What’s Happening: #ShowupforShabbat, ‘Marvelous Rabbi Feinstein’

FRI OCT 25

Rabbi Feinstein Tribute
This Shabbat, Westside-based Reform congregation University Synagogue honors its retiring Rabbi Emeritus Morley Feinstein. “The Marvelous Rabbi Feinstein,” a two-evening celebratory salute to Feinstein, features a Friday night musical Shabbat service and a Saturday night dinner and Havdalah. Guests include University Synagogue Cantor Emeritus Jay Frailich, songleader Steve Dropkin and the University Synagogue clergy. Stepping down after 17 years at the Brentwood Reform synagogue, Feinstein is a Beverly Hills High School graduate who previously led congregations in San Antonio and South Bend, Ind. Friday 7:30 p.m. services. Festive oneg follows. Free. RSVP appreciated. Saturday 5:30 p.m. Havdalah and dinner. Dinner tickets $50 general admission, $118 reserved seating. University Synagogue, 11960 Sunset Blvd., Brentwood. (310) 472-1255.

#ShowUpForShabbat
Tonight and Shabbat day, synagogues across Los Angeles are honoring the one-year anniversary of the Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh. On Oct. 27 last year, a gunman killed 11 Jews and injured seven others on Shabbat. Participating synagogues include Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Valley Beth Shalom, IKAR, Kehillat Israel, Sinai Temple, Temple Beth Am, Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Temple Isaiah, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Valley Outreach Synagogue and Congregation B’nai Emet. For a complete list of participating synagogues and service times, click on the link above.

SAT OCT 26

Natasha Zaretsky
Cal State Northridge’s seventh annual Maurice Amado Foundation Lecture in Jewish Ethics features anthropologist Natasha Zaretsky, who studies the politics of memory in the Americas and the Jewish Diasporas. During her lecture, “A View From Afar: Jewish Memory and Culture Against Violence,” Zaretsky discusses what we can learn about Jewish belonging and inclusion in the public sphere from a more global, hemispheric perspective. She draws on her research with Jews in Argentina, who experienced the 1994 bombing that killed 85 Jews, the largest anti-Semitic attack since World War II. 12:30 p.m. Free. RSVP requested. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 677-4724.

“Living After”
Performance group Jewish Women’s Theatre (JWT) presents poignant, moving and funny stories about what it means to live with and live after cancer. The show, which features select JWT stories from previous seasons, coincides with National Breast Cancer Awareness month. 8 p.m. Saturday. $35 advance. $45 at door. The Braid, 2912 Colorado Ave., No. 102, Santa Monica. (310) 315-1400.

“Yidlife Crisis”
Jamie Elman and Eli Batalion, co-stars of the Yiddish-language YouTube comedy series, “YidLife Crisis,” headline a night of comedy, music, skits and videos. Live and in the fleish, the comedic duo from Montreal pays homage to the Yiddishkayt and Jewish comedic lens on life with which they were raised. 8-10 p.m. $75 preferred seating, includes dessert reception with both comedians. $40 general admission presale, $45 at the door. $25 students with IDs and super seniors 80-and-older. All tickets will be held at Will Call. Shomrei Torah Synagogue, 7353 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills. (818) 854-7650.

SUN OCT 27

Tour de Summer Camps
Calling all cyclists: The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles’ annual Tour de Summer Camps fundraising event takes place today, offering four separate routes for cyclists of all skill-levels. Options are 18-, 36-, 62- and 100-mile routes. The event also includes Cycle at Camp, a fast-paced, one-hour session on a stationary bike with an expert instructor. Proceeds support scholarships at Jewish summer camps, which is seen as a primary driver of Jewish identity and is one of the L.A. Federation’s top priorities. Must be 14 or older to ride. 6 a.m-3 p.m. $55 registration fee. Ages 30 or older must meet $500 fundraising minimum; ages 16-29 must raise $250 minimum. Camp Alonim, Brandeis-Bardin Campus of American Jewish University, 1101 Pepper Tree Lane, Simi Valley. (323) 761-8013.

Carl Bernstein
Investigative journalist and author Carl Bernstein is the inaugural speaker of the Nick Beck Investigative Journalism Lecture Series. In the early-1970s, Bernstein and reporter Bob Woodward broke the story on Watergate, which led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and set the standard for modern investigative journalism. The reporters — portrayed in the film “All the President’s Men” — won a Pulitzer Prize. Tonight, Bernstein speaks about many topics, including the current congressional impeachment inquiry into President Trump. A VIP meet-and-greet reception follows. 3-5:30 p.m. L.A. City College, Camino Theater, 855 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. $35 general admission, $75 VIP. (323) 953-4011.

