Community Passover Seder on Monday, March 25. A candle will be lit at 7:45 p.m., followed by the Seder at 8 p.m. The event includes a gourmet dinner, hand-baked shmurah matzah from Israel and wine. Attendees are encouraged to participate as Rabbi Nechemia explains the story of how the Exodus comes alive through mystical meanings and Kabbalistic insights. Hebrew and English haggadahs will be provided. Space is limited to 50 seats, and tickets cost $50. Reservations are required at www.jewishpeabody.com, or email info@jewishpeabody.com.
“Images of Jewish Women in American Film,” a film and discussion series sponsored by the Jewish Women’s Archive, will trace cultural representations of and attitudes toward Jewish women in American films in the past 50 years. The series includes “Hester Street,” April 22, at the JCC in Marblehead; “The Way We Were,” May 2, at Aviv Centers in Peabody; “Private Benjamin,” June 5, JCC in Marblehead; and “Kissing Jessica Stein,” July 22, at Aviv Centers in Peabody. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. To reserve a spot, contact Susan Feinstein at 978-740-4431 or sfeinstein@rilcf.org.
The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library presents “Inspirational Evenings” featuring Jorgelina Zeoli’s video series titled “Miracles,” which incorporates Zeoli’s two autobiographical films about healing from trauma through self-awareness, spirituality, music and art. Book signings and videotaped discussions with holistic practitioners, trauma survivors and members of different faiths will follow both films. The series will run April 1, 8, 22 and 29 and May 6, 13 and 20 from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at 14 Union St., Hamilton. Seating is limited; to reserve a spot, call the library at 978-468-5577.
The Girls Book Club is a free program of the Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation and funded in part by an allocation from the Jewish Federation of the North Shore. Girls ages 9 to 12 and mothers are invited to participate in club, featuring a series of books that focus on the lives and adventures of American Jewish girls. The club will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at Putnam Pantry, Route 1 north, Danvers, on April 10, June 5, Oct. 2 and Dec. 11. Attendance at all sessions is encouraged but not required. Grandmothers and special friends are also welcome to participate. Books and refreshments are free. Registration is requested by March 1 to Phyllis Osher at posher@rilcf.org or posher@rilcf.org.
On the second Sunday of each month, members and friends of Maple Street Congregational Church will collect food and essential items for the Danvers Food Pantry. Items most needed are baby wipes, disposable diapers in sizes 3 through 6, canned soups, tuna, pasta, boxed juices and cereal. The church is at 90 Maple St., Danvers. For more information, call the church office at 978-774-4510.
