Calendar Picks and Clicks: November 16-November 25

Pick of the week: Sunday, November 20

MOSHE PERETZ AND MATISYAHU
The two musical heavyweights co-headline “Do Something for Someone,” a community concert organized by I.L. Care, a volunteer network for the L.A. Jewish and Israeli-American community. With Peretz’s brand of Mizrahi pop, a fusion of Arabic and North African sounds, and Matisyahu’s reggae-pop concoctions, attendees are in for an eclectic evening. Agree to volunteer four hours by the end of 2012 and receive a special discounted rate. Sun. 6:30 p.m. $90 (general), $18 (with volunteer commitment). Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal CityWalk, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. ilcare.net.

WED | NOV 16

DAVID CRONENBERG
The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival presents a sneak preview of Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method.” Drawn from true events, the film looks at the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), his mentor Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and patient Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), the troubled but beautiful Russian-Jewish woman who comes between them. Cronenberg (“Eastern Promises,” “A History of Violence”) appears in a post-screening Q-and-A with Jewish Journal Arts & Entertainment Editor Naomi Pfefferman. Wed. 7:30 p.m. Free (reservations required). Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (800) 838-3006. lajfilmfest.org.

THU | NOV 17

“ITALY MADE! PASSIONS AND PROJECTS”
Before the rise of fascism in Italy and the outbreak of World War II, Jews played an important role in Italian society, particularly the military and government. Today’s symposium, part of a three-day conference marking the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification, examines the role that Jewish leadership played in the country’s evolution into a nation-state. The Embassy of Italy-Washington, the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles and the UCLA Center for Jewish Studies are among the event’s co-sponsors. Thu. 1 p.m. Free (pre-registration required). Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, 1023 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 267-5327. cjs.ucla.edu.

FRI | NOV 18

YIRAH: AWE-INSPIRING WILDERNESS ADVENTURES
Camping and hiking highlight this trip organized by TorahTrek, which emphasizes the benefits of praying in nature. Intended for fit and active 20- and 30-somethings, the overnight jaunt features a 3.5-mile round-trip trek to The Grotto, a watering hole among boulders, Shabbat dinner at a campground — bring instruments, scary stories and marshmallows — and a six-mile hike to Sandstone Peak, the highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains. Fri. 4 p.m. through Sat. 3 p.m. $54 (general), $36 (students, under-employed and unemployed). Circle X Ranch, 12896 Yerba Buena Road, Malibu (meeting place). (443) 722-4294. torahtrek.org.

SAT | NOV 19

GLBT RIGHTS IN ISRAEL
Mike Hamel, outgoing chair of the Israeli Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association — commonly known as Agudah — discusses GLBT rights in Israel during lunch at Beth Chayim Chadashim’s Saturday Morning Minyan. A Q-and-A follows. Sat. 10 a.m. Free. Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6090 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 931-7023. bcc-la.org.

HIKE TO HOLLYWOOD SIGN
You keep telling yourself that you’ll hike up to the Hollywood sign, and yet you still haven’t gotten around to it. Not to worry — Birthright Israel NEXT Los Angeles leads a five-mile trek to the L.A. landmark, which overlooks the L.A. basin, as part of its Active Outdoor Shabbat Series. All skill levels are welcome. Sat. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free (RSVP requested). Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 601-7878. losangeles.birthrightisrael.com.

LA LA HAVDALAH!
End Shabbat with an Eastside extravaganza. Tonight’s event, organized by East Side Jews, Reboot and the Silverlake Independent JCC, features live music, food trucks — including the PattyWagon, Gastrobus, Sweet E’s — and beer from Golden Road Brewing. Bands performing tonight include Starlight Radio, The Knuckleheadz, The Beginning, Hollow Point Eyes, Tru Fight and Neverever. All ages welcome. Sat. 5:30 p.m. Free. Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center, 1110 Bates Ave., Los Angeles. eastsidejews.com.

SUN | NOV 20

“RESEARCHING YOUR ROOTS”
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles and the Skirball Cultural Center host a daylong family history symposium. Experts Crista Cowan (Ancestry World Archives Project), Stephen Morse (One-Step Webpages) and Bennett Greenspan (Family Tree DNA) lead information sessions, and lunch ’n’ learn roundtables cover researching in overseas archives in Hungary, Poland/Galicia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Moldova. Sun. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. $50 (JGSLA and Skirball members), $60 (general). Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (818) 771-5554. jgsla.org.

“SOUTHERN COMFORTS”
Southern widow Amanda meets Gus, a Yankee widower from New Jersey, and finds love late in life in this off-Broadway romantic comedy, part of the Celebrity Staged Play Reading series at the Westside Jewish Community Center. Written by Kathleen Clark, and starring Alan Feinstein (“A View From the Bridge”) and Alexandra More. Sun. 2 p.m. (doors open at 1:30 p.m.). $16 (general), $14 (seniors, students), $12 (senior member, student member). Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 938-2531. westsidejcc.org.

TUE | NOV 22

ALAN KAUFMAN
The irreverent author discusses his latest memoir, “Drunken Angel,” divulging how growing up as the son of a French Holocaust survivor affected him, and how his alcoholism alienated those around him, including his daughter, before he got clean at 40. Tue. 7 p.m. Free. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 659-3110. www.booksoup.com.

THU | NOV 24

SKI WEEKEND IN WHISTLER
Spend Thanksgiving Weekend with Jewish professionals (25-45) on the slopes in Whistler. The trip includes a three-night hotel stay, a Friday night Shabbat dinner, a Saturday Shabbat lunch and barbecue, and more. Contact the Chotzen Sisters, who organized the excursion, for discounted rates for ski tickets as well as ski and snowboard rentals. Airfare not included. Thu. Through Nov. 27. 7:30 p.m. $199 (per person). $225 (per person, two-bedroom suite), $320 (per person, two-person occupancy). (604) 738-7060. thekollel.com/events.

FRI | NOV 25

ANNIVERSARY SHABBAT UNDER THE STARS
Sephardic singles (40s-60s) host tonight’s Shabbat celebration, featuring a catered Middle Eastern dinner and a musical performance by Zirzuvi, a band from Santa Cruz that plays mostly Sephardic music in Ladino, Jewish music in Hebrew and Turkish folk songs. Fri. 6 p.m. $30 (door), $25 (prepaid by Nov. 20), $20 (prepaid chavurah members). Culver City Clubhouse. Call (818) 564-0153 or (323) 294-6084 for more information.