Orange County Briefs

Super Sunday, Super Success

Nearly 150 volunteers, who phoned local residents for pledges earlier this month, raised $260,911 for the Jewish Federation of Orange County, a 50 percent increase over the $171,081 raised during last year’s Super Sunday. The annual campaign is $100,000 ahead of last year’s and is projected to exceed $2 million in 2002, a federation spokeswoman said.

The daylong phone marathon is the federation’s largest single fundraising effort. Last year’s one-day net represented 11 percent of the federation’s total $1.8 million budget, which is divided among six local Jewish agencies and three day schools, along with national agencies and Israel.

Campaign donors are invited to an appreciation event featuring two recent Israeli immigrants on Mon., April 15, 7 p.m. at the Jewish campus in Costa Mesa. Alexandra Veil, 20, from Ukraine, and Elias Inbram, 28, from Ethiopia, will share their stories. RSVP to (714) 755-5555 ext. 224, by April 10.

Reform Shabbat Celebration

Spend an afternoon learning, singing and eating at the Orange County Area Reform Community Shabbat Celebration on Sat., March 30, from 4-7 p.m. at Temple Beth El of South Orange County. 2A Liberty, Aliso Viejo. For reservations or more information, contact HUC-JIR (213) 749-3424 ext. 4205.

Interfaith Spring Holiday
Celebration

A program recognizing a variety of spring traditions, including Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Native American and Sikh is planned Sun., April 7, at 4 p.m. at Chapman University’s Memorial Hall Auditorium.

The event is sponsored by the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) and the college. For reservations, call the NCCJ office at (949) 442-2814.

Holocaust Remembrance Shabbat

A special service is planned April 12 at 8 p.m. by Newport Beach’s Temple Isaiah to remember victims of the Holocaust. Special prayers will be recited. Rabbi Mark Rubenstein will officiate. For information, call (949) 548-6900.

Orange County Jewish Film Festival

The 12th Annual Jewish Film Festival will screen “Fighter” on April 14 at 9:30 a.m. and “Time of Favor” on May 5 at 9:30 a.m. in Santa Ana’s Main Place Mall. Filmgoers are invited to a preshow bagel breakfast at 8:30 a.m. A discussion with Michael Berlin, a UC Irvine professor and screenwriter, follows the film.

Ticket information can be obtained by calling the sponsors, University Synagogue at (949) 553-3535, or Temple Beth El at (949) 362-3999.

Avivah Zornberg Lecture Series

Author, lecturer and scholar Avivah Zornberg will give four talks in April as part of Orange County’s Community Scholar Program. She is to appear April 15 at 7 p.m. in the Newport Beach Public Library, (949) 717 3890; April 17 at noon at an America Jewish Committee luncheon, (949) 660 8525; April 17 at 7 p.m. at Chapman University, (714) 628 7260); and April 18 at 7 p.m. at Congregation B’nai Israel in Tustin, (714) 730 9693.

Young Professionals Event Features Rabbi
Artson

A young Jewish professionals Federation group is holding its first communitywide “connections” event Sunday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine for singles and married couples ages 25 to 45. The evening includes dinner, a keynote speech by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, the University of Judaism’s dean of rabbinic studies, and entertainment by recording artist and pianist Gerry Schubert. For more information, call (714) 755-5555 by April 20.

Honoring Beth Sholom Volunteers

Doug Cotler, an award-winning composer, will perform in concert April 20 at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of Santa Ana’s Temple Beth Sholom in a tribute to synagogue volunteers. Tickets cost $10 (adults) and $5 (children). Further information can be obtained from the temple at (714) 628-4600.

Israel Solidarity Concert

A solidarity concert featuring Avi Toledano will celebrate Israel’s independence on Sat., April 20 at 9 p.m. at the Tarbut V’Torah Community Day School, 5200 Bonita Canyon Road, in Irvine. Deputy Consul General Zvi A. Vapni is scheduled to attend. For reservations or more information, call the Jewish Community Center at (714) 755-0340.