What’s Happening: Holocaust Remembrances, ‘Hybrid Jews’

SAT JAN 26 

Shabbat in 3-D
Kehillat Ma’arav’s “Shabbat in 3-D” offers Daven (prayer), Drash (a sermon) and Dine (Kiddush). Special guest Rabbi Martin Pasternak is celebrating his 14th anniversary as national director of Israel Bonds. Previously a congregational rabbi in Connecticut and Texas, Pasternak also is a certified family mediator. He writes gets (Jewish divorces) as a member of the beit din of the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly. 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Kehillat Ma’arav, 1715 21st St., Santa Monica. (310) 829-0566.

“Civil Rights Advocacy and Litigation for the Jewish People”
Brooke Goldstein, a human rights attorney, author, award-winning filmmaker and FOX News regular, appears for a Shabbat morning discussion. Sponsored by the Beverly Hills Jewish Community and Jewish Platform for Community Engagement. Shabbat service 9:30 a.m., lecture 11:30 a.m. Free. Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 276-4246.

Hero of the Holocaust
The story of a Polish social worker who rescued 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto will be told in “Irena Sendler: A Musical” at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills. Two performances will benefit the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. In commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day with music composed by Emanuel member Megan Cavallari and playwright Kait Kerrigan, Noreen Green will conduct members of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony and the American Jewish University choir. 7 p.m. Jan. 26; 1 p.m. Jan. 27. $20-$180. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills. (310) 288-3737.

Holocaust Remembrance Day: “Every Person Has a Name”
In observance of the United Nations’ International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a 25-hour program titled “Every Person Has a Name” will be held on the steps of Pasadena City Hall, where names of Holocaust victims will be recited. Remembrance Day is held on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. In a 60-minute ceremony preceding a 24-hour vigil, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, other politicians and religious leaders will be joined by the Youth Orchestra of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys and the Kol HaEmek community choir. Volunteers are needed to recite victims’ names for 30-minute segments during the vigil. Ceremony at 7 p.m. Vigil from 8 p.m. Jan. 26 to 8 p.m. Jan. 27. Free. Pasadena City Hall, 100 Garfield Ave., Pasadena. Contact the Jewish Federation at (626) 445-0810.

SUN JAN 27 

“Surviving the Holocaust as a Hidden Child”
Monique Saigal-Escudero, a child Holocaust survivor who became aware of her secret childhood and Jewish identity many years after immigrating to the United States, shares her story of survival and resilience in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.  At the age of 3, she was put on a train out of Nazi-occupied Paris by her grandmother and traveled to the south of France, where she was hidden by a Catholic family. The group Oneg Shabbat, in partnership with Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Francais du Monde Los Angeles, organizes the event. 2-3:30 p.m. Free. Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock, 5711 Monte Vista St., Los Angeles.

Bluegrass, Jewish-Style
Nefesh Mountain — A Patty Wells Memorial Concert brings together the uncommon melding of bluegrass and old-time music with Jewish heritage, while honoring the memory of Wells. She was the daughter of past temple president Alan Wiener and his wife, Nancy, who have sponsored concerts for many years in their daughter’s memory. Nefesh Mountain is the husband-and-wife team of Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff, pioneers of this new blend of spiritual American music performed in Hebrew and English. 5-7:30 p.m. $18 adult tickets, $10 students. Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana.  (818) 758-3800.

“Kol Koleinu” L.A. Book Launch
Join The World Congress: Keshet Ga’avah at the launch party for its new book, “Kol Koleinu — All Our Voices.” The book recognizes the contributions of major LGBTQ Jewish organizations in 15 countries on five continents, and documents current issues of LGBTQ communities. Consul General of France in Los Angeles Christophe Lemoine is the keynote speaker. Art auction and refreshments (including Israeli salads) follow. 3-6 p.m. $25 presale, $65 presale with book, $35 at the door (not including book). Book sold at full price. Hollywood Sculpture Garden, 2430 Vasanta Way, Hollywood. For additional information, contact drrobbygordon@gmail.com, or harpershechter@gmail.com. Tickets available by clicking link above.

“Greatest Satirical Songs”
Since last year’s program was rated the best musical satire in history, can American Jewish University’s “Greatest Satirical Songs: The Sequel” improve on that record? The program includes music from Stephen Sondheim, The Beatles, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Georg Frideric Handel, Gilbert & Sullivan, Weird Al Yankovic, Randy Newman, Tom Lehrer and Monty Python. 4 p.m. $15 reserved seating, $25 premium seating. American Jewish University, Familian Campus, Gindi Auditorium, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (310) 440-1572.

