WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JEWISH L.A
by Ryan Torok, Contributing Writer
April 9-15
To submit an event organized by a Los Angeles organization, please email [email protected]
Friday, April 9
BIM-BAM SHABBAT
Here is an ideal moment to introduce the tots in your household to Shabbat via Bim-Bam Shabbat, designed especially for their age group and attention span. Through song, dance and story time, Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills Cantor Lizzie Weiss and Rabbi Adam Lutz assemble the building blocks of a weekly Shabbat ritual. 11-11:30 a.m. tebh.org.
Sunday, April 11
GOOD DEEDS DAY
In the spirit of caring for the community, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles convenes the annual and worldwide Good Deeds Day on Zoom. The concept started in Israel and holds that the smallest positive actions motivate us to change the world for the better. Connecting with Repair the World and Federation partners, participants learn about at-risk populations, create kits to aid homeless persons and examine how to aid those transitioning to housing. 10:45 a.m. linkin.bio/jfedla.
SEPHARDIC VICTIMS OF SHOAH
During a webinar commemorating Sephardic victims of the Shoah in honor of Yom HaShoah, the Holocaust Museum LA convenes diverse voices speaking out on behalf of victims and survivors. UCLA anthropologist Aomar Baum, a specialist of religious and ethnic communities in the Middle East and North Africa, delivers the keynote address. Additional speakers include Rabbi Daniel Bouskila, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles Hillel Newman. 11 a.m. A post-event recording of the program is available for those who register at holocaustmuseumla.org.
VISIONARY JEWISH ARCHITECTS
The Braid program, “Visionary Jewish Architects: A Conversation with L.A.’s Acclaimed Creators,” features renowned Los Angeles architects Bob Hale and Michael Lehrer sharing stories behind their legendary global and local projects. Braid board member Jodie Mendelson moderates the special Zoom event. Hale is creative director and partner at the innovative design collective Rios. Lehrer, founder of Lehrer Architects L.A., has won more than 140 global awards. 11 a.m. Free. Purchase of $18 virtual tickets helps support Braid, formerly Jewish Women’s Theatre. the-braid.org.
BCC’S “STOP ASIAN HATE”
Hate crimes against Asians leaped 114-percent last year and 150-percent nationwide. “Stop Asian Hate,” a civics-in-the-synagogue program held on Zoom and co-organized by Beth Chayim Chadashim and Temple Isaiah, focuses on this rise in hate crimes against Asians. Speaking is Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate. 2-3 p.m. Register at bcc-la.org.
“BEYOND THE BINARY”
At Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Ariel Zitny is a queer and trans rabbinical and education student, and his partner, Ze’evi Berman, who describes themself as queer, trans, nonbinary and genderqueer, is studying toward cantorial ordination. Congregation Kol Ami organizes “Beyond the Binary: Gender Diversity and Judaism,” featuring Zitny and Berman in the second of three workshops on gender and Judaism and the inclusion of people who do not fit into the gender binary. 4-5 p.m. kol-ami.org.
Monday, April 12
ENTERING “HOPE VALLEY”
Israeli Rabbi Haviva Ner-David, founder of the only mikveh in Israel that is open to all, introduces “Hope Valley,” her new book about a complex relationship between two women, a Jewish Israeli and a Palestinian Israeli, set before the second intifada. Deb Engel Kollin of American Jewish University interviews the rabbi. 11 a.m. Free. aju.edu/byachad-together/events/Book-Talk-Hope-Valley-with-Haviva-Ner-David.
Tuesday, April 13
LIFE OF PHILIP ROTH
Having been recruited by the man himself, author Blake Bailey spent the last six years of Philip Roth’s life working with him and getting his side of the story. Three years after Roth’s death at age 85, Bailey sits down with humorist Peter Sagal for a virtual program centered on his recently released book, “Philip Roth: The Biography.” The program is co-organized by Writers Bloc Presents and Skirball Cultural Center. 5 p.m. Free. skirball.org/programs/words-and-ideas/blake-bailey-conversation-peter-sagal.
CELEBRATING ISRAELI FOOD
In advance of Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day), Congregation Kol Ami welcomes Chef Jake Cohen, a nice Jewish boy who loves food, to celebrate and talk about Israeli cuisine. Cohen, who studied at the Culinary Institute of America and has worked in food media, is the author of the new cookbook “Jew-ish.” 5:30-6:30 p.m. More details at kol-ami.org/event/chef-jake-cohen-celebrating-israeli-food.html.
YOM HAZIKARON SERVCE
At a special Yom HaZikaron service, the Israel Committee of Shomrei Torah Synagogue reads the names of Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. Those who want a family member’s name mentioned during the program are asked to please contact the synagogue. The service is shown on the synagogue website and on Facebook. 6-7 p.m. More information at stsonline.org.
RABBI FEINSTEIN SERIES
In the second part of his ongoing College of Jewish Studies Zoom series on permanent questions in Jewish life, Valley Beth Shalom Senior Rabbi Ed Feinstein tackles “Why Israel? How Sovereignty Changed Us?” The final two programs are “Why Me? How We Find a Way Through Darkness,” on April 21, and “Why Pray? Who Do a Mitzvah?” on April 28. 7 p.m. vbs.org/college.
Wednesday, April 14
“BIRTH OF THE JEWISH NATION”
In film producer Laurel Fairworth’s documentary, “Code Name: Ayalon,” 45 teenagers are in an underground bunker, secretly manufacturing bullets to help Jewish soldiers protect the just-born state of Israel. During this American Jewish University (AJU) program, Fairworth appears in conversation with AJU Professor Michael Berenbaum, sharing behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the film. 1 p.m. Free. aju.edu/byachad-together/events/Birth-of-the-Jewish-Nation-Documentary-Code-Name-Ayalon.
Thursday, April 15
AJC YOM HAATZMAUT
With the arrival of Israel’s Independence Day, American Jewish Committee brings together four generations of Israelis and Americans—great-grandparents, grandparents, parents and children – to talk about their connections to the Jewish state on its 73rd birthday. 9 a.m. ajc.org/event-listing/advocacy-anywhere.
ADAT ARI EL CELEBRATES ISRAEL
Adat Ari El invites community members back to its Valley Village campus for the first time in a year for a family-friendly experiential virtual tour of Israel in honor of Yom HaAtzmaut. Congregants “visit” different cities in Israel and enjoy the highlights of what the Jewish State has to offer. The program is timed to allow for social distancing and for adhering to Covid-19 guidelines. 3-7 p.m. More details at adatariel.org/event/yom-haatzmaut-event.html.
JFNA YOM HAATZMAUT
Join the Jewish Federation of North America for a worldwide celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut as Israel turns 73, and Jews bid farewell to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Israel’s 10th president. En route to Tokyo, Israel’s Olympic gold medal hopefuls, gymnast Linoy Ashram and marathon runner Marhu Teferi, stop by the program. 4 p.m. PT. Free. Register at http://jfeds.org/Israel73
