Calendar

David Mamet directs the infamously reclusive magician in a production that offers a rare glimpse into Ricky Jay’s life and career. “Ricky Jay: A Rogue’s Gallery — An Evening of Conversation and Performance” includes Jay’s renowned sleight-of-hand illusions and a fair amount of audience interaction. Tue. 8 p.m. Through Jan. 10. $65-$125. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood Village. (310) 208-5454

Judith Cohen and Dolores Sloan combine their passion for Sephardic culture in an evening organized by Sephardic Singles Havurah and Arbeter Ring, “The Ninth Night of Hanukah: A Sephardic Celebration.” Cohen specializes in Judeo-Spanish music, and Sloan published “The Sephardic Jews of Spain and Portugal: Survival of an Imperiled Culture in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries.” The program is followed by candle lighting, a sing-along and dessert reception. Sat. 7:30 p.m. $10 (members), $15 (guests). Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring, 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 552-2007. {encode=\”dsloanauthor@gmail.com\” title=\”dsloanauthor@gmail.com\”}.

A giant 15-foot, 1,000-pound menorah will light up Universal CityWalk for the annual Chabad Chanukah festival, with live Israeli and Jewish performances, appearances by Jewish community leaders and menorah lightings from around the world, broadcast on a huge screen. Sat. 7:30-11:30 p.m. Free. CityWalk, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. (818) 758-1818. chabadofthevalley.com.

Steven Spielberg receives the Anti-Defamation League’s top honor — America’s Democratic Legacy Award — presented by ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman at the organization’s annual dinner celebration. Spielberg joins the ranks of previous recipients, including former presidents Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower, Colin Powell, Eleanor Roosevelt, Justice Earl Warren, Cardinal John O’Conner and others. “American Idol” finalist Adam Lambert sings the U.S. national anthem and Israeli singer-songwriter Noa Dori sings the Israeli national anthem. Wed. 6:30 p.m. $500. Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 446-4263. adl.org/spielberg.

Leading advocates of Darwinism and intelligent design go head to head in “The Origins of Life Debate,” featuring Michael Shermer, founding publisher of Skeptic magazine and editor of Skeptic.com; Donald Prothero, a geology professor at Occidental College and lecturer in geobiology at CalTech; Stephen Meyer, director of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute; and Richard Sternberg, research scientist at the Biologic Institute and a research collaborator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Sponsored by the American Freedom Alliance. Mon. 7:30 p.m. $10 (students), $20 (general). Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (323) 655-0111. www.americanfreedomalliance.org.

Venezuelan playwright Moisés Kaufman brings the historical drama surrounding fallen English playwright Oscar Wilde to the stage in “Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde.” Using transcripts and real quotes from Wilde’s infamous trials, as well as newspaper articles and the personal accounts of those involved, Kaufman chronicles how the darling of Victorian England was shunned for “committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons.” An L.A. Theatre Works audio performance, recorded live without sets or costumes, to be broadcast on public and satellite radio nationwide. Sat. 2:30 p.m. Also, Sun. at 4 p.m. $40-$48. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 827-0889. latw.org.

SAT | NOVEMBER 14

(GALA)
The third annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Young Leadership’s Roaring ’20s Old Hollywood gala, at the historic Los Angeles Theatre downtown, includes casino gambling, dinner and an open bar. The evening honors the memory of Zev Karkomi. Guests are requested to dress in theme attire or black tie. Sat. 8 p.m. $125 (presale), $250 (at the door). The Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. title=\”fidfyl.org\”>fidfyl.org.

Pioneering performance and interdisciplinary artist Rachel Rosenthal, who was honored by the city in 2000 as a “living cultural treasure of Los Angeles,” is the guest of honor at Rachel Rosenthal’s Birthday Bash 83. The evening will commemorate her new book, “The DbD Experience: Chance Knows What It’s Doing!” (Routledge), and the Rachel Rosenthal Company’s new TOHUBOHU! Extreme Theatre Ensemble. Come enjoy live music, as well as an exhibition and silent auction of 83 artists’ works. Sat. 7-11 p.m. $25. Track 16 Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Building C1, Santa Monica. (310) 264-4678.

The latest film out of Israel to generate enormous buzz is the country’s official submission for the 2010 Academy Awards. “Ajami,” which won a special mention during the Camera d’Or competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, zooms in on the Ajami neighborhood within the Israeli city of Jaffa, a gritty jumble of cultures, religions and factions struggling for power and control. Co-directors, producers and writers Scandar Copti, a Palestinian resident of Ajami, and Yaron Shani, an Israeli Jew, used local amateurs, not trained actors, and guerrilla filmmaking that blurred the lines between documentary and fiction. This screening, part of AFI Fest, which runs Oct. 30-Nov. 7, is the first opportunity for Angelenos to see this provocative film. Sun. 10:30 p.m. Free tickets can be reserved online or over the phone. Mann Chinese 6, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood and Highland Center, Hollywood. (866) 234-3378. afi.com.

Local musical collective Fool’s Gold perform their blend of Western pop, African melodies and Hebrew lyrics as part of KCRW’s Sounds Around Town series of free concerts at Westfield Century City’s outdoor terrace. Thu. 7-9 p.m. Free. Westfield Century City, Dining Terrace, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City. kcrw.com/events/sounds-around-town. myspace.com/foolsgold.