FRI MARCH 22
T’Marim Sephardic Shabbat
Spend Friday night with Valley Beth Shalom artist-in-residence Asher Levy and Cantor Phil Baron. They perform historic music evoking Sephardic musical traditions from Turkey, Iran, Spain, Morocco, Syria, Egypt, Greece and Yemen. The final T’marim Sephardic Shabbat in this three-part series is May 31. 6 p.m. mezze (Sephardic appetizers), 6:30 p.m. Shabbat service. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 788-6000.
“The Changing Face of American White Supremacy”
Joanna Mendelson, senior investigative researcher at the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, is the guest speaker at Adat Ari El’s “678 Shabbat.” Mendelson explores the state of hate, the recent uptick in anti-Semitism and the newest trends in the white supremacy movement. 6 p.m. services. 7 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. program. $18. RSVP required. Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 766-9426.
“Hairspray Purim!”
The story of Esther is retold to the music of “Hairspray!” So don your favorite ’60s gear and your best drag or wig and join Kol Ami’s “1960s Shushan” Purim celebration. Rabbis Denise Eger and Max Chaiken, Kol Ami’s studio band and community members lead the festivities. The evening begins with a Persian-themed dinner at 6 p.m. 7:30 p.m., services and show. Free; $18, dinner. Congregation Kol Ami, 1200 N. La Brea Ave., West Hollywood. (323) 606-0996.
“Persian Shabbat”
Coinciding with the week of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, Shomrei Torah Synagogue Cantorial Soloist Jackie Rafii, guitarist Daniel Raijman, violinist Jenni Asher and percussionist Ava Nahas celebrate “Persian Shabbat Around the World,” an evening of music, prayer, story and food. Persian cuisine, including gheymeh beef stew, traditional gondi balls and vegetarian ghormeh sabzi, is served. 6 p.m. services. Free. 7:15 p.m. dinner. $30 adult members, $15 kids. $36 general adults, $18 kids. Shomrei Torah Synagogue, 7353 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills. (818) 854-7650.
Purim at Nessah
A weekend-long Purim celebration at Nessah Synagogue in Beverly Hills features two presentations by Rabbi Isaac Bakhshi. On Friday night, he discusses “Three Kinds of Love.” On Saturday during lunch, he discusses “The 3 A’s: Attention, Appreciation and Affection.” Friday 8:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday 1:15-4:30 p.m. $36 Friday night dinner, $20 children younger than 11. $26 Saturday lunch, $18 children younger than 11. Nessah Synagogue, 142 S. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 273-2400.
“Dancing With Our Souls”
“Dancing with Our Souls,” Lev Eisha’s annual three-day women’s weekend event in the Santa Monica Mountains, features four workshops, dancing, songs, hiking, entertainment and friendship. This retreat is intended for women to explore their souls through mind and body connection. A community of Jewish women who welcome all, Lev Eisha’s Shabbat getaway is led by Rabbi Toba August and cantorial soloist Cindy Paley. Robin Winston teaches Israeli dancing and Cantor Melanie Fine performs her one-woman show, “Jewish Hidden Figures.” Leslie Geffen leads a Sunday morning photo walk. Through March 24. Various prices. Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino. (760) 861-4791. For more information, click on the link above.
“The Purim League”
Take me out to the Purim league, take me out to the crowd. The sports-themed Kol Tikvah Purim party, “The Purim League,” features a costume parade where partygoers wear their favorite sports team gear, cheer outfit or even their own sports uniform. The evening also includes a family Shabbat service, led by Kol Tikvah clergy and the temple band Kolplay, a Megillah reading and shpiel. Enjoy a free dinner with RSVP and other activities and entertainment. All ages are invited. Please bring a new or gently used sports equipment to donate to L.A. Family Housing. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Kol Tikvah, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 348-0670.
SUN MARCH 24
“Purim World”
Those who want to have fun won’t want to miss Adat Ari El’s Purim party, featuring face painting, carnival games, magic shows, DJ, inflatables and a special concert by Beat Buds. 11 a.m.-3 pm. $36-$45. Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 766-9426.
“Ben-Gurion, Epilogue”
In 1968, David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s founding father, was 82 years old and living in the desert when he sat down for an introspective, soul-searching interview. The footage is the basis of “David Ben-Gurion, Epilogue,” which screens as part of Sephardic Temple’s free Sunday movie screenings series. Refreshments served. 5 p.m. Free. Sephardic Temple, 10500 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 475-7000.
Temple Judea Purim Carnival
The big rides are back at Temple Judea’s Purim Carnival, featuring rides traditionally found at carnivals, from a towering Ferris wheel to a bouncy house. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $50 ride wristbands, $1 tickets. Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. (818) 758-3800.
“Doing Business in America”
The Jewish role in American life is spotlighted during “Doing Business in America: A Jewish History.” A panel features Hasia Diner, a professor of American Jewish history at New York University; Jonathan Karp, associate professor in the departments of Judaic studies and history at Binghamton University in New York; and Matthew Garcia, professor and chair of Latin America, Latino and Caribbean Studies at Dartmouth College. A Q-and-A follows. 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Doheny Memorial Library, 3550 Trousdale Parkway, USC campus. (213) 740-4305.
“Chassidim, Yiddishists, Socialists”
Shmuel Gonzales, aka the Barrio Boychik, leads a 3 1/2-mile walking tour of historical Jewish religious and Yiddish cultural sites of L.A.’s Eastside. The tour visits Congregation Ohel Moshe, the Soto Street Shul of the first Chasidic rebbe to settle in Los Angeles; old labor and leftist political bases of Yiddishists in the hills of City Terrace; and other Jewish sites. Noon-3 p.m. $20. Meet at the Breed Street Shul, 247 N. Breed St., Los Angeles. For more information, email shmuel.gonzales@outlook.com.
TUE MARCH 26
“Jewish Community Sing”
A community that sings together, stays together. During a free community concert at Sinai Temple, people of all ages take a journey through Israeli melodies and folk songs and sing, schmooze and learn what makes the music so beautiful. Led by composer, conductor and educator Michelle Green Willner, the participatory gathering features accompaniment by Chris Haller on bass guitar, Jeffrey Silverman on piano and Scott Breadman on drums. 8-9:30 p.m. Free. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-1518.
WED MARCH 27
“God in the Voting Booth?”
Three experts convene at American Jewish University to debate religion’s role in American politics. The speakers are Rabbi Adam Greenwald, director of AJU’s Introduction to Judaism program; the Rev. Jonathan Chute of Rolling Hills United Methodist Church; and Aziza Hasan, executive director of NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change. Reinhard Krauss, executive director of the Academy for Judaic, Christian and Islamic Studies, moderates. 7:30 p.m. $10. American Jewish University, Shapiro Synagogue, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (310) 440-1572.
THU MARCH 28
“Doing Justice”
Two of America’s leading legal personalities — Jeffrey Toobin, a CNN legal analyst and New Yorker writer; and Preet Bharara, a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York — appear in conversation. Bharara made national news when President Donald Trump fired him shortly after his inauguration because he refused to resign. He has also charged managers and employees engaged in fraud related to Holocaust reparations. He discusses his new book, “Doing Justice: A Prosecutor’s Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law,” with Toobin. 7:30 pm. $42 general admission, includes book. Robert Frost Auditorium, 4401 Elenda St., Culver City. (310) 443-9925.
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