Carol Katzman, an educator, has been inaugurated as board chair of Vista Del Mar, a social service agency for children and families in need. Katzman has devoted more than 40 years of service to Vista as a volunteer, board member and board officer.
Howie Mandel, host of “Deal or No Deal,” paid a visit to the Chabad Drug Treatment Center in Los Angeles, where director Kevin Bright, co-creator of “Friends,” filmed a documentary of his visit. The short segment, which includes Mandel putting on tefillin with Rabbi Chaim Cunin, will air during the upcoming 29th annual Chabad “To Life” Telethon. The telethon airs Sept. 13.
Even faced with the worst of circumstances — war, poverty, illness and hunger — children make use of what’s around them to create toys. “The Power to Play — From Trash to Treasure” is a new ChildFund International and Museum of Tolerance exhibit that displays this indomitable spirit, showcasing more than 200 toys handmade by disadvantaged children around the world, using scraps of metal, discarded bottles and other waste to entertain themselves. Former Miss USA, Shauntay Hinton, who was sponsored by the same organization — ChildFund — as the young toymakers, will share her inspiring story. Children will also have the chance to create their own toy from recycled materials. Sun. 1:30-4 p.m. Through Dec. 31. Free. Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (804) 756-8987. childfund.org.
Rob Kutner is a veteran comedy writer for “The Daily Show” and author of the tongue-in-cheek “Apocalypse How” (Running Press, 2008). Having just returned to Los Angeles to work for “The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien,” he talks about being an observant Jew in Hollywood, why George W. Bush is more fun to write about than President Obama and why he doesn’t believe you ever really “make it” in Hollywood.
In “The September Issue,” R.J. Cutler’s new documentary about the behind-the-scenes workings of American Vogue magazine, the formidable editor-in-chief Anna Wintour lives up to her reputation as the frosty doyenne of the fashion industry — aka Nuclear Wintour — who inspired Meryl Streep’s imperious performance in the film version of “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Among the many Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah is probably second only to Passover as a time when Jews most embrace the cliché “you are what you eat.” The emphasis on the symbolism of specific foods on this holiday is well-known: honey represents our hopes for a sweet year ahead, a round challah for a perfect year, a fish head represents the rosh, or head, of the year, and a pomegranate celebrates the new harvest. I’ve recently begun thinking about extending this concept to the design of the whole Rosh Hashanah menu.
Around Rosh Hashanah, when the weather is often still hot, many of us prefer our menu to be a bit lighter and easier than the traditional holiday fare. To make it lighter, I like to include plenty of produce, serve chicken as a main course and bake a cake with oil, not margarine. To simplify preparation and serving, I choose dishes that can be prepared in advance and reheated.
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