Calendar Picks and Clicks: Feb. 25-Mar. 2, 2012

SUN | FEB 26

ONE-DAY UNIVERSTIY
American Friends of Tel Aviv University holds mini-classes with renowned Tel Aviv University academics, including “Birds: The Middle East’s Peacemakers” with ornithologist Yossi Leshem, “Should You Know Your Genome?” with genetics professor Karen Avraham, “Human Rights in a Multicultural Society” with law professor Nili Cohen, “A Simple Blood Test to Detect Cancer (Really!)” with chemistry professor Fernando Patolsky, and “What Will the ‘Arab Summer’ Bring?” with Middle Eastern and African studies professor Uzi Rabi. Sun. 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $54. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 553-5232. aftau.org.

“RE-CREATING NATURE”
The new exhibition by artists Lauren Evans, Carol Goldmark and Jamie Sweetman opens today. Their drawings, paintings and sculpture/installations draw on nature in unexpected ways. Today, the public is invited to a free “meet the artists” reception. Sun. Through May 18. Reception: 4-6 p.m. Regular gallery hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Friday). American Jewish University, Platt and Borstein Galleries, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (310) 476-9777. ajula.edu.

“SCHOLARSHIP, RELIGION, ACTIVISM: PAST RELATIONS, FUTURE PROSPECTS”
Clergy and scholars appear during tonight’s discussion, which seeks to break barriers between religious faiths. Participants, including IKAR’s Rabbi Sharon Brous, the Rev. Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries, Muslim Public Affairs Council President Salam al-Marayati, Fuller Theological Seminary President Richard Mouw and Princeton University religion professor Jeffrey Stout, explore the interplay of cultures, peoples, and faiths in Los Angeles and beyond. Diane Winston, the Knight Chair in Media and Religion at USC, moderates. Organized by the UCLA Center for the Study of Religion, and co-sponsored by the UCLA Center for Jewish Studies. Sun. 5-7 p.m. Free. UCLA, James Bridges Theatre, Los Angeles. (310) 206-1396. religion.ucla.edu.

TUE | FEB 28

AN EVENING WITH NEAL GABLER
Gabler, author of “An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood,” is joined by a star-studded panel that includes actor-director Carl Reiner, Leonard Nimoy (“Star Trek”), Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Marta Kauffman (co-creator, “Friends”) and Philip Rosenthal (creator, “Everybody Loves Raymond”). Tue.  7 p.m. Free (Temple Israel of Hollywood members), $10 (general). Temple Israel of Hollywood, 7300 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. RSVP by Feb. 27. (323) 876-8330. tioh.org.

ANDY BOROWITZ AND PATTON OSWALT
Satirist, writer and stand-up comedian Borowitz, editor of New York Times best-seller “The 50 Funniest American Writers: An Anthology of Humor From Mark Twain to the Onion,” dishes on politics and humor with the infamously witty stand-up comedian Oswalt, who recently authored, “Zombie Spaceship Wasteland.” Tue. 7:30 p.m. $20. Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. writersblocpresents.

L.A. CLIPPERS JEWISH PRIDE NIGHT
The Clippers play the Minnesota Timberwolves during Jewish Pride Night at Staples Center. An Israeli dance team performs at half time, and attendees receive a free T-shirt. GesherCity Long Beach, a young adults organization, provides discounted tickets. Tue. 7:30 p.m. $28 (GesherCity), $15-$1,500 (Ticketmaster). Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles.  (562) 426-7601 (GesherCity), (888) 895-8662 (L.A. Clippers). alpertjcc.org. nba.com/clippers.

HADAG NAHASH
The veteran Israeli hip-hop ensemble performs tonight at The Colony in Hollywood. Hadag Nahash blends Western pop influences, funk and world music. The group also leads a free interactive workshop—including informal acoustic demonstrations and a discussion on the group’s history, musical influences and engagement with social issues—at UCLA earlier in the day (1-2:30 p.m., visit international.ucla.edu for details). On Wednesday, Rutgers University Jewish studies professor Azzan Yadin discusses the use of the Hebrew literary canon in the band’s lyrics (noon-2 p.m., free, also at UCLA). Concert: Tue. 8 p.m. $20 (UCLA students), $40 (general), $100 (VIP). The Colony, 1743 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 525-2450. thecolonyla.com.

THU | MARCH 1

MA’ALEH FILM SCHOOL SCREENING
Friends of Ma’aleh Film School screens three short films produced by the school, including “Barriers,” which took the top prize for best short film at the Jerusalem Film Festival, “A Jerusalem Tale” and “The Breakfast Parliament.” A panel discussion with Neta Ariel, Ma’aleh’s school director, as well as “Barriers” director Golan Rise, producer Ohad Domb and actor Hillel Kabub follows. Journal Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Rob Eshman moderates. Co-sponsored by the Museum of Tolerance and The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Thu. 7-10 p.m. $10 (Museum of Tolerance members), $15 (general). Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 772-2505. museumoftolerance.com/maaleh.