Calendar Picks and Clicks: April 26-May 6, 2011

WED | APRIL 27

“COMMUNICATING COMMEMORATION”
Oren Meyers, a visiting communications scholar from the University of Haifa, discusses the interrelations between Yom HaShoah broadcasts on Israeli television and radio and the shaping of Israel’s collective memory. Wed. 4-6 p.m. Free. UCLA, 6275 Bunche Hall, Los Angeles. (310) 825-9646. international.ucla.edu/israel.

VALLEY RUACH BEER TASTING
Sample Belgian beers and compare them with their American and Canadian counterparts. Organized by Adat Ari El’s young professionals organization, the event’s hosts will review the rich history of Belgian brews and provide a lesson in how to taste beer. Attendees are welcome to hang around after the event to sober up. Snack food included with the price of admission. Wed. 7:30-10 p.m. $7 (members), $10 (general). Encino location e-mailed to paid RSVPs prior to the event. (818) 980-3282. valleyruach.org.

SUSAN MCKEOWN & LORIN SKLAMBERG: SAINTS AND TZADIKS
Irish vocalist Susan McKeown and Klezmatics lead singer Lorin Sklamberg perform songs from their 2009 album, which draws on Yiddish and Gaelic traditions in its exploration of love, death, betrothal and betrayal. Guitarist Aidan Brennan accompanies the duo. Wed. 8 p.m. $30 (general), $25 (members), $20 (students). Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 440-4599. skirball.org.

“INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM FOR JEWS”
Rabbi Reuven Firestone, professor of medieval Judaism and Islam at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, leads tonight’s discussion, the first of a three-part series at Beth Chayim Chadashim. Wed. 7-9 p.m. $45 (general), free (BCC members). Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6000 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 931-7023. bcc-la.org.

FRI | APRIL 29

“MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (THE MUSICAL!)”
This long-running off-Broadway hit is a melting pot of musical bliss that references (and parodies) a who’s who of Jewish musical theater composers: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, and Kander and Ebb. Through May 8. 8 p.m. $12-$15. Dow Arena Theatre, Pierce College Performing Arts Theater, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. (818) 719-6488. piercecollege.edu.

SUN | MAY 1

“THROUGH YOUR EYES: HOLOCAUST MEMORIALS AROUND THE WORLD”
Today’s Yom HaShoah commemoration includes an exhibition of Holocaust memorial photographs, as seen through the eyes of L.A. community members, and excerpts from the documentary “100 Voices: A Journey Home,” moderated by Cantor Joseph Gole of Sinai Temple and Cantor Nathan Lam of Stephen S. Wise Temple. Sun. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuary, 6150 Mount Sinai Drive, Simi Valley. (800) 600-0076. mt-sinai.com.

“IN THEIR OWN WORDS: DIARIES FROM THE HOLOCAUST”
John Loftus, a former U.S. government prosecutor and Nazi hunter, delivers the keynote during today’s Community Wide Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration at the Los Angeles Holocaust Monument in Pan Pacific Park. The event also features “From Father to Daughter: The Legacy of Carol Deutsch (Antwerp 1894-Buchenwald 1944),” an art exhibition courtesy of the American Society for Yad Vashem. Buses leave from the Federal Building in Westwood at 1:30 p.m. and from the Bernard Milken JCC in West Hills and Valley Beth Shalom in Encino at 1 p.m. Free transportation available by pre-registration only. Sun. 2:45-4:45 p.m. Free. Pan Pacific Park (north end), 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 280-5010. lamoth.org.

“CHAPTER TWO”
Widowed writer George Schneider and divorced actress Jennie Malone must overcome their individual pasts if they hope to have a future together in this comical yet tender look at courtship and marriage. Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical play appears as part of the Celebrity Staged Play Reading Series. Sun. 2 p.m. $16 (general), $14 (members, seniors, students), $12 (senior, student members). Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 556-5225. westsidejcc.org.

MON | MAY 2

“BESA: ALBANIAN MUSLIMS WHO SAVED JEWS DURING THE HOLOCAUST”
Albanian Muslims, driven by a moral code known as besa, rescued 2,000 Jews during World War II. Through portraiture and personal stories, veteran photographer Norman Gershman reflects on the honor, faith and altruism of Albanian Muslims for this Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum-produced exhibition, which opens tonight. Mon. Through Aug. 19. 7 p.m. Free (RSVP required). Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 772-2498. museumoftolerance.com.

SAT | APRIL 30

YIRAH: AWE-INSPIRING WILDERNESS ADVENTURES
TorahTrek, which connects wilderness, spiritual practice and Judaism, has formed a new group for 20- and 30-somethings to meet regularly for hiking and backpacking. Today’s 4.2-mile hike to the multitiered, 150-foot Escondido Falls — the highest waterfall in the Santa Monica Mountains — starts off easy but increases in difficulty (includes stream crossings). Sat. 3-6:30 p.m. $8-$15 (sliding scale). Escondido Canyon Nature Area, 27200 Winding Way, Malibu (meeting place). (443) 722-4294. torahtrek.com.

TUE | MAY 3

“PRISONER OF HER PAST”
Follow Chicago Tribune jazz critic Howard Reich as he sets out across the United States and Eastern Europe to uncover why his Holocaust survivor mother believes the world is conspiring to kill her. The documentary explores a little-known disorder: late-onset post-traumatic stress disorder. A Q-and-A with Reich and producer Joanna Rudnick follows. Tue. 7:30 p.m. Free (RSVP required). Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 772-2498. museumoftolerance.com.

WED | MAY 4

“OUT OF THE WILDERNESS”
Rabbi David Rosen, director of the American Jewish Committee’s department of interreligious affairs, discusses 40 years of Catholic-Jewish relations with the Rev. Patrick Desbois, president of Yahad-In Unum, an organization that facilitates meetings between Catholic bishops and Jewish Orthodox leaders. Holli Levitsky, director of Loyola Marymount University’s Jewish studies program, moderates the discussion. Wed. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free (RSVP required). Loyola Marymount University, Hilton Center for Business, Room 100, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 338-7664. ajclosangeles.org.

THU | MAY 5

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH
New York Times columnist Alina Tugend, author of “Better by Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong,” speaks at today’s annual brunch. Attendees are asked to bring toiletry items that will be used in Mother’s Day baskets for women in shelters and transitional living facilities. Thu. 10 a.m.-noon. $40. Stephen S. Wise Temple, Zeldin-Hershenson Hall, 15500 Stephen S Wise Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 476-8561. wisela.org.