[Click here for a Lag B'Omer events calendar]
SUN APRIL 28
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY FORUM
American Friends of Hebrew University’s Los Angeles Regional Annual Leadership Education Forum features leading Hebrew University faculty and alumni as well as local leaders from the fields of academic and political affairs, security and intelligence, and medical science. Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong delivers the keynote lecture, “Buying Time Against Cancer.” Other speakers include professor Asher Cohen, rector of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jewish Journal Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Rob Eshman; Ambassador Carmi Gillon, vice president of external relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Nicholas Goldberg, The New York Times editorial pages editor; and former CIA Director Michael Hayden. Sun. 8:30 a.m. $125. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 843-3100. afhu.org.
“LEARNING OVER LOS ANGELES”
Faculty from American Jewish University’s (AJU) Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies host a day of community building and learning. Workshops include “Seeing Yourself as a Sacred Vessel: The Paradox of Overflowing Emptiness,” “… the One Who Loves: Poems That Can Change Our Lives” and “Eros and Thanatos in the Beit Midrash: A Rabbinic Tragedy in Three Acts.” Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson delivers the keynote lecture, “Conservative Judaism: The Passion and Possibility of Dynamic Tradition.” Continental breakfast and barbecue lunch served. Sun. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $90 (general), $20 (students). American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 440-1211. ziegler.aju.edu/forms/frlearningoverla.aspx
“CONVERSATIONS AND TOOLS TO FIND BALANCE”
Jewish Women’s Conference and National Council of Jewish Women/Los Angeles present this workshop on life transitions. Quarter-life crisis sessions including dealing with post-school transitions and job searching skills; sandwich generation sessions cover balancing aging parents, parenting, careers and more; and third chapter sessions include coping with challenges and finding opportunities later in life. Sun. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $15 (breakfast and lunch included). NCJW/LA Council House, 543 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 852-8536. jwcsc.org/lifetransitions.
2013 ISRAEL EXPO
Celebrate Israel’s 65th birthday with The Jewish Federation and Family Services of Orange County and thousands of Southern California residents. The Expo features shopping, games and rides, live music, Israeli cuisine, theater and a “Kidotopia” space with crafts, performances and activities for children. SpaceIL, Israel’s entrant in the international Google Lunar X-Prize, a global race to land an unmanned spacecraft on the moon, appears at the Israel Innovation Showcase. Sun. 1-6 p.m. Free. Samueli Jewish Campus, 1 Federation Way, Irvine. (949) 435-3484. israelexpo.org.
“A NIGHT TO HONOR ISRAEL”
Christians United for Israel’s evening of celebration and solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people features the Rev. John Hagee, founder and senior pastor of nondenominational megachurch Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas; Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; and Israeli music sensation Dudu Fisher. Sun. 6 p.m. (doors), 6:30 p.m. (show). $18-$24. Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (323) 655-0111. canyonclub.net.
MON APRIL 29
“GOSPEL FUSION: GERSHWIN AND BEYOND”
L.A. Jewish Symphony founding conductor Noreen Green directs this celebration of the historic and contemporary connections between African-American and Jewish music. Participants include singer-songwriter Karen Hart; members of the L.A. Jewish Symphony; the University of La Verne Choir, under the direction of James Calhoun; pianist Grace Zhao; Kol HaEmek; Cantor Paul Buch of Temple Beth Israel and the Reed Gratz Trio. Mon. 8 p.m. $20. University of La Verne, Ann and Steve Morgan Auditorium, 1950 Third St., La Verne. (909) 593-3511, ext. 4696. gospelfusion.eventbrite.com.
