Calendar

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.

WED | DEC 1. (HOLIDAY) Celebrate Chanukah in the heart of the City of Angels as Pershing Square hosts a Menorah Lighting at sunset each night during the holiday. After the lighting, which takes place at the southwest corner of the square, enjoy skating amid the skyscrapers and historical landmarks during the 13th annual Downtown on Ice. Wed. Sunset. Free. $6 (skating, plus $2 rental fee). Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., downtown. (213) 847-4970. laparks.org/pershingsquare.

“Candyman: The David Klein Story” premieres on the Documentary Channel. Experience the epic rise and fall of the eccentric inventor of Jelly Belly jellybeans, who sold his company too early to reap the rewards of what would eventually became a billion-dollar enterprise. This feature-length documentary looks at both sides of the American dream: how Klein lost his beans, but kept his soul. Sat. 5 p.m. documentarychannel.com.

“Eyes on the Middle East”, a two-day film festival presented by Visions and Voices: The USC Arts and Humanities Initiative, explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through screenings and panels with the Israeli, Palestinian and American filmmakers. Saturday films include “Bridge Over the Wadi,” “Paradise Now,” “9 Star Hotel,” “Be Quiet,” “West Bank Story” and “Lemon Tree.” Sunday features “Salt of This Sea,” “Lullaby” and “Campfire,” with a discussion via webcast. Sat. 12:45 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m. Free. Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. (213) 740-0483. usc.edu.

Set in the Warsaw Ghetto, “The Survivor” follows a gang of teenagers who learn about love and the value of friendship while smuggling food to their families and arming themselves for the impending uprising. The play stars the descendants of Jewish partisans — Jordan Bielsky, grandson of Tuvia Bielski (portrayed by Daniel Craig in the film “Defiance”), and Gilli Messer, whose grandparents were part of Bielski’s Polish Jewish resistance group, which saved more than more than 1,200 Jews by hiding them in a Belarusian forest. Based on the memoir \”Survivor of the Holocaust” by Jack Eisner, the play is written by Susan Nanus and produced by the Santa Monica Synagogue Genesis Arts Council. Sat. Through Nov. 14. 8 p.m. (Nov. 6, 11, 12, 13) and 2 p.m. (Nov. 7, 14). $20. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice. (310) 453-4276. thesms.org.

The San Gabriel and Pomona valleys’ 12th annual Jewish Book Festival opens tonight with Sheryll Bellman discussing her travelogue and recipe book, “America’s Great Delis: Recipes & Traditions From Coast to Coast,” at Temple Beth Israel. Other scheduled appearances include Annie Korzen (“Bargain Junkie: Living the Good Life on the Cheap”), Nov. 3, Temple Beth Israel; Rabbi Naomi Levy (“Hope Will Find You”), Nov. 4, Temple Ami Shalom; Robert K. Tanenbaum (“Betrayed”), Nov. 7, Beth Shalom of Whittier; and Jake Ehrenreich (“A Jew Grows in Brooklyn”), Nov. 20, Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center. Sheryll Bellman: Sat. 7:30 p.m. $18 (advance), $20 (door). Temple Beth Israel, 3033 N. Towne Ave., Pomona. Through Nov. 30. Various times, locations and prices for other appearances. (626) 445-0810. jewishsgpv.org.