Tu B’Shevat Festival
At the Westside Jewish Community Center’s Tu B’Shevat Festival, the Birthday of the Trees will be celebrated — rain or shine. Besides games, a petting zoo, food, crafts and a silent auction, guests will have an opportunity to take home a tree. Courtesy of City Plants, a collaboration of Los Angeles City Hall and seven nonprofits, fruit or shade trees will be available to guests who are residents of Los Angeles. Trees, available on a first-come, first-served basis, one per address, must be planted on private property. Address verification required. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Admission is free, but activity and food tickets may be pre-ordered. Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd. (323) 556-5250.

Sculpture Garden Public Tour
Take a guided tour of the Sondra and Marvin Smalley Family Sculpture Garden at American Jewish University. One of L.A.’s best kept secrets, the garden features works by Sol LeWitt, Jenny Holzer, Charles Ginnever, Anthony Caro and other artists. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free. RSVP to arts@aju.edu. American Jewish University, Familian Campus, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (310) 440-1572.

MON JAN 28 

“Found in Translation?”
Daniel Stein Kokin, junior professor of Jewish literature and culture at the University of Greifswald in Germany and a visiting assistant professor at the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, examines the role of foreign music in creating a uniquely Israeli musical culture. Israeli musicians have invested in the translation and adaptation of foreign pieces into the language of modern Israel. For example, Yehoram Gaon based his “Shalom Lakh Eretz Nehederet” on Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans,” and Naomi Shemer transformed The Beatles’ “Let It Be” into “Lu Yehi.” Kokin argues this importation of foreign songs into Hebrew played a key role in creating Israeli musical culture. 5:30-6:45 p.m. Free. UCLA Bunche Hall, Room 10383. (310) 825-9646.

Molly Forrest
Molly Forrest, CEO and president of the L.A. Jewish Home, discusses “Caring for Our Elders — and Ourselves: The Status of Senior Care in Our Society.” The event is intended for anyone who has a parent or loved one who is aging. What are the options for our loved ones to continue to stay at home? If it is their preference, is it necessarily wise for them to stay in their homes? What about home caregiving? Forrest, who oversees the largest nonprofit elderly continuing care community in the Western United States, addresses these questions and more. 7:30 p.m. $20 general, $15 Stephen Wise Temple members. Stephen Wise Temple, 15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 476-8561.

“Cinema Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood”
In commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jan Christopher Horak, a film historian and the director of the UCLA Film and Television Archive, discusses the 1933-39 exodus from Nazi terror to Hollywood of more than 800 predominately Jewish members of the German film industry. He will relate personal and professional experiences of film luminaries Billy Wilder, Fred Zinnemann, Fritz Lang, Peter Lorre and others. After a Q-and-A session and intermission with light refreshments, a film will be shown. 6 p.m. registration, 6:30 p.m. program. $10 general, $5 Cedars-Sinai medical staff, employees and volunteers. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Harvey Morse Auditorium, Plaza level, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. RSVP to ellen.eichenberger@cshs.org.

TUE JAN 29

“Hybrid Jews in Cinema”
The UCLA series “The Human Chameleon,” examines hybrid Jewish figures in cinema, specifically Jewish characters that change their appearance, transform their identity, infiltrate other cultures and express their Jewishness by becoming “other than Jewish.” Kicking off the two-day event is Amir Vudka, lecturer and researcher at the department of media studies at University of Amsterdam. He lectures at 4 p.m. at 314 Royce Hall. A 7 p.m. screening of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” follows in the James Bridges Theater at UCLA. On Jan. 31, a 7 p.m. screening of Spike Lee’s recent film, “BlacKkKlansman,” is held at the James Bridges Theater. Free. (310) 267-5327.

WED JAN 30

“Growing Up Jewish in Iran”
Chazzan Farid Dardashti will relate his unusual life story — from Iranian teenage television idol to Ashkenazic chazzan in the United States — in a discussion with Sinai Temple Cantor Marcus Feldman. Dardashti’s memories will be brought to life in a multimedia, musical presentation. 7:30-9 p.m. Free for all. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 474-1518. Register above.

Have an event coming up? Send your information two weeks prior to the event to ryant@jewishjournal.com for consideration. For groups staging an event that requires an RSVP, please submit details about the event the week before the RSVP deadline.