Sunday, June 23: KINDRED SPIRITS
The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, under the direction of Noreen Green, performs during this benefit concert with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester, musical theater star Cantor Ilysia Pierce, tenor Cantor Ilan Davidson, gospel soprano Diane White-Clayton and the Faithful Central Bible Church’s 60-voice gospel choir. Dr. Susan Love and Manchester will be honored with the 2013 KindredSPIRITS Humanitarian Award, for research contributions in the eradication of breast cancer and for artistic contributions in supporting cancer research, respectively. The event raises funds for the Cancer Support Community, an international nonprofit dedicated to providing support, education and hope to people affected by cancer. Sun. 7:30 p.m. $36-$180. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown. (323) 319-4849. kindredspiritslive.org.
SUN | JUNE 23
“DIVAN”
Filmmaker Pearl Gluck, living a secular life in Manhattan, must answer to her father, who wants her to marry and return to the Brooklyn Chasidic community she left behind as a teenager. Part memoir documentary and part travelogue, “Divan” follows Gluck as she travels to Hungary in her search for a family heirloom and encounters a colorful cast of characters, including a couch exporter, her ex-communist cousin in Budapest and a renegade group of formerly ultra-Orthodox Jews. CSUN Jewish studies faculty members Jody Myers and Jennifer Thompson participate in a post-screening Q-and-A. Sun. 10 a.m. Free (RSVP required, two-ticket maximum). Laemmle’s Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 677-4724, jewish.studies@csun.edu. www.csun.edu/jewish.studies.
MON | JUNE 24
ASSOCIATION FOR ISRAEL STUDIES CONFERENCE
The 29th annual international gathering of Israel scholars meets for the first time on the West Coast to examine “Israel in the International Arena: Scholarship, Imagery, Discourse and Public Policy.” Highlights include a keynote discussion, “Israel, Zionism and the World,” led by former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami; and a Wednesday plenary session, chaired by Journal President David Suissa, that explores “Israel Education and Scholarship: The Academy and the Community.” Mon. 6-7:15 p.m. (keynote). Through June 26. $160 (three-day conference), $20 (keynote only), free (plenary session only). Advance registration required. Keynote: UCLA campus, Schoenberg Hall, Los Angeles. Plenary session (June 26, 12:30-2 p.m.): UCLA campus, Dodd Hall, Room 147, Los Angeles. (310) 825-9646. international.ucla.edu/israel.
TUE | JUNE 25
JAMI ATTENBERG
Attenberg’s latest novel, “The Middlesteins,” explores the strained bonds of a quirky Midwestern Jewish family. Richard Middlestein recently abandoned his wife of 30 years, Edie, who has a life-threatening obsession with food, and now it’s up to their kids to pick up the pieces. Today, Attenberg appears in person to discuss the comic-tragic family portrait, which was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist. The event is part of the Diesel Author Luncheon series. Tue. noon-2 p.m. $55 (includes paperback copy of the book). Wilshire Restaurant, 2454 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. (310) 576-9960. dieselbookstore.com.
ALBARE
The jazz guitarist’s latest album, “The Road Ahead,” fuses his Moroccan roots with six-string influences ranging from Wes Montgomery to George Benson, while drawing on elements of blues and soul. Tue. 8:30 p.m. $20. Catalina Bar and Grill, 6725 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 466-2210. catalinajazzclub.com.
THU | JUNE 27
DODGERS JEWISH COMMUNITY NIGHT
A pre-game tribute to the great Sandy Koufax kicks off the 14th annual Jewish Community Night. After, enjoy a kosher nosh, including hot dogs provided by Jeff’s Gourmet Kosher Sausage Factory, as you watch the Boys in Blue (and white) take on the Philadelphia Phillies. The first 50,000 fans in attendance receive a Sandy Koufax bobblehead. Thu. 7:10 p.m. $25-$210. Dodgers Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 224-4287. losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com.
“KESHET @ 30”
For the past 30 years, the Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble has entertained audiences around the world with its blend of ethnic, melodic and rhythmic movement. Tonight, the Israeli-American nonprofit dance company celebrates its anniversary by performing a fundraising concert at American Jewish University. Guests include singer-songwriter Meshi Kleinstein, daughter of Israeli megastars Rita and Rami Kleinstein. Israeli actress Yafit Josephson (“New Eyes”) hosts the event. Thu. 8 p.m. $50-$100. American Jewish University, Gindi Auditorium, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (818) 986-7332. kcdancers.org.
NEIL GAIMAN
The acclaimed author of “Coraline,” “The Graveyard Book,” the comic book series “The Sandman” and the award-winning “American Gods” discusses his well-received new novel, “The Ocean at the End of the Lane,” with Entertainment Weekly’s Geoff Boucher. Thu. 8 p.m. $40-$103. Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. (818) 243-2539. alextheatre.org.
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