Calendar Picks and Clicks: January 26-February 1

PICK OF THE WEEK: SUN., JAN.29

TU B’SHEVAT NATURE FEST
Grammy-winning band Ozomatli headlines a concert during the New Year for Trees celebration at the Shalom Institute in Malibu. Folk songwriter Billy Jonas, musician Cindy Paley and the MATI Children’s Choir also perform. Festivities include a food-justice twist on the traditional seder, nature hikes with Torah Trek, tree planting, eco-fair, climbing wall, bungee trampoline, petting zoo and much more. Organized by the Big Jewish Tent, an event-centric community-building project of Craig n’ Co. and the Shalom Institute. Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $5 (advance), $10 (at the gate). Shalom Institute, 34342 Mulholland Highway, Malibu. (818) 889-5500. bigjewishtent.com.

THU | JAN 26

FEMALE PERPETRATORS IN THE HOLOCAUST
Wendy Lower, an associate professor of history at Maximilians University in Munich, discusses “I Wanted to Prove Myself to the Men: Female Perpetrators in the Holocaust.” Lower is the author of “Nazi Empire Building and the Holocaust in Ukraine” and “The Diary of Samuel Golfard and the Holocaust in Galicia.” Organized by the USC Shoah Foundation Institute. Thu. 4 p.m. Free. USC Social Sciences Building Room 250, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. (213) 740-8999. dornsife.usc.edu/vhi.

“CAST A GIANT SHADOW”
Zionist Organization of America Western Region screens the classic Kirk Douglas film about an American World War II war hero who helps the Israeli army during the 1948 War of Independence. After the screening, head over to Rosewood Tavern on Fairfax to discuss the movie, Zionism and Jewish heroism — and to schmooze over fine brews, of course. Thu. 7 p.m. Free (donations welcome; RSVP required by Jan. 25). Film screening: The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Conference Room B, 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Post-screening drinks: Rosewood Tavern, 448. N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 744-0330. zoawest.org.

“THE CRUMBLING WALL SEPARATING CHURCH AND STATE”
Erwin Chemerinsky, the founding dean of the University of California, Irvine, School of Law,  discusses the Supreme Court’s lessening of restrictions on government aid to religion and religious involvement in government. RSVP necessary to park in building. Thu. 7:30 p.m. $8 (members), $16 (general). Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-1518. sinaitemple.org.

FRI | JAN 27

“MAPPING AUSCHWITZ” FLASH MOB
The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust (LAMOH) hopes hundreds, if not thousands, of people will turn out to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the liberation of Auschwitz by lining a 15-square-mile area — along Pico, Robertson, Beverly, La Cienega and Sunset boulevards, Wilton Place and Arlington Avenue — roughly the size of Auschwitz. Visit the museum’s Web site to print off signs to hold up during the event and register where you plan to stand. Fri. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free. Various streets around Los Angeles, as indicated above. (323) 651-3704. lamoth.org.

SAT | JAN 28

MUSEUMS FREE-FOR-ALL
Nearly 20 museums across Los Angeles, including the Museum of Tolerance, the Skirball Cultural Center and the Zimmer Children’s Museum, offer free admission this weekend. Visit museumsla.org for a full list of participating art, cultural heritage, natural history and science museums. Sat. Through Jan. 29. Free. Various sites and hours. museumsla.org.

BETTER TOGETHER SHABBAT MORNING SERVICE
Inaugurating Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month, a Shabbat service and communal meal take place on the scenic grounds of Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services in Cheviot Hills. Families with children of all abilities are welcome. Organized by Vista’s Nes Gadol program, a b’nai mitzvah class for children with special needs, and The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free ($10 suggested donation). The Temple at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, 3200 Motor Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 836-1223, ext. 209. jewishdisabilityawarenessshabbatservice.eventbrite.com.

SUN | JAN 29

“ETHEL MERMAN’S BROADWAY”
Rita McKenzie stars as Ethel Merman in this musical salute to the late Broadway icon, reminiscing about her husbands — all four of them — her favorite shows and more. The show features tunes from composers Stephen Sondheim, Irving Berlin, Jule Styne and Cole Porter, including “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and “You’re the Top.” Sun. 4 p.m. $45. Whizin Center for Continuing Education, American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (310) 476-9777. ajula.edu.

“LUCK”
Dustin Hoffman, director Michael Mann and David Milch, creator of HBO’s “Deadwood,” team up for this new HBO drama about the complex world of horseracing and the compelling, sometimes criminal, lives that revolve around it. Hoffman plays Chester “Ace” Bernstein, who, upon his return from prison, immediately returns to what he knows best: gambling. The show premieres tonight. Sun. 9 p.m. hbo.com/luck.

“ISRAEL IN 3-D”
Hollywood writer and producer Howard Gordon, co-creator and executive producer of the Golden Globe-winning television series “Homeland,” joins UCLA faculty to discuss such topics as “Israel in the Shifting Sands of the Middle East,” “Security Challenges: Security, Economics and Infrastructure” and “Israel and the American Jewish Community.” UCLA chancellor Gene Block delivers welcome remarks. Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free ($25 for lunch). UCLA Faculty Center, California Room, 480 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles. (310) 825-9646. international.ucla.edu/israel.

MON | JAN 30

LEON WIESELTIER
The prolific author and long-time literary editor of The New Republic discusses “American Jewry and the Demands of Jewish Greatness.” Wieseltier examines the past successes and the present reality of the great Diaspora community. Mon. 7:30 p.m. $12. Stephen S. Wise Temple, 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 476-8561. wisela.org.

TUE | JAN 31

DANIEL HANDLER AND MAIRA KALMAN
Handler is the best-selling author of “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” which he wrote under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket. Kalman is a renowned illustrator whose work has appeared on the cover of The New Yorker. Last year, they teamed up to write the young adult novel “Why We Broke Up,” which they discuss tonight. Tue. 7 p.m. Free. Barnes & Noble, Third Street Promenade, 1201 Third St., Santa Monica. (310) 260-9110. barnesandnoble.com.

WED | FEB 1

“JUDAISM AND THE IPAD GENERATION”
Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR leads today’s conversation, a response to radical discontinuity and spiritual disorientation in the Jewish community. She offers her take on how Judaism can be translated for the next generation. Wed. 7:30 p.m. $8 (Sinai Temple members), $16 (general). Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 481-3243. sinaitemple.org.