Saturday, May 21
Ah, love. We get a heaping helping of it at the Getty’s “Love Story Weekend,” which continues today. Hear noted actors read short stories by noted writers — Regina King reads Charles Johnson, Alec Baldwin reads John Updike and William H. Macy reads Etgar Keret.
May 20-22. $15-$20. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 440-7300.
Sunday, May 22
Klezmer fuses with Middle Eastern rhythms in Yuval Ron and Sha-Rone Kushnir’s new performance of original music and stories, “The Legend of Baal Shem.” Sponsored by the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity and a grant by the city of West Hollywood, the free concert honors West Hollywood’s large Russian Jewish immigrant community with a focus on the Ukranian-born founder of Chasidism, the Baal Shem Tov.
4 p.m. Free. West Hollywood Park and Recreation Auditorium, 647 San Vicente Blvd. (323) 658-5824.
Monday, May 23
Richard Nanes’ classical crossover music has been performed by the London Philharmonic and at Lincoln Center, with his “Symphony No. 3, The Holocaust” world premiering at the Kiev International Music Festival. You’ve heard his music on the Bravo Network, and possibly on EWTN (the Global Catholic Network). But for those who want to own his “Symphony No. 3, The Holocaust,” the opportunity has just now arrived. It’s available on video and CD through the Web.
www.amazon.com, Tuesday, May 24 Gary Baseman’s illustrations have appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone and on the cover of the New Yorker. This month, however, you need look no further than our own fair city. “Gary Baseman: For the Love of Toby” opens this month at Billy Shire Fine Arts, featuring cartoonish depictions of the lovable cat Toby in different curious and sometimes naughty situations. Base man indeed! Noon-6 p.m. (Tues.-Sat.). 5790 Washington Blvd., Culver City. (323) 297-0600. Wednesday, May 25 Sunday marked the opening of UCLA Hillel’s Dortot Center for Creativity in the Arts’ new photography exhibit, “Resistance and Rescue in Denmark,” by Judy Ellis Glickman. But for those who missed it, the show continues through June 30. The images depict the history of the rescue of Danish Jewry during the Nazi occupation. Free. 574 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 208-3081. Thursday, May 26 Jewish music mixes with Latin beats in this evening’s Skirball concert featuring Septeto Roberto Rodriguez. Rodriguez and his band perform songs from his latest album, “Baila! Gitano Baila!” and the public gains free admission to the Skirball’s exhibits, including “Einstein,” before the show. 7:30 p.m. $15-$25. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 440-4500. Friday, May 27 Chuck Goldstone has mused on everything from PC vs. Mac users to the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, and now has a new book of humorous writings out titled, “This Book Is Not a Toy!: Friendly Advice on How to Avoid Death and Other Inconveniences.” If you missed him yesterday at Dutton’s in Brentwood, he reads some of his silliness in person today at Vroman’s Pasadena. 7 p.m. Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena. (626) 449-5320. In 2026, you don’t expect an American movie – even a documentary – to include an almost Talmudic discussion focusing on the meaning of the word “can.” If you can’t get to Jerusalem, make a pot of this incredible red kubbah. In the face of growing anti-Israel and antisemitic conduct in public schools, the Los Angeles Unified School District has delivered an important victory for our community. His photographs portray Jews shaped by different cultures, histories and traditions while revealing the connections that unite them. The site is now home to Milken’s Upper School, serving students in grades 9 through 12, and expands the school’s footprint across its three campuses to 28 acres. A well-designed Israel experience cannot resolve every question. But it can give young people context, relationships, language, and a sense that they belong to a people and a story larger than themselves. Some have accused me of anti-Muslim bias. Let me answer that plainly: I have none. My issues with El-Sayed would be the same whether he were Jewish, Christian, Hindu or Baha’i. I write to you, all you first and second generations, and I assure you from generations five, six and seven that if we keep doing what we need to do, if we stand together, keep our traditions, educate ourselves in our ancient wisdom, keep Hebrew spoken and sung in our midst, we will not only endure. We Jews will thrive. Kwall, the Raymond P. Niro Law Professor at DePaul University College of Law, argues for a center defined by enough common commitments to make communal life possible. Israel’s water security depends on what flows into the sea on the other side of all of them, and our water policy should start from that reality. The parsha ends with the binding of Isaac, the Akeida, probably the darkest chapter in the entire Torah. Mr. Lichtenstein edited the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles from 1986 until 2000. If we want our younger generations to love our faith, our culture, and our peoplehood, we need to be welcoming when they show interest and have a spark of curiosity. It turns out that claim about Israel being a democracy wasn’t just propaganda. The two million Arabs who live in the world’s only Jewish state really do have the power to vote. My journey to the ballot box was circuitous. The path I hope Israel will follow is derech Adonai: the way of righteousness and justice. Overall, the anti-Netanyahu bloc is projected to win 53 seats, while the Netanyahu-led right-wing religious bloc is projected to win 50. Both are expected to fall well short of a 61-seat majority. Let’s consider how Netanyahu and Eisenkot would govern differently given their many similarities on international and security matters. 
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