Calendar Picks and Clicks: May 11-May 18, 2011

WED | MAY 11

“TEEN BULLYING”
CBS/KCAL news anchor Pat Harvey moderates a discussion on teen bullying with guest speakers Gail Rolf of Friends of Project 10; Daniel Solis of the Gay Straight Alliance Network; Holly Priebe-Diaz, an intervention coordinator with LAUSD; Sara Train of The Trevor Project; Bev Meyer of the Fairfax High School Safe School Ambassadors Program; and a student from Fairfax H.S. Wed. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. NCJW/LA Council House, 543 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 852-8503. ncjwla.org.

THU | MAY 12

STAND-UP FOR ISRAEL
Celebrate Israel Independence Day with laughter. Comedian Joel Chasnoff, who toured with Jon Stewart and Lewis Black of “The Daily Show,” draws on a mix of personal anecdotes and keen observations of Israeli life for his act. In his irreverent memoir, “The 188th Crybaby Brigade,” Chasnoff recounts his eye-opening experience in the Israeli army as a tank gunner. Thu. 7:30 p.m. Free. Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Audrey and Sydney Irmas Campus, 11661 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 445-1280. wilshireboulevardtemple.org.

FRI | MAY 13

“MIDNIGHT IN PARIS”
Owen Wilson stars opposite Marion Cotillard and France’s first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, in Woody Allen’s latest romantic comedy, which opened the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 11. When a young engaged couple (Wilson and Rachel McAdams) travel with family on a business trip to the City of Light, they are forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own would be better. Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Gad Elmaleh and Léa Seydoux also star. Fri. Various theaters. sonyclassics.com/midnightinparis.

SAT-SUN | MAY 14-15

BIG SUNDAY WEEKEND
This annual community service event, founded by David Levinson at Temple Israel of Hollywood in 1999, now features volunteer projects in 100 towns and cities throughout California, from San Diego to San Francisco. Among the hundreds of activities: Plant gardens or clean up at schools; fix up a homeless shelter; decorate potholders for Jewish World Watch’s Solar Cooker Project; or sort, shlep and stock a food pantry. Various times and locations. (323) 549-9944. bigsunday.org.

SUN | MAY 15

THIRD ANNUAL JEWISH FOOD AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Today’s festivities include a bubbe-judged kugel cook-off; a record attempt for the world’s largest falafel; food trucks, like Takosher, Sam’s Flaming Grill, Canter’s Deli Truck and Yalla Truck; live entertainment and dancing; a Mitzvah Alley; face painting, bouncer and more. Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $5 (adults; discount tickets available at eventbrite.com), free (children, 12 and under). Two-for-one entry with donation of nonperishable food item. College of the Canyons, Lot 7, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Valencia. scvjewishfoodfestival.com.

MON | MAY 16

YAEL NAIM
The singer-songwriter became the first Israeli artist to score a top-10 hit in the United States after Apple picked her song “New Soul” for its MacBook Air campaign. Multi-instrumentalist David Donatien joins Naim tonight as she performs songs from her new album, “She Was a Boy.” Mon. 7-9 p.m. $20. The Hotel Café, 1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 461-2040. hotelcafe.com.

TUE | MAY 17

LARRY MILLER
The prolific funnyman and character actor (“10 Things I Hate About You,” “8 Simple Rules”) headlines an all-star evening of stand-up during Hillel 818’s Comedy Night 2011. Comedian and radio-show host Frazer Smith emcees. Tue. 7 p.m. (VIP reception), 8 p.m. (show). $25 (general, advance), $30 (general, door), $10 (student, advance), $15 (student, door). $75 (VIP, includes wine and hors d’oeuvres reception with evening’s talent). HaHa Comedy Club, 5010 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. (818) 887-5901. hillel818.org.

MAKHELAT HASHACHAR
Also known as the Shinonome Chorus, this choral group is the centerpiece of Beit Shalom, a Christian Japanese religious movement whose followers recognize Jews as the Chosen People. Rooted in Zionist ideals, the choir sings Hebrew melodies during tonight’s performance. Tue. 7:45 p.m. $18 (suggested donation). University Synagogue, 11960 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 472-1255. unisyn.org.

AVIVAH GOTTLIEB ZORNBERG
When Tzelafchad died without a male heir, his daughters petitioned Moses to grant women the right to inherit property. Can this be considered a feminist narrative? The renowned Scottish-born Torah scholar turns to midrashic and Chasidic sources to explore the topic during “To Be or Not to Be: A Tale of Five Sisters.” Tue. 6 p.m. (dinner reception), 7:30 p.m. (lecture). $15 (lecture only), $40 (includes dinner). Hillel at UCLA, 574 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 208-3081. ucla.hillel.org.

WED | MAY 18

RELIGION. RELATIONSHIPS. RUGELACH.
Are you a 40-something (or older) navigating the dating world? Rabbi David Wolpe examines how Judaism influences your relationships, both positively and negatively. Wed. 7:30 p.m. $10 (general), free (Sinai Temple members). Sinai Temple, Ziegler Hall, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 481-3243. sinaitemple.org.

“LUV”
Milt Manville wants to marry his girlfriend, but his wife, Ellen, won’t grant him a divorce. After he stops a down-and-out college friend, Harry Berlin, from jumping off a bridge, Milt gets the idea to play matchmaker between Harry and Ellen. Howard Teichman directs Murray Schisgal’s Tony-winning 1964 comedy about marriage and misery for Theatre 40 and West Coast Jewish Theatre. Wed. Through June 26. 8 p.m. (Wed.-Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sun. matinee). $23 (Wed.-Fri.), $25 (Sat.-Sun.). Reuben Cordova Theatre, Beverly Hills High School, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 364-0535. theatre40.org.