What’s Happening: Equality Shabbat, ‘Jewish Dog’

FRI NOV 22

Elana Arian
Recording artist and composer Elana Arian, who studied conducting, violin, jazz guitar and songwriting at Yale, appears at Simply Shabbat services at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills (TEBH). She performs a program of contemporary Jewish music. Arian, whose music has inspired Jewish communities across North America, recently released her third album of original music. She returns to TEBH, performing in the first of three Sacred Sounds Unbound concerts co-organized by TEBH and Temple Beth Am. Friday 6:15-7:45 p.m. Free. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Corwin Family Sanctuary, 300 N. Clark Drive, Beverly Hills. Saturday night 7-10 p.m. $18 suggested donation. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Greer Social Hall. (310) 288-3737.

Singles Shabbat Dinner
A singles Shabbat dinner for an age group often overlooked — ages 35-55 — takes place at Nessah Synagogue. Who knows? You may meet someone new and interesting. 7 p.m.-midnight. $35. Nessah Synagogue, 142 S. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 273-2400.  For more information, contact Shideh Zarrabian or Edna Broukhim at njs@nessah.org.      

Transgender Shabbat
Unanswered questions, including how and why a black gay rights activist died 27 years ago, are the focus of “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson,” a 2017 film screening at Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC). Afterward, friends and members of BCC participate in a Transgender Day of Remembrance Shabbat service, honoring transgender people slain in the past year. BCC Rabbi Alyson Solomon and BCC former President Davi Cheng lead services. 6-7:45 p.m. screening. 8-9:30 p.m. Transgender Day of Remembrance services. Free. Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6090 Pico Blvd. (323) 931-7023.

Social Justice Shabbat
A social justice Shabbat at Kehillat Israel features senior attorney David Pettit of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) speaking about President Donald Trump’s administration’s environmental rollbacks and their negative effects on California. Drawing on the expertise of 600 scientists, lawyers and policy advocates, the NRDC aims to safeguard the planet’s people, plants, animals and the natural systems pivotal to sustaining life. 7 p.m. Free. Kehillat Israel, 16019 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 459-2328.

Equality Shabbat
Reform West Valley community Kol Tikvah holds an Equality Shabbat service, emphasizing unity, equality and inclusion for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The LGBTQA+ service features music, poetry and prayer. Socializing, coffee and dessert follow. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Kol Tikvah, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 348-0670. .

Paper Midrash
Scholar-in-residence at Adat Ari El, known as PaperMidrash, features Isaac and Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik, who bring pop culture Torah to a unique Shabbat experience. After kabbalat Shabbat services and a community dinner, the couple shares their participatory visual presentation, “Women of Valor and Other Super Heroes.” 6 p.m. services, 7 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. program. $21 dinner. Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 766-9426. To RSVP click on link above.

SAT NOV 23

Jewish Communities Around the World
Daniel Helman, a lecturer on the faculty of labor relations at a Vietnam university, has traveled to Jewish communities in distant, exotic settings. He discusses his colorful experiences at Mishkon Tephilo. Helman is interested in geoscience, mental health and the arts. He speaks about the Jews of India, Chile, Singapore, Cuba, Finland, Australia and, of course, Vietnam. 1-2 p.m. Mishkon Tephilo, Social Hall, 206 Main St., Venice. (310) 392-3029.

SUN NOV 24

“Body and Soul”
In its Los Angeles premiere, the film “Body and Soul” recounts the historical connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel. The seemingly well-known story is related with cogency and with fresh factual information. The film screens as part of a Sunday afternoon series at Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel. Refreshments served. 4:30 p.m. Free. Sephardic Temple, 10500 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 475-7000. RSVP at juliah@sephardictemple.org.

TUE NOV 26

“Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog”
Pro-Israel education group StandWithUs and its Center for Combating Antisemitism holds a private screening of “Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog,” an award-winning film about a dog’s unbreakable connection to an 11-year-old boy and his amazing survival during the Holocaust. The evening includes a Q-and-A with the film’s writer-producer-director Lynn Roth, and the young star of the film, August Maturo, will be present. The film is suitable for ages 11-and-older. 6 p.m. VIP dinner reception. 7 p.m. screening. $25 general admission. $100 VIP admission. Dessert reception for all. Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Rebekah at (310) 836-6140, ext. 106. standwithus.com/shepherdfilm.

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