Ryan Torok
Chai Lifeline to send 12-year-old to the Super Bowl
Adam Wolf, a 12-year-old with cerebral palsy, was stunned when Randi Grossman, West Coast director of the Chai Lifeline, called to tell him that the organization would pay for him to go to the Super Bowl.
Calendar picks and clicks: Feb. 2–Feb. 11, 2011
The Weisman Museum’s new exhibition features 60 works by the pop art innovator, famous for adopting the look of comic books and cartoons in his paintings. Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how Lichtenstein developed his ideas — from sketches and drawings to collages and the finished product. Sat. Through April 3. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. (310) 506-4851. arts.pepperdine.edu.
Luskin family donates $100 million to UCLA
Meyer Luskin and his wife, Renee, are donating $100 million to UCLA, the university’s second largest gift in its history, Chancellor Gene Block announced Jan. 26.
The power of performance
Matisyahu turned 30 a year and a half ago, prompting a good deal of self-reflection.
Calendar picks and clicks: Jan. 25–Feb. 4, 2011
Galia Golan, a prominent Israeli political scientist and a Peace Now co-founder, leads a talk, “Is There an Arab-Israeli ‘Peace Process?’ ” for UCLA’s Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israeli Studies. Tue. 5-7 p.m. Free. Humanities 169, UCLA, Los Angeles.
Santa Monica Shabbat service advocates for gun control
Politics and religion were intermingled during Friday night Shabbat services in Santa Monica on Jan. 14. In the wake of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz., which also left six dead and 13 others wounded, clergy and congregants at the Reform synagogue Beth Shir Shalom addressed the need for gun control. The service also commemorated Martin Luther King Jr. Day and mourned performer and composer Debbie Friedman, who died on Jan. 9 at the age of 59. Yet the Tucson shooting remained the focus of the Santa Monica service, which approximately 200 people attended. Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels spoke fervently, saying, “I can’t tolerate a country that doesn’t take weaponry off the street.”
Calendar picks and clicks: Jan. 19–Jan. 28, 2011
SAT | JAN 22 (THEATER) “Stories From the Fringe: Women Rabbis, Revealed!” a new play written by Rabbi Lynne A. Kern and Ronda Spinak and directed by Eve Brandstein, examines the stories of 18 L.A. rabbis, including Sharon Brous, Rebecca Dubowe, Denise Eger, Zoë Klein, Naomi Levy, Laura Geller and Miriyam Glazer. Laraine Newman, Caroline Aaron and Richard Kind star in tonight’s VIP Night reading. Q-and-A follows Sunday night’s performance. Sat. 7 p.m. $85. Sun. 7 p.m. $65. Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. jewishwomenstheatre.org.
Matthew Mezza, Santa Monica High School Freshman, dies at 14
Santa Monica High School freshman Matthew Mezza, 14, died on Friday, Jan. 14, when he jumped to his death from the 10th floor of the Sheraton Delfina hotel in Santa Monica.