WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JEWISH L.A
by Ryan Torok, Contributing Writer
11/20 – 11/26
To submit an event organized by a Los Angeles organization, please email [email protected]
Saturday, November 21
“ARE WE JEWS PARANOID?”
A conversation between Richard Hirschhaut, director of American Jewish Committee in Los Angeles, and Rabbi Norbert Weinberg at Hollywood Temple Beth El raises the question of “Are We Jews Paranoid?” A recent AJC survey of Jews and non-Jews on the prevalence of anti-Semitism found American Jews anxious about their safety even though other surveys conclude Americans are among the least anti-Semitic people. 10:30 a.m., Shabbat services. Noon, discussion. Watch on Facebook, YouTube. 1317 N. Crescent Heights, West Hollywood. facebook.com/htbel.
Sunday, November 22
VIRTUAL SHEBA GALA
Sheba Medical Center’s inaugural International Virtual Gala salutes heroic workers of the COVID-19 pandemic and spotlights Sheba’s 2020 COVID story. The one-hour program includes remarks by Sheba Director General Yitshak Kreiss, a silent auction and an array of live entertainment. 10 a.m. PST. Register at shebagala2020.squadup.com.
BREAKING CYCLE OF GENOCIDE
Jewish World Watch (JWW) brings together fitness lovers who break a sweat at a high-energy spin class hosted by DIG Cycling. The event is part of JWW’s “Break the Cycle of Genocide” campaign. Only 20 slots available. 11 a.m. 5727 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas. For more information, call (818) 501-1836 or visit jww.org.
“HOW TO BE THANKFUL”
What better time than during the week of this year’s Thanksgiving, and as COVID-19 continues with no end in sight, to learn “How to be Thankful During a Plague.” IKAR Rabbi David Kasher – who says the 2020 hardships can be a tool to sharpen our gratitude for what we do have – leads this discussion. Participants study the wisdom of their ancestors, who endured terrible plagues of their time.11 a.m.-noon. More information at ikar.org.
THANKSGIVING FOR ALL
Temple Aliyah, a Conservative synagogue in Woodland Hills, joins 48 members of the Interfaith Solidarity Network for an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Zoom. More than 25 clergypersons are on hand for 75 minutes of prayer, song, honest dialogue and discussion of commonly shared goals. 4-5:15 p.m. More information at templealiyah.org. To receive the Zoom link, register at tinyurl.com/ISNthanksgiving2.
BIG SUNDAY THANKSGIVING
Declaring that this is the right time to serve those whose hunger has been exacerbated by the pandemic, Big Sunday holds its ninth Thanksgiving Stuffing Event. Community members of all ages are invited to participate today and this week with the goal of filling 2,000 bags with Thanksgiving food. No-contact food donation drop-off of non-perishable and canned food continues through Nov. 21, from 10 a.m.-noon, at Big Sunday’s offices at 6111 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. The live-stream event is held on YouTube from 4-5 p.m. bigsunday.org/get-involved/thanksgiving-3.
WINDMUELLER TALKS ELECTION
Steve Windmueller, emeritus professor of communal studies at Hebrew Union College, discusses “The Jewish Vote in the 2020 Election,” offering insights into how – and perhaps why – fellow Jews made the voting decisions they did in the recent election. A fellow of the Jerusalem Institute of Public Affairs, Windmueller, who teaches across the globe, delivers his analysis as part of Congregation Kol Ami’s Sunday Scholars series. 4-5 p.m. kol-ami.org.
VEGAN CHALLENGE EVENT
Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC) holds “Feeding the Soul,” a vegan challenge event where a plant-based diet and your spiritual practices intersect. Temple Isaiah Cantor Tifani Coyot joins BCC Cantor Juval Porat in leading this conversation, which is held on Zoom. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Register at bcc-la.org.
THE BESSIES
AMIT Children, which supports educational communities in Israel, holds a virtual gala event honoring its supporters across the United States and showcasing five AMIT student-made films. “Shtisel” star Ayelet Zurer hosts the program, which features appearances by Mayim Bialik and musician Idan Raichel. 5 p.m. PST. $95 NewGen pricing, $180 all other supporters. Register at amitchildren.org/bessiesyl.
Monday, November 23
CARING ABOUT SACRED SITES
Nahshon Perez, associate professor of political science at Bar Ilan University, discusses his new book about the state of sacred sites worldwide with Professor Dov Waxman, director of UCLA’s Nazarian Center for Israel Studies. The program, titled “Governing the Sacred: Political Toleration in Five Contested Sacred Sites,” is held over Zoom. A Q-and-A follows the discussion. 10 a.m. international.ucla.edu/israel.
DROPPING INTO “THE OFFICE”
Jewish World Watch holds an online discussion with television writer and producer Aaron Shure, co-executive producer of “The Office.” Shure focuses on the episode “WUPHF.com,” which he wrote and aired in the seventh season of the hit NBC sitcom. Shure, whose credits also include “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” shares whatever else he can remember from his time working on the show. 6 p.m. jww.org.
WHAT’S JEWISH ABOUT CANCER?
Sharsheret, a non-profit that supports Jewish women diagnosed with breast cancer, and members of the Kol Tikvah community who are cancer survivors, participate in an inspirational program on Zoom, “What’s Jewish about Breast and Ovarian Cancer?” The program’s speaker is Dr. Leslie Botnick, a radiation oncologist at the City of Hope. 7-8:30 p.m. koltikvah.org.
Tuesday, November 24
“MY CITY OF DREAMS”
Flashbacks by her elderly father motivated Lisa Gruenberg to probe the 1941 disappearance of her aunt Mia in Germany, leading to her second-generation Holocaust memoir, “My City of Dreams.” In a Zoom program organized by the Holocaust Museum, Los Angeles, Gruenberg discusses the journey she took after her father’s death, when she traveled to Vienna, Germany and Israel to learn the fate of family members. 11 a.m. $10, suggested donation. holocaustmuseumla.org.
REMEMBERING HEINRICH HEINE
Author George Prochnik discusses his new book, “Heinrich Heine: Writing the Revolution,” with American Jewish University’s Michael Berenbaum. Prochnik contends that the dynamic life of 19th century German poet Heinrich Heine, whose lyrical works were adapted by Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert, strongly matters in the 21stcentury. Noon. Free. aju.edu.
Wednesday, November 25
THE WILL OF A JOURNALIST
George Will, a prominent conservative journalist for five decades, left the Republican Party when Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. Warren Olney of KCRW interviews Will on the “Where Do We Go From Here: The Impact of the Trump Era” and fallout from the election. Jews United for Democracy and Justice and Community Advocates organize the program. 5 p.m. RSVP at georgefwillnovember25.eventbrite.com.
INTERFAITH SERVICE
On the eve of Thanksgiving, the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, which is in partnership with Adat Ari El and Temple Beth Hillel, among other faith-based groups, encourages community members to unite and participate in a virtual Thanksgiving interfaith service. The North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry says that people are in need now more than ever. 7:30 p.m. adatariel.org.
