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Calendar Picks and Clicks: Dec. 8-17, 2010

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of Jewish girls fled pogroms and poverty in Eastern Europe for the promise of marriage and a fresh start in South America. Instead, they found themselves sold into prostitution by the Zwi Migdal, a Jewish criminal syndicate that controlled 2,000 Argentine brothels at its peak in the 1920s. Join the Jewish Genealogy Society of Los Angeles for a discussion on, “From Shtetl to Tango: The Untold Story of South America’s Jewish Sex Slavery,” and for a screening of “Passages,” director Gabriela Böhm’s award-winning documentary about unlocking myths and secrets while exploring her family legacy in Eastern Europe, Israel and South America. Sun. 1:30 p.m. $5 (general), free (JGSLA members). University Synagogue, 11960 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. jgsla.org.
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December 8, 2010

WED | DEC 8

(THEATER)
National slam poetry champions Steve Connell, In-Q and Sekou tha Misfit headline An Evening of Spoken Word, which raises funds for American Jewish University’s College Theatre Workshop. Additional performers include DJ Brutha Gimel and live artist Azikiwe Andrews. Wed. 8 p.m. $8 (general), $5 (students). Gindi Theatre, American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 476-9777. ajula.edu.


THU | DEC 9

(GALA)
Steven Spielberg, founding chair of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, honors fellow DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg during the Ambassadors for Humanity Gala. “Late Late Show” host Craig Ferguson emcees the event, and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson performs. Thu. 6 p.m. (cocktails), 7 p.m. (dinner). Donations only. Kodak Theatre Grand Ballroom, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (818) 777-7876. college.usc.edu/vhi.

(BOOKS)
Journalist Mark Smith reads from his book, “Treblinka Survivor: The Life and Death of Hershl Sperling,” a nonfiction work about a Polish Holocaust survivor’s journey. A Q-and-A with the author follows. Thu. 6-8 p.m. Free. Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 651-3704. lamoth.org.

(COMEDY)
Middle Eastern and South Asian comedians perform during Funatical: Taking Comedy to the Extreme. Offering multicultural and interfaith humor, the show features six stand-up comedians, including Samson Koletkar (Mahatma Moses Comedy Tour) and Noel Elgrably (The Sultans of Satire: Middle East Comic Relief Show). Thu. 8 p.m. $20 (advance), $40 (advance, VIP), $25 (general, door), $20 (students, door). Comedy Store, 8433 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (323) 650-6268. funaticalcomedy.com.


SAT | DEC 11

(MUSIC)
“Bring on the Light,” a Chanukah-inspired interfaith concert at Temple Israel of Hollywood (TIOH), features a diverse lineup of performers, including Chazzan Danny Maseng; Michael Skloff, who composed the “Friends” theme, “I’ll Be There for You”; the Yuval Ron Ensemble and the TIOH choirs, among others. Sat. 8 p.m. $18 (general), $10 (TIOH members). Temple Israel of Hollywood, 7300 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 876-8330. tioh.org.


SUN | DEC 12

(DISCUSSION)
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of Jewish girls fled pogroms and poverty in Eastern Europe for the promise of marriage and a fresh start in South America. Instead, they found themselves sold into prostitution by the Zwi Migdal, a Jewish criminal syndicate that controlled 2,000 Argentine brothels at its peak in the 1920s. Join the Jewish Genealogy Society of Los Angeles for a discussion on, “From Shtetl to Tango: The Untold Story of South America’s Jewish Sex Slavery,” and for a screening of “Passages,” director Gabriela Böhm’s award-winning documentary about unlocking myths and secrets while exploring her family legacy in Eastern Europe, Israel and South America. Sun. 1:30 p.m. $5 (general), free (JGSLA members). University Synagogue, 11960 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. jgsla.org.

(ART)
More than a dozen members of the USC-based Jewish Artists Initiative — including Melinda Smith Altshuler, Bill Aron and Ruth Weisberg — display eclectic paintings, collages, photographs and more as part of “The Rashi Effect: Artist as Commentator,” a new exhibition at American Jewish University’s Platt and Borstein Galleries. Meet the artists during a free reception. Sun. Through April 10. 1-3 p.m. (artist reception). Gallery hours: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (Sun.-Thu.), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Fri.). Free. American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 476-9777. ajula.edu.

(DISCUSSION)
New Israel Fund CEO Daniel Sokatch leads a discussion on his organization’s progressive agenda, which includes working toward religious tolerance and pluralism in Israel and developing ways to make the country greener. He appears at Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center for the synagogue’s Israel Speaker Series. Light refreshments served. Sun. 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, 1434 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena. (626) 798-1161. pjtc.net.

(ISRAEL)
Learn about making aliyah (immigration to Israel) during the Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah Fair. Actor Josh Sussman (Jacob Ben Israel on “Glee”) hosts the event, and professionals from various fields lead discussions on topics like “Leveraging Your English-Language Skills in the Israeli Market,” “Finding Your Community in Israel,” “Aliyah Rights and Benefits” and “Retiring in Israel.” Sun. 1-6 p.m. Free. InterContinental, 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles. (866) 425-4924. nbn.org.il.


MON | DEC 13

(BOOKS)
Blogger David Kahane (aka screenwriter Michael Walsh), who launched Big Journalism with Andrew Breitbart, discusses his new book, “Rules for Radical Conservatives: Beating the Left at Its Own Game to Take Back America.” Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors sponsors the event. Mon. 7 p.m. $15. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (818) 704-0523. cjhsla.org.


THU | DEC 16

(COMEDY)
Iranian American comedians Maz Jobrani and Michael perform during “An Evening of Fun and Laughter” at Nessah Synagogue. Proceeds benefit the synagogue’s preschool and teen club. Beer, wine and refreshments served. Thu. 7:30 p.m. $95 (VIP), $65 (regular), $35 (students). Nessah Synagogue, 142 S. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 273-2400. nessah.org.


FRI | DEC 17

(FILM)
A university secretary is drawn into espionage and a love triangle when her Polish Security Service fiancé pressures her to become the lover of a well-known Jewish professor with suspected anti-communist ties in “Little Rose.” Set against the backdrop of an anti-Semitic campaign launched by Polish communists in 1967, co-writer and director Jan Kidawa-Blonski shows how a totalitarian regime can crush the human spirit in one’s own home just as surely as on the streets. Fri. Various times. $11 (general), $8 (seniors). Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 478-3836. laemmle.com.

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