Charity Poker Tournament
The men’s club of Temple Ahavat Shalom holds its second annual Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament in support of temple and local community youth projects. The grand prize at the Vegas-style tournament is $1,000 and all players making the final table win cash prizes. Temple Ramat Zion and Temple Judea also participate. 4 p.m. registration. 5 p.m. start of play. $85 donation includes $1,000 in playing chips, light dinner, one drink and five raffle tickets. Must be 18 or older. Temple Ahavat Shalom, 18200 Rinaldi Place, Northridge. For more information, contact Howard Miller at hmiller12@socal.rr.com or (818) 993-0796.

“Liberty Heights”
Director Barry Levinson’s 1999 period drama, “Liberty Heights,” is a semi-autobiographical story of a Jewish boy growing up in 1950s Baltimore and falling in love with a black classmate. As part of its film series, Pico-Robertson congregation Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC) screens the film, inviting people to enjoy Halloween with a nice, complex Jewish family at a time when Jews were just finding their place in America. The evening includes a post-film discussion and all the popcorn you can eat. 6-10 p.m. Free. Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6090 W. Pico Blvd. (323) 931-7023.

Cachibol Tournament
Commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness Month, mothers from Mamanet, an Israeli mothers cachibol league, hold their third annual “I’m Aware” tournament. Cachibol, played with a net, may remind Americans of volleyball. The mothers’ motto is “We play on the court, not with our lives.” This evening, come to Newbury Park and support breast cancer awareness. Tournament time 4-9 p.m. Ceremony 5 p.m. Free. Mamba Sports Academy, 1011 Rancho Conejo Blvd., Newbury Park. (844) 518-7246.

Bat Mitzvah Program
Over 10 Sunday mornings, Rebbetzin Jordana Topp leads a bat mitzvah program for fifth- and sixth-grade girls and their mothers, focusing on the impact of Jewish women throughout the ages. The girls and women study the arc of history from the matriarchs of the Torah to today, through art, drama, text and music. Through Feb. 2. 10-11:30 a.m. $100 Beth Jacob Congregation members, $150 general. Beth Jacob Congregation, Ives Youth Lounge, 9030 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 278-1911.

Susan Faludi
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Susan Faludi, whose memoir, “In the Darkroom,” about her father who underwent transgender surgery at age 76, speaks this afternoon at USC’s Casden Institute. After her lecture —USC’s 2019 Jerome Nemer Lecture — professor Sharon Gillerman of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion gives a response. 4:45-7 p.m. Free. USC Casden Institute, University Park Campus. (213) 740-3405.

MON OCT 28

“Judaism in Modernity”
Rabbi Tal Sessler of the Sephardic Temple leads “Judaism in Modernity: Challenges and Opportunities,” a six-week class highlighting what great thinkers of recent times have said about the Jewish condition in modern times. Among the thinkers whom Sessler’s lectures include are Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel; Amos Oz; Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe; and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The Academy for Jewish Religion California organizes the series. Class concludes Dec. 2. 7-9 p.m. $90. UCLA Hillel, 575 Hilgard Ave., or online via Zoom. (213) 884-4133.

TUE OCT 29

“Israeli: Then and Now”
Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz of Adat Shalom, who spent 10 years in the film industry and created the documentary “Roadmap Jerusalem,” speaks on “Historical Contemporary Jeruselum,” part of “Israel: Then and Now,” a new program for all ages at Sinai Temple. The one-hour session explores historical context with a discussion on how to relate the crucial role of Israel to children and grandchildren. 8-9 a.m. Free. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 474-1518.

WED OCT 30

Joel Stein
Provocative humor columnist Joel Stein — whose new book is “In Defense of Elitism: Why I’m Better Than You and You Are Better Than Someone Who Didn’t Buy This Book,” which seeks to explain why Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election — headlines the latest Writers Bloc event. Appearing at American Jewish University, Stein appears in conversation with scholar Reza Aslan. 7:30 p.m. $20 general admission, $42 includes the book. American Jewish University, Shapiro Memorial Synagogue, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 440-1572.

Rami Kleinstein
Israeli pop star Rami Kleinstein, known for his soft love songs, calm voice and delicate piano playing, headlines the concert “Rami Kleinstein and the Piano” at Adat Ari El. The New York native, whose style has drawn comparisons with Elton John and Billy Joel, performs a selection of original songs from his enormous personal repertoire. Kleinstein appears at the Valley Village synagogue as part of a North American tour. 8-11 p.m. $45-$85. Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 766-9426.

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