Calendar picks and clicks: Jan. 12–Jan. 21, 2011

WED | JAN 12

(ISRAEL)
ALOUD at Central Library’s Interfaith Series features “I Shall Not Hate” author Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Gazan fertility specialist who lost three of his daughters during Operation Cast Lead in 2009, appears in conversation with Washington Post journalist Laura Blumenfeld, author of “Revenge: A Story of a Hope.” In her memoir, Blumenfeld recounts her search for the Palestinian man who shot her father while he was visiting Israel. Wed. 7 p.m. Free. Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles. (213) 228-7025. lfla.org.

THU | JAN 13

(POLITICS)
The National Council of Jewish Women/Los Angeles (NCJW/LA) hosts a discussion with Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, who will offer “An Inside Report … What’s Happening on the Hill.” Thu. 1-2:30 p.m. Free. NCJW/LA Council House, 543 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 852-8503. ncjwla.org.

(MUSIC)
Tufts University’s co-ed Jewish a cappella group Shir Appeal, which sings Jewish folks songs, Israeli rock, liturgical music and American songs with Jewish themes, performs at Temple Akiba. Thu. 7:30 p.m. $20. Temple Akiba, 5249 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City. (310) 398-5873. templeakiba.net.

FRI | JAN 14

(SHABBAT)
Rabbis, reverends and artists lead a musical Unity Shabbat service at Sinai Temple in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Special guests include the Rev. Mark Whitlock of the COR AME Church, the Rev. Jeffrey R. Thomas of Skid Row’s Central City Community Church, and journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who leads a discussion on “Faith and Future in the Middle East.” Following the service, attendees can participate in a peanut butter-and-jelly assembly line to make sandwiches that will be given out to the homeless. And ATID hosts the ATID LOUNGE for 20- and 30-somethings. Fri. 7:30 p.m. Free. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-1518. sinaitemple.org.

SUN | JAN 16

(MUSIC)
Matisyahu, the Chasidic singer known for his Top 40 crossover hit “King Without a Crown” and “One Day,” the theme song of the 2010 Winter Oympics, performs an acoustic set of his reggae-infused songs at Shomrei Torah Synagogue during “Matisyahu Unplugged!” Sun. 7-10 p.m. $36 (general), $100 (VIP). Shomrei Torah Synagogue, 7353 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills. (818) 346-0811. shomreitorahsynagogue.org.

SUN | JAN 16

(FAMILY)
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach discusses “Are Today’s Parents Irresponsible?” with Wendy Mogel, best-selling author of “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee,” and Lisa Bloom, legal consultant for CBS News and “The Insider.” A Q-and-A follows. Sun. 7:30 p.m. $10 (students, advance), $15 (students, door; adults, advance), $20 (adults, door). Young Israel of Century City, 9317 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. thisworld.us.

(MUSIC)
Vocalist Joshua Nelson will move your body and soul tonight with “Jews and Gospel.” Nelson is the creator of “kosher gospel,” an expression of his identity as an African American Jew, which combines the sounds of soul with Jewish liturgical music. Sun. 8-10 p.m. $18 (online), $20 (door). Wilshire Boulevard Temple, 3663 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 388-2401, ext. 269. wbtla.org.

TUE | JAN 18

(MUSIC)
Israeli Yemenite singer Maya Haddi and percussionist Jamie Papish join world musician Yuval Ron for “The Jewish Heart in Flamenco,” a talk and live musical performance that captures the historic land of Andalusia in Southern Spain, where Jews and Muslims created the Andalusian style, the foundation for flamenco. Tonight’s workshop is the third in a six-part series, “Hands on Music,” hosted by Ron. Tue. 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 788-6000. vbs.org.

WED | JAN 19

(LITERATURE)
Jeff Garlin, co-star of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and author of the 2010 memoir “My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World,” hosts Jeff Garlin’s Reading Group at Book Soup. Tonight’s group discusses Bernard Malamud’s 1961 novel, “A New Life,” which takes on the American myth of the West as a place of personal reinvention. Wed. 7 p.m. Free. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 659-3110. booksoup.com.

THU | JAN 20

(ART)
Leo Castelli reigned for decades as America’s most influential contemporary art dealer, discovering Jasper Johns and showcasing such artists as Roy Lichtenstein, James Rosenquist and Andy Warhol. The UCLA Center for Jewish Studies hosts New York University’s Annie Cohen-Solal, author of “Leo and His Circle: The Life of Leo Castelli” and “Jean-Paul Sartre: A Life,” who presents a portrait of the enigmatic Castelli and traces his family, whose fortunes rose and fell for centuries before they fled European fascism. Thu. 4-6 p.m. Free. UCLA Faculty Center, 480 Charles Young Drive E., Los Angeles. (310) 825-5387. cjs.ucla.edu.

(HOLIDAY)
Join Sinai Temple’s Rabbi Nicole Guzik and the young professionals of ATID’s Green-Social Action Committee for a Tu B’Shevat Cooking Class. Learn the basic ingredients of the Jewish people’s relationship with food, and leave with a deeper understanding of the holiday as well as some great recipes. Thu. 7 p.m. $8 (members, advance), $12 (general, advance), $15 (door). Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-6801. sinaitemple.org.

(POLITICS)
Peace and Justice Resource Center founder-director Tom Hayden, a ’60s peace and civil rights activist who served for 18 years in the California legislature, discusses “Prospects for Peace” during a colloquium event at the Skirball organized by the Plato Society of UCLA. A Q-and-A follows. Thu. 12:45 p.m. (coffee, tea and cookies reception), 1:30 p.m. (lecture). Free. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 794-0231. uclaextension.edu/plato.

FRI | JAN 21

(SHABBAT)
Valley Beth Shalom celebrates Shabbat Shira with new works of sacred music by composers and fellows of the newly inaugurated Max Helfman Institute of Jewish Music during its evening service. Coming from the worlds of film, television and the recording industry, the composers have stretched their musical vocabulary by creating music for the synagogue. The debut performance features Cantor Phil Baron and special guests as well as the Valley Beth Shalom Choir and Instrumental Ensemble under the direction of Noreen Green. Fri. 8 p.m. Free. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 788-6000. vbs.org.