FRI JAN 5
NASHUVA SHABBAT SERVICE
A soulful monthly Shabbat service with the Nashuva community takes place in Brentwood. Led by Rabbi Naomi Levy, wife of former Jewish Journal Editor-in-Chief Rob Eshman, Nashuva (Hebrew for “return”) is a congregation of Jews committed to spirituality and social action. Services feature a live band, meditation and the embrace of a welcoming and accessible environment. Zimmer Children’s Museum staffs onsite and concurrent programming for children. An oneg Shabbat with treats follows. Attendees are encouraged to dress casually and wear white in honor of Shabbat. 6:45-8:30 p.m. Free. Brentwood Presbyterian Church, 12000 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles. nashuva.com.
JEWISH WOMEN SHABBAT
Lev Eisha, a community of Jewish women, holds a joyous Shabbat musical celebration for Jewish women. Rabbi Toba August, Cindy Paley and Joy Krauthammer lead the service. A Kiddush follows. Though the service is for and led by women, all are welcome. 9:30 a.m. Free. Beth Shir Shalom, 1827 California Ave., Santa Monica. (310) 575-0985. leveisha.org.
“THE WOMEN’S BALCONY”
Temple Beth Am screens the Israeli dramatic comedy “The Women’s Balcony” as part of the synagogue’s film series. In the film, an accident during a bat mitzvah celebration leads to a gender rift in the devout Orthodox community in Jerusalem. Producer, writer and film historian Michael Berlin participates in pre- and post-screening conversations. 7:30 p.m. $12. Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 652-7353. tbala.org.
SUN JAN 7
BASIC STAINED GLASS TRAINING
Revital Goldreich, an award-winning artist who is in the process of earning a master’s in interfaith relations from the Academy of Jewish Religion, California, teaches how to make stained-glass windows to Shomrei Torah Synagogue members and their friends. Participants learn the four steps to the art: cutting, grinding, coppering and soldering. Goldreich cuts the glass and organizes a production line to grind, copper and solder the glass. The four-hour workshop is limited to eight participants. Ages 18 and older. Through March 25. $36 (first time in the studio), $18 (second time in the studio), free (third time in the studio). 1-5 p.m. Revital’s Studio, 20643 Quedo Drive, Woodland Hills. (818) 458-9389. stsonline.org.
“PUSH AND PULL GENEALOGY”
Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo and Ventura County founding member Werner Frank discusses the small world of Jewish genealogy and the rationale behind the claim that all Ashkenazi Jews are at least 30th cousins. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Temple Adat Elohim, 2420 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. (818) 889-6616. jgscv.org.
ADAT ARI EL’S 24TH ANNUAL ENGEL CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT
The New Hollywood String Quartet & Friends will honor the 100th birthday of the late Rose Engel with an afternoon of music by Schubert. A reception with light refreshments will follow. Presented by the Rose & Edward Engel Music Commission. 2-4 p.m. Free; RSVP is requested. David Familian Chapel, Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 755-3480, ext. 244. adatariel.org.
TIKKUN OLAM FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION
Producer Anthony Bourdain’s “Wasted! The Story of Food Waste,” an exploration into why 1.3 billion tons of food is thrown away each year, screens at Kehillat Israel. Celebrity chefs including Bourdain, Massimo Bottura and Dan Barber appear in the 2017 documentary film. A free dinner kicks off the event. A panel discussion follows. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. 16019 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 459-2328. ourki.org.
MON JAN 8
THREE DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Would you jump from a 10-meter-high diving board for the first time for $30? Swedish filmmakers Maximilien Van Aertryck and Axel Danielson worked with this premise in their 16-minute documentary short, “Ten Meter Tower.” What drives the participants more: the fear of the plunge or the fear of missing out? This film, along with two other documentary shorts contending for best documentary short subject at the Academy Awards, screen at the Museum of Tolerance. The other films are “116 Cameras,” director Davina Pardo’s 16-minute film following Holocaust survivor and stepsister of Anne Frank Eva Schloss’ effort to preserve her story interactively, and director Garrett Bradley’s “Alone,” a film about the American prison system tearing apart a family. A discussion follows with New York Times Hollywood reporter Brooks Barnes and Van Aertryck, Pardo and Bradley, the films’ directors. 7 p.m. Free (advance reservations required). Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 772-2505. museumoftolerance.com/opdocs.
