THU | AUG 12
(MUSIC)
Broadway actors-turned-cantors sing about their journey from the profane to the sacred during Judea Bowl: Broadway to Bima! Temple Aliyah Cantors Mike Stein and Mimi Haselkorn join Rabbi/Cantor Alison Wissot and Cantorial Soloist Mark Britowich for a summer evening of song. Temple Judea-West Campus, 6601 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills. (818) 758-3800. templejudea.com.
FRI | AUG 13
(COMMUNITY)
The 20th World Congress of GLBT Jews features speakers, seminars and Shabbat services at UCLA Hillel. Elissa Barrett of the Progressive Jewish Alliance delivers the event’s keynote speech Friday night. Lisa Geduldig headlines the Saturday night gala dinner, with guest entertainers the Gay Gezunt band and the BCC choir. Fri. Through Aug. 15. Various times. $350 (member), $375 (general). Hillel at UCLA, 574 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 208-3081. glbtjews.org/la2010.
(FOOD)
Gastro-historian Jane Ziegelman lectures on “97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement,” her book about culinary tastes and the larger Jewish immigrant experience in the Lower East Side. Ziegelman’s talk follows a Shabbat service. Fri. 8:15 p.m. Free. University Synagogue at Irvine, 3400 Michelson Drive, Irvine. (949) 553-3535. universitysynagogue.org.
(THEATER)
“13,” a coming-of-age musical comedy, follows 12-year-old Evan Goldman through the character-building events leading up to his bar mitzvah. Evan moves from the Upper West Side to a small town in Indiana, where he struggles with being the only Jew in town. This student-cast production is rated PG-13. Fri. Through Aug. 22. 2 p.m. Sat. and Sun.; 7:30 p.m. Thu.-Sat. $18 (students), $25 (adults). Norris Center for the Performing Arts, 27570 Crossfield Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. (310) 544-0403, ext. 266. norriscenter.com.
SUN | AUG 15
(MUSIC)
The Mit Gezang Yiddish Chorus performs “Songs Across the Curtain,” new arrangements of works by L.A. folk composer Joseph Schrogin set to poems by Soviet Yiddish writers, including Shike Driz and Itsik Fefer. The performance commemorates the 58th anniversary of the execution of 13 leading Yiddish writers and communal figures by the Stalin regime on Aug. 12, 1952. Sun. 4 p.m. Free (suggested donation). Workmen’s Circle, 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 552-2007. circlesocal.org.
TUE | AUG 17
(TV)
Still have some lingering “Lost” questions the series finale didn’t answer? Like: What was up with the giant four-toed statue? And why couldn’t the smoke monster just fly over the sonar fence? Good luck getting answers when the show’s co-producer Damon Lindelof appears in conversation with Tim Kring, creator of “Heroes” and author of the new novel “Shift.” Book Soup sponsors the event. Tue. 7 p.m. $35. Renberg Theatre, 1125 McCadden Place, Los Angeles. (310) 659-3110. booksoup.com.
WED | AUG 18
(SINGLES)
Calling all singles, ages 50 and up — meet potential dates and help plan activities for future singles events when the North Valley Jewish Community Center holds its singles committee meeting. Wed. 7-9 p.m. Free. Temple Ramat Zion, 17655 Devonshire St., Northridge. (818) 360-2211. nvjcc.org.
THU | AUG 19
(FILM)
Filmmaker Sami Shalom Chetrit follows his mother in “Azi Ayima” (“Come Mother”) as she searches for classmates from her Moroccan village school 60 years earlier. The documentary details the hardships and joys experienced by the first generation of Moroccan women to immigrate to Israel. A discussion with Chetrir, who heads the Hebrew Studies program at Queens College, CUNY, follows the screening. Thu. 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10 (suggested donation). Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 657-5511. levantinecenter.org.
(FESTIVAL)
Jewlicious holds its first Camp Jewlicious, a four-day summer festival for young adults, 18-36. In addition to the usual camp activities — horseback riding, ropes course, Israeli dancing, bonfire — and Jewlicious concerts, learn how to build support for your cause during the Grassroots Organizing Summit. $99-$280. Scholarships available. Aug. 19-22. Brandeis-Bardin Campus of American Jewish University, 1101 Pepper Tree Lane, Simi Valley. (310) 277-5544. jewliciousfestival.com.
FRI | AUG 20
(FILM)
Drawing comparisons to “Brokeback Mountain,” the award-winning “Brotherhood” is a tragic love story set within the ranks of the Danish white supremacist movement. Lars, a career army officer, leaves the service when rumors of homosexual conduct surface. Recruited by a neo-Nazi group, Lars finds himself falling for a fellow skinhead, Jimmy. The unlikely pair struggle to keep their love a secret, but it isn’t long before their taboo relationship is revealed by their gay-bashing brethren. Opening in limited release, “Brotherhood” took the top prize at the 2009 International Rome Film Festival for first-time director Nicolo Donato. Laemmle Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 478-3836. laemmle.com.
(FILM)
With “Lebanon” shot inside of a single tank, writer-director Samuel Maoz captures the disorientation experienced by four 20-something Israel Defense Forces soldiers during the chaos of war. The visceral film, which won the Leone d’Oro during the 2009 Venice International Film Festival, is based on Maoz’s own experiences serving in the Israeli army during the 1982 Lebanon War. Laemmle’s Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 981-9811. Laemmle’s Playhouse 7, 673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 844-6500. laemmle.com.
(SHABBAT)
Expect a little more begging than normal during the Kiddush at Beth Shir Shalom this Shabbat as the Santa Monica congregation holds a Bark Mitzvah and Pet Shabbat. Attendees can enjoy an outdoor Shabbat service with their favorite furry, feathered or scaled companion. All kinds of pets are welcome, but organizers request that animals be kept on a leash or in a cage. Fri. 7:30-8:45 p.m. Free. Beth Shir Sholom, 1827 California Ave., Santa Monica. (310) 453-3361. www.bethshirsholom.org.
