What’s Happening: Selichot, Chabad Telethon, Spielberg

FRI AUG 31

SHABBAT UNDER THE STARS
Temple Ramat Zion celebrates Shabbat Under the Stars in the courtyard of the Conservative congregation in Northridge. 7:30 p.m. Free. 17655 Devonshire St., Northridge. (818) 360-1881. trz.org

MAESTRO OF THE MOVIES
John Williams, the 86-year-old composer of the musical soundtracks for “Star Wars,” “ET,” “Jurassic Park,” “Indiana Jones,” “Harry Potter” and other movies, celebrates the 40th anniversary of his debut at the Hollywood Bowl with a trio of concerts over Labor Day weekend. Director Steven Spielberg and the Los Angeles Philharmonic join Williams on the Bowl stage. David Newman conducts the Philharmonic in the first half of the evening. Some selections performed with film clips. 8 p.m. $14-$195. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 850-2000. hollywoodbowl.com.

SAT SEPT 1

BREAKFAST AND SHABBAT
Singing, dancing, meditation, learning and a light breakfast are served up when Lev Eisha, a community of women, convenes for Shabbat. The gathering opens with breakfast and learning with Rabbi Toba August. During the musical service that follows, Rabbi August and cantorial singer Cindy Paley are accompanied by percussionist Joy Krauthammer, Torah reader and vocalist Melanie Fine, violinist Ruth Belonsky and vocalists Robin Winston and Sharon Alexander. 8:15 a.m. Free. Beth Shir Shalom, 1827 California Ave., Santa Monica. (310) 453-3361.

SELICHOT AROUND TOWN
Adat Ari El: The Valley Village-based Conservative synagogue’s prologue to the High Holy Days features a Jewish Women’s Theatre performance about what it means to forgive and what happens if forgiveness is not possible. 8–11 p.m. Free. 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 766-9426.
Congregation Kol Ami: Actor and playwright Tom Dugan performs excerpts from his one-man show, “Wiesenthal,” which explores themes of guilt, justice and our role in carrying on Wiesenthal’s mission. 6 p.m. Free. 1200 N. La Brea Ave., West Hollywood. (323) 606-0996.
Open Temple: “The Schvitz” is held in partnership with Pico Union Project at Wi Spa. RSVP to info@opentemple.org so organizers know to wait for you in the lobby. 9 p.m. $25 spa entrance fee. Wi Spa, 2700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 821-1414.
Temple Ahavat Shalom: Bring your own dinner and enjoy Woody Allen’s “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” with a brief discussion after the movie screening. 5:30 p.m. movie and dinner. 8 p.m. service. Free. 18200 Rinaldi Place, Northridge. (818) 360-2258.
Temple Judea: Husband-and-wife “dynamic duo” Isaac and Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik bring their “pop culture Torah” to Temple Judea in a visual program about redemption, atonement and the path to forgiveness. 8 p.m. Free. 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. (818) 758-3800.

SUN SEPT 2

CHABAD TELETHON
Chabad’s “To Life” Telethon, a nationally televised annual event, continues its mission to raise funds for Chabad’s many activities. Now in its 38th year, the telethon will feature Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin and local leaders. 5–11 p.m. Go to to life.com for channel information.

ROSH HASHANAH STORY TIME
The joys of the Jewish New Year play out during Rosh Hashanah Storytime and Apple Art Activities at the Zimmer Children’s Museum by ShareWell. Kids learn about the tradition of apples and honey and engage in painting activities. 2-4 p.m. Museum admission $7.50 adults and children 1-17. Children younger than 1 free. Zimmer Children’s Museum, 6505 Wilshire Blvd. (323) 761-8984.

SURFING, SAND, JUDAISM
“What is your sababa level?” Teens and tweens will be asked this question when the two-day Sababa Surf Camp opens in Malibu with an agenda that blends surfing lessons and Jewish spirituality. Sababa is Hebrew for “cool;” and if your sababa level is one that is kosher, 10 means you are too stressed. The four-year-old New York-based camp, in Los Angeles for the second year, is focused on learning for boys and girls from grades 5 through 12. Lessons in Jewish meditation are intertwined with surfing instructions and fun beach games. Through Sept. 3. $75 per day. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Malibu Makos Surf Club, 30600 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Pick up is 3:30 p.m. (310) 317-1229.

TUE SEPT 4

DEPRESSION AND JEWISH VALUES
Cardiologist Afshine Emrani traces his personal journey of healing depression through Jewish values when he speaks to the Sinai Temple Men’s Club. Dinner provided. 6:30-–9 p.m. Free dinner for men’s club members. $10 general. Women welcome. Sinai Temple, Ziegler Hall, 10400 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 481-3340.

MEGA CHALLAH BAKE
Join women from the South Bay for an evening of kneading, braiding and community. In addition to baking challahs for their families, participants are encouraged to bake challah for a friend or for delivery to a senior citizen in the South Bay. 7 p.m. $18. Reservation required. Chabad of Palos Verdes, 28041 S. Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes. (310) 544-5544.

JEWISH BAR ASSOCIATION MIXER
Welcome the High Holy Days by getting together with like-minded attorneys. The Los Angeles Jewish Bar Association’s Rosh Hashanah 2018 Mixer is an evening of socializing and renewing or establishing important contacts. 6–9 p.m. Free for attorneys and law students. $36 for non-attorneys. SIXTY Beverly Hills Hotel, 9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 461-8350.

WED SEPT 5

HIGH HOLY DAYS PREP SESSION
Join author and Rabbi Mark Borovitz and Valley Beth Shalom Rabbi Ed Feinstein for “Pikuah Nevesh: Saving Your Soul,” a High Holy Days prep learning session. 7:30–9:30 p.m. Sher Lopaty I, Sher Lopaty II and Sher Lopaty Chapel, Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 788-6000.

“AFTER AUSCHWITZ”
The documentary film “After Auschwitz” follows six female Holocaust survivors who immigrate to the United States to try to move from tragedy and trauma to living a productive life. Screening to be followed by a Q-and-A with director Jon Kean and Renee Firestone, one of the survivors featured in the film. Presented by Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. 6:30 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. screening. $50 VIP, $36 per couple, $20 individual. Free underground parking. Museum of Tolerance, 9786 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 843-2690.

“WHY CAN’T WE GET ALONG?”
Orthodox Rabbi Shalom Hammer, a writer for the Jerusalem Post and an author of several books, addresses why the Orthodox rabbinate in Israel must encourage interdenominational dialogue. Why is the resistance to this concept wrong? Who is behind it? Hammer, a New Yorker by birth and an Israeli by choice, argues how differences in Judaism can be beneficial and how unity must be facilitated. 8–9:30 p.m. $10 donation suggested. RSVP requested at director@kehilla.org. Westwood Kehilla, 10523 Santa Monica Blvd. (310) 441-5288.

THU SEPT 6

KESHET @ 36
Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble performs new works and a retrospective of company favorites. The ensemble is in its 36th year of entertaining audiences
around the world. Artistic Director Eytan Avisar and choreographer Kobi Rozenfeld utilize melody, rhythm and ethnic contemporary movement to infuse timeless themes of Jewish culture to bring their stories to the stage. This event to commemorate “double chai” will support Keshet’s community educational and outreach programs. 7:30 p.m. $25–$100. Gindi Auditorium, American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (818) 784-0344.