Calendar Picks and Clicks: Nov. 11-19, 2010

THU | NOV 11

(SYMPOSIUM)
The 34th annual Catholic-Jewish Women’s Conference, a day of dialogue, music and group discussions, addresses the topic “Who is My Neighbor? Do We Practice What We Preach?” Guest speakers include Rabbi Denise L. Eger, president of Southern California Board of Rabbis, and Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu, an assistant professor of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University. Thu. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $25 (students), $40 (general). Costs include breakfast, box lunch and beverages. Wilshire Blvd Temple, 3664 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (818) 884-5532. sites.google.com/site/cjwcla/Home.

(POLITICS)
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami and other pro-Israel, pro-peace leaders gather tonight for the J Street Los Angeles Kickoff Celebration. Schmooze with J Street L.A. leaders and enjoy a cocktail hour. Thu. 7-9 p.m. Free. Taglyan Cultural Center, 1201 N. Vine St., Hollywood. jstreet.org/losangeles.

(DISCUSSION)
Writer-director Nora Ephron (“I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections”) appears in conversation with screenwriter Robin Swicord (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”). Thu. 7:30 p.m. $20. Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. writersblocpresents.com.

SAT | NOV 13

(MUSIC)
Learn about Maestro, an Israeli nonprofit that works with world-class musicians to bring music and the arts to underprivileged children in Israel, during a Shabbat event at East Hollywood’s Temple Knesset Israel. Sat. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Temple Knesset Israel, 1260 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. (818) 995-0693.

(MUSIC)
Chasidic pop star Matisyahu, best known for his hit “King Without a Crown,” blends reggae with Middle Eastern rhythms and American pop, conjuring up a fresh medley of unique and powerful beats. Sat. 8 p.m. $25-$45. The Luckman Fine Arts Complex, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles. (323) 343-6610. luckmanarts.org.

(MUSIC)
The Vox Femina Los Angeles choral ensemble launches a new season with a one-night-only performance, “Vox Judaica.” Singers explore a variety of Judaic genres — from sacred music to Sephardic and Ashkenazic folk — with highlights including a musical piece set to words from Anne Frank’s diary. Cantor Mark Saltzman of Congregation Kol Ami joins the ensemble as a special guest. Sat. 8 p.m. $25 (advance), $30 (door). Zipper Concert Hall, The Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 922-0025. voxfeminala.org.

SUN | NOV 14

(ISRAEL)
Israel in Focus, a community conference, features discussions with “Arab Lobby” author Mitchel Bard; Itamar Marcus, founder and director of Palestinian Media Watch; Israeli military expert Elliot Chodoff; Roberta Seid, StandWithUs research and education director; Neil Lazarus, a communications consultant; and a special guest. Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $65 (includes breakfast and lunch). Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 836-6140. standwithus.com.

(FILM)
Don’t miss the last of The Long Beach Jewish Film Festival. Highlights today include “Inside Hana’s Suitcase,” a docudrama about how a suitcase, which belonged to a girl who died in Auschwitz, takes a Japanese educator and her students on a journey to discover what happened to Hana Brady, and “The Yankles,” the comedic tale of a former Major Leaguer who tries to help a yeshiva baseball squad. Sun. Various times. $10 per film. Alpert Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach. (562) 426-7601. alpertjcc.org.

(MUSIC)
The Consort Singers perform the music of Austrian composer Walter Arlen during Loyola Marymount University’s Kristallnacht commemoration, “Remembering the Holocaust: Music as Memorial.” The event, co-sponsored by The “1939” Club, also features special guest Claudia Stevens, a performing artist and playwright. Sun. 1 p.m. Free. Loyola Marymount University, University Hall, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 338-7850. lmu.edu.

MON | NOV 15

(FILM)
Follow the lives of sibling songwriting team Robert and Richard Sherman, known for Disney classics like “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “It’s a Small World (After All),” in the documentary, “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story,” which screens today as part of the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival. Their sons, Gregory Sherman and Jeffrey Sherman, directed the film and will take part in a Q&A with Richard Sherman following the screening. Rabbi Jerry Cutler of Creative Arts Temple moderates the discussion. Mon. 7:30 p.m. $12. Laemmle’s Music Hall, 9026 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (800) 838-3006. lajfilmfest.org.

TUE | NOV 16

(LECTURE)
The Soviet Jewish underground and American Jewish communities helped more than 1 million Soviet Jews escape in the decades that followed World War II. Journalist Gal Beckerman offers us a narrative history of the Soviet Jewry movement with his new book, “When they Come for Us, We’ll Be Gone: The Epic Struggle to Save Soviet Jewry.” Beckerman appears in conversation with L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who championed the Soviet Jewish cause in the late 1960s. A book signing follows. Tue. 7:30 p.m. $35 (includes a copy of the book). American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 440-1548. ajula.edu.

WED | NOV 17

(DISCUSSION)
Yossi Klein Halevi, a contributing editor and Israel correspondent for The New Republic, and Rabbi Edward Feinstein of Valley Beth Shalom, discuss “Shifting Stands: The Evolving Landscape of Israel and the Middle East.” Wed. 7 p.m. Free (advance registration required). Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 788-6000. vbs.org.

THU | NOV 18

(EDUCATION)
Ruth Weisberg, former dean of the USC Roski School of Fine Arts and author of “The Open Door: A Passover Haggadah,” lectures on “Art and the Haggadah,” which kicks off The Board of Rabbis of Southern California’s yearlong community learning program, One People, One Book. This year’s program focuses on various themes in Geraldine Brooks’ “People of the Book,” a historical novel that explores the origins of the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the world’s oldest haggadot. Thu. 7:30-9:30 p.m. $5 (kosher refreshments provided). University Synagogue, 11960 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 761-8600. boardofrabbis.com.

FRI | NOV 19

(ART)>
Burton Morris does art post-Pop style in a new exhibition of paintings. Join the artist for an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Fri. Through Dec. 19. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (regular hours). Free. Hamilton-Selway Fine Art, 8678 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. (310) 657-1711. burtonmorris.com