WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JEWISH L.A
by Ryan Torok, Contributing Writer
01/15-01/21
To submit an event organized by a Los Angeles organization, please email [email protected]
Friday, January 15
HONORING DR. KING
Open Temple in Venice honors the life of Martin Luther King Jr. with virtual Shabbat services, featuring Jill Housen, racial equity, diversion and inclusion facilitator and Open Temple co-creator. April marks the 53rd anniversary of King’s assassination. For more information, visit opentemple.org/mlkshabbat.
MLK AND JEWS OF COLOR
Martin Luther King Jr. was born 92 years ago today, and Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills celebrates his birthday by welcoming Ilana Kaufman as its scholar-in-residence. Founder of the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative, she will speak about an increasingly diverse Jewish community and impact on the established community. 6:15-7:45 p.m. tebh.org/event/mlk-shabbat-unplugged.
BELAFONTE SPEAKS OUT
Actress and social activist Gina Belafonte, executive director of the social justice organization Sankofa, leads a discussion during the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center’s kabbalat Shabbat services. In honor of the life of Martin Luther King Jr., Belafonte leads a discussion about equitable change and takes questions from the audience. 7:30 p.m. To receive a Zoom link for the event, email [email protected].
SOULVEY
A virtual evening of Black-Jewish solidarity features an inclusive Shabbat experience and a conversation with thought leaders. Speakers include Clarence Jones, who served as a speechwriter and personal counsel to Martin Luther King, Jr., and MSBNC news personality Ari Melber. The event is held in advance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 5-6:30 p.m. PST. Free. Register at soulvey.com.
Sunday, January 17
YIDDISH FROM THE BEGINNING
It is never too late learn Yiddish, and here is a chance to master it. This series, organized by the Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America and taught by Dave Fried, starts with vowels and each week adds consonants. Jan. 17, Jan. 24. 11 a.m. PST. $15 per class, $75 for series. For more information, mail Fried at [email protected] or call (619) 719.1776. yaaana.com.
DRIVE-IN MOVIES WITH ADAT ARI EL
Yearning to step out and see a film? Adat Ari El offers a tripleheader of old-fashioned drive-in movies for the entire family. Opening with 2012’s “The Lorax,” a takeoff on a Dr. Seuss story, “The Goonies,” based on a 1985 Steven Spielberg story, is next, followed by Billy Crystal in “City Slickers,” a Western comedy from 1991. 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. (818) 766-9426. adatariel.org.
Monday, January 18
MLK INTERFAITH TRIBUTE
Sinai Temple convenes “If Not Now: A Multicultural Interfaith Tribute to Martin Luther King,” a huge live-steamed program to honor the slain civil rights leader. The evening includes performances and words by community activists, artists and faith leaders, including Peter Yarrow, Walt Whitman, Soul Children of Chicago, Rabbi David Wolpe, Rabbi Erez Sherman, Ayo Awosika, Craig Taubman, Noa Achinoam Nina, Stuart Robinson, Rick Lupert, Pastor John Paul Foster and Pastor Najuma Pollard. 4 p.m. Live-steamed on Sinai Streamed, YouTube, Facebook. To register, visit sinaitemple.org.
SYMBOLS OF HATE
Jordanna Gessler and Christie Jovanovic of the Holocaust Museum L.A. take an in-depth look at Nazi symbols of hate, including the swastika and the Heil Hitler salute. Learn from the webinar how these symbols and gestures were perverted into hate channels or designed from the start to cause bias. 4 p.m. $12 minimum donation. holocaustmuseumla.org.
Tuesday, January 19
JEWISH MUSIC MASTERCLASS
Gerard Edery, a master singer/guitarist, is regarded as an expert in the wide-ranging music of the Sephardic Diaspora. In his virtual 90-minute Jewish music masterclass, Casablanca native’s brand of world music fusion values authenticity and how certain cultures overlap. Free. 5 p.m. jewishla.org
THE ULTIMATE BALABOOSTA
Tel Aviv-born Einat Admony, known as the Ultimate Balaboosta, leads off Shomrei Torah Synagogue’s four-part Celebrity Chefs series. Tonight’s menu spans Moroccan spiced fish, with Yemenite salad with Fenugreek-Yoghurt dressing, and Ja’ala. 5 p.m. stsonline.org.
BIDEN’S IMPACT ON ISRAEL
On the night before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, Sinai Temple senior Rabbi David Wolpe talks to AIPAC Deputy National Political Director Ed Miller. In addition to the implications of the new administration for Israel, they will probe the meaning of Democrat control of both houses of Congress. 6:30 p.m. sinaitemple.org.
Thursday, January 21
TOUR OF JEWISH CUBA
Here is an opportunity to learn the Jewish history of Cuba when Saul Berenthal hosts an online tour sponsored by My Jewish Learning. Berenthal’s family operates a travel agency and the only kosher hotel on the island. His family fled Europe and settled in Havana where Berenthal was born in 1944. Free. 9 a.m. myjewishlearning.com.
REFLECTING ON INAUGURATION
On this day after the inauguration of President Biden, Journal columnist Dan Schnur, Holocaust Museum L.A. Board member and USC professor, moderates a panel discussion among the Museum’s Building Bridges partners regarding fighting discrimination and increasing diversity. Partners include the Jewish Center for Justice, the Los Angeles Urban League, Hispanics Organized for Political Equity and the Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment. $10 suggested donation. 11 a.m. holocaustmuseumla.org.
“THANKS A THOUSAND”
If you are familiar with A.J. Jacobs’ latest book, “Thanks a Thousand,” you may understand why he practices stunt journalism. He tells Rabbi Sherre Hirsch of American University the title derives from his commitment to thank a thousand people who had any role in his practice of a cup of coffee every morning. The author of “Drop Dead Healthy,” Jacobs has given four TED talks that have drawn more than eight million views. Noon. aju.edu.
“TIGHTROPE” AT SKIRBALL
The Skirball Cultural Center’s new online exhibition, “Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope,” based on a book by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and his wife Sheryl WuDunn, opens a four-month run. The authors focus on complex problems including the prison industrial complex, the opioid crisis and lack of affordable healthcare. Free. skirball.org.
ACLU’S CENTURY OF VICTORIES
Novelist Michael Chabon and his lawyer wife Ayelet Waldman talk about a book they have co-edited, arguing that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has reshaped American life in the past century with legal moves that desegregated schools, allowed abortions and protected free speech. Their book, “Fight of the Century: Writers Reflect on 100 Years of Landmark ACLU Cases,” probes deep inside the ACLU’s most meaningful successes. $26. 3:30 p.m. streicker.nyc.