TUE JAN 9
“SEPHARDIC WOMEN’S VOICES”
Nina Lichtenstein shares stories from her book, “Sephardic Women’s Voices,” which traces the lives and writings of contemporary Jewish women born in North Africa who migrated to France. The author explores the meaning of their Sephardic heritage, their roles as women and their experience of exile. There will be an excerpt reading, interview and Q-and-A with the author. Light refreshments served. Books available for sale. 7-9 p.m. $10. The Braid, 2912 Colorado Ave., #102. Santa Monica. (310) 315-1400. jewishwomenstheatre.org.
TOWN HALL WITH COUNCILMAN PAUL KORETZ
Join a discussion about current events with Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz, who represents the Fifth District, as he talks about key issues and challenges facing the community. Open to the public. A brief Q-and-A will follow. 1-2:30 p.m. Free; registration is required at (323) 937-5900. JFS Freda Mohr Multipurpose Senior Center, 6310 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 275. jfsla.org.
WED JAN 10
“INTERMARRIAGE: OPPORTUNITY, CHALLENGE, OR THREAT?”
Can intermarriage be transformed into an opportunity for the Jewish community or is it a threat to its survival? Sinai Temple Rabbi Erez Sherman moderates a panel discussion on one of the greatest issues facing the Jewish community. Participants are Rabbi Brad Artson, dean of rabbinic studies at American Jewish University, and Rabbi Aaron Lerner, executive director of Hillel at UCLA. Their discussion explores intermarriage from different points of view and addresses a number of critical questions: What are its implications for individual Jews, families and the community? Can the trend of an increasing number of Jews marrying outside the faith be reversed? Everyone welcome. 6:30 p.m. Free dinner for Sinai Temple Men’s Club and Sinai Temple members; $10 for nonmembers. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-1518, ext. 3340. sinaitemple.org.
“RETHINKING INSULARITY”
Some observant Jews integrate elements of secular society into their lives. Others keep the outside world at a safe distance. During tonight’s Shalhevet Institute discussion, “Rethinking Insularity: The Role of Boundaries in the Modern World,” Shulem Deen, author of “All Who Go Do Not Return,” and Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, dean of Yeshiva Darchei Noam in Monsey, N.Y., discuss the challenges facing their communities. Abigal Shrier, a writer on Jewish affairs, moderates. 7:30 p.m. Free. Shalhevet High School, 910 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 930-9333. shalhevet.org.
“A SPOONFUL OF HESED”
Make meals for those in need of healing with Sinai Temple’s social action committee, sisterhood and Sinai Temple Rabbi Nicole Guzik. Ingredients and supplies for cooking soup will be provided. If you can’t join in on the cooking but are willing to drop off soup at someone’s house, contact Guzik. Adults and children ages 10 and older are welcome. 7-9 p.m. Free. RSVP at (310) 481-3234 or nguzik@sinaitemple.org. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. sinaitemple.org.
“MY JEWISH GENERATION”
Pressman Academy alum and Milken Community Schools Jewish studies teacher Joshua Krug discusses “My Jewish Generation: A Portrait of Millennial Jewish Identities in the USA.” Krug opens up about his personal journey from Beth Am in the 1990s to a doctoral study in Jewish education while he reflects on the state of his Jewish generation. By sketching a loose map of his generation, he will shed light on what is happening to Judaism and Jewish identity in America today. 7:30 p.m. Free. Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 652-7353. tbala.org.
THU JAN 11
THE LEGACIES OF KING AND HESCHEL
An interfaith event celebrates the birthdays and legacies of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, partners and friends in the fight for civil rights. Choirs will perform, faith leaders will speak, and participants, including those from Stephen Wise Temple, Bel Air Presbyterian Church and Faithful Central Bible Church, will reflect on King and Heschel’s contributions to humanity. 7:30 p.m. Free. Stephen Wise Temple, 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 476-8561. wisela.org/kingandheschel.
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