fbpx

Jewish Meditation, Beach Shabbat, Ben Shapiro

[additional-authors]
June 12, 2019
“The Hatmaker’s Wife”

FRI JUNE 14

“The Joy of Change”
Sinai Temple honors Matt Baram, millennial director at Sinai, at his final Orden Family Friday Night Live Shabbat program. 7 p.m. doors open. 7:30 p.m. services. 8:30 p.m. dinner for all ages. $20. Registration required. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 474-1518.

“The Hatmaker’s Wife”
Inspired by the Jewish folktales of Sholem Aleichem, playwright Lauren Yee has written a fairy tale comedy, “The Hatmaker’s Wife,” which may remind Long Beach Playhouse audiences of Aleichem’s broad style. Swinging between the realistic and the fantastical, “Hatmaker” is the story of a young woman who moves in with her boyfriend in hopes of domestic bliss, only to be repeatedly disappointed. She finds assistance from the unlikeliest of places — a wall in her home. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Through July 6. $20 Fridays, $24 Saturdays and Sundays. For seniors, $18 Fridays, $21 Saturdays and Sundays. $14 students all performances. Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. (562) 494-1014.

N’ranena Service
Adat Ari El’s musical Shabbat service, N’ranena, features performers from The Miracle Project, which serves those with autism and other differences through an inclusive theater, film and expressive arts program. Challah is provided. Guests are invited to bring their own vegetarian or dairy picnic dinner along with a dessert to share, or they may purchase a meal. 6-8:30 p.m. Free, $10 meal. Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 766-9426.

“Friday Night Inspire”
Beverly Hills-based Beth Jacob Congregation’s young professionals minyan meets for “Friday Night Inspire,” which is dedicated to the memory of Aaron Sichel, who died of cancer four years ago. The hosts are Lauren and Daniel Packer. 6:45 p.m. Mincha. 7 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat. 7:30 p.m. Kiddush, refreshments and shmoozing. (310) 278-1911. RSVP to YP@bethjacob.org to obtain the address.

Shabbat on the Beach
Members and friends of Mishkon Tephilo in Venice gather for “Na’or: An Enlightened Shabbat,” as the congregation leaves behind its building and moves its Friday night services to the beach in Santa Monica. Attendees convene at South Beach Park, located at the southern end of the Ocean Park parking lot, just off the boardwalk, and are asked to bring their own picnic dinner, arrive early and enjoy the beach. 6 p.m. BYO picnic dinner. 6:45 p.m. musical sunset Shabbat service. Free. Open to the public. (310) 392-3029.

John Biewen

“The Illusion of Whiteness”
Journalist and documentarian John Biewen leads three conversations at Temple Isaiah on race in America and its meaning and impact in our lives. On Friday following Shabbat services, he discusses “Whiteness — A Historical Overview.” On Saturday morning, he offers “A Deeper Look Into Race in America.” And on Saturday afternoon, his topic is “Looking Backward and Moving Forward.” June 14: 6:15 p.m. services. 8 p.m. lecture. June 15: 10:30 a.m. lecture. 12:30 p.m. lunch. 1:30 p.m. lecture. Free. RSVP required. Temple Isaiah, 10345 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 277-2772.

Shabbat Under the Stars
Kick off summer with University Synagogue as the Westside congregation holds its first Shabbat Under the Stars of the season. The scene is the back patio, and guests are encouraged to bring a jacket or sweater for comfort from the ocean breezes. 7:30-9 p.m. Free. University Synagogue, 11960 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 472-1255.

SUN JUNE 16

Father’s Day Remembrance
A Father’s Day Remembrance Service at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary features Rabbi Jonathan Aaron of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills (TEBH), Temple Akiba Cantor Lonee Frailich, University Synagogue Cantor Jay Frailich, TEBH Cantor Lizzie Weiss and storyteller Joe Koplowitz. 10 a.m. Free. Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, 6001 W. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 641-0707.

“Sacred Sounds Unbound”
To honor fathers on their special day, Temple Beth Am and musical partner Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills hold a “Sacred Sounds Unbound,” starring song leader and composer Joey Weisenberg. The creative director of the New York-based Rising Sound Institute, Weisenberg is accompanied by Los Angeles musicians and immerses the crowd in two types of nigunim, the familiar and the new. This is the second in a series of concerts put on by Beth Am and Temple Emanuel. 2 p.m. $18 suggested donation. Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd. (310) 652-7353.

“Who Will Write Our History”

“Who Will Write Our History”
Seventy-six years after the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, American Jewish University (AJU) holds the screening of “Who Will Write Our History.” The documentary is about a clandestine scholarly group that hid treasured archives from the Nazis that were not discovered until after World War II. The Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) co-organizes the evening. The film featuring rare footage also includes new interviews and reflections. Following the screening, Michael Berenbaum, director of AJU’s Sigi Ziering Institute, appears in conversation with Roberta Grossman, the documentary’s director, writer and producer. 7:30 p.m. $15. Warner Center Marriott, 21850 W. Oxnard St., Woodland Hills.  (310) 440-1572.

MON JUNE 17

“Mental Health and Memory”
Dr. Jennifer Logan, a family medicine specialist at UCLA, offers an overview of the causes and recommended treatments for anxiety, depression and dementia. Logan explains how these conditions affect memory and certain kinds of recollections. 2:30-4 p.m. Free. Kehillat Israel, 16019 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (800) 516-5323.  

Improv Comedy Night
Comedy Sportz, one of the most popular improv groups in Los Angeles as it emphasizes audience participation, comes to Adat Ari El for “Improv Comedy Night.” With two teams of comedians pitted against each other, audience members holler suggestions and the the crowd eventually votes for the winning side. 7:30-10 p.m. $18 pre-registration. $25 door. Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 766-9426.

Gina Nahai

Libraries Conference
The diverse, tightly packed three days of the 54th annual conference of the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) at the Warner Center Marriott includes presentations on research skills for high schools, talks by Russian-born author and artist Eugene Yelchin and author Gina Nahai, a look at new Jewish fiction for adults, museum tours and a visit to American Jewish University. Through June 19. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Prices vary. Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills. (201) 371-3255.

TUE JUNE 18

Alison Laichter

Jewish Meditation
Find a solitary moment in a noisy world to learn and master meditation techniques. Alison Laichter’s Jewish meditation class is for beginners and practitioners. Laichter, who founded the Jewish Meditation Center when she lived in New York, marries the concepts of intention, understanding and Jewish texts in her 60-minute class. Noon-1 pm. $5 general admission. Free for Skirball members. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 440-4500.

WED JUNE 19

Story of Truman and Israel
Actor and playwright Arnie Weiss tells the story of an unknown haberdasher who convinced President Harry S. Truman to recognize the State of Israel in his one-man play, staged over lunch with the Renaissance Senior Group of Kol Tikvah synagogue. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $12.50. Kol Tikvah, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. RSVP required. (818) 348-0670 or dshayer@koltikvah.org 

THU JUNE 20

Ben Shapiro

Ben Shapiro
Political conservative Ben Shapiro, a nationally syndicated columnist since he was 17 years old and the author of eight books, appears at Valley Beth Shalom for “An Evening With Ben Shapiro.” The Jewish Republican Alliance (JRA) organizes the appearance of Shapiro, whose syndicated radio program is on more than 150 stations. 6 p.m. VIP check-in. 6:30 p.m. VIP reception and event check-in. 7:30 p.m. speaker. No entry after 8 p.m. $25 JRA members, $35 general admission. Advance purchase only; no tickets at the door. Photo ID and copy of receipt required. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (310) 478-0752.


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.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.