fbpx

What’s Happening: Climate Talk, ‘Planet Purim,’ Cooking Class

[additional-authors]
February 26, 2020
Nefesh Mountain

FRI FEB 28

Janice Kamenir-Reznik

Shabbat and Soviet Jewry Anniversary
Valley Beth Shalom celebrates Shabbat and the anniversary of the free Soviet Jewry movement. Displaying the traveling Soviet Jewry exhibition titled, “Power of Protest,” the gathering features three speakers offering perspectives on the movement, which helped Soviet “refuseniks” who were denied their right to live freely, practice Judaism and leave the country. Speakers are Janice Kamenir-Reznik, Ed Robin and Jeff Levine. Cantors Herschel Fox and Phil Baron perform “Music of the Movement.” 7 p.m. gallery, dessert reception. 7:30 p.m. Shabbat service. 8 p.m. program. Free. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino.

SAT FEB 29

Special Macabees
You have heard of the Special Olympics. Now there is a basketball program for Jewish special needs athletes called the Special Macabees. The season ends tonight with “Saturday Night Lights,” a contest between the Special Macabees and the Special Olympics. It is the highlight of the Special Macabees season, and the public is invited to come and cheer for special athletes, enjoy a dunk contest and join all players for a pizza party after the game. 7:45 p.m. Free. Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd.

Nefesh Mountain

Bluegrass, Jewgrass, Newgrass
Eclectic musical ensemble Nefesh Mountain, where country music meets Jewish heritage, performs an evening of “Bluegrass, Newgrass and Jewgrass.” The group’s husband-and-wife band-leading team of Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg are pioneering a new world of American culture that seeks to seamlessly blend American and Western musical forms with their Jewish backgrounds. 7:30 p.m. $25 general admission, $10 Temple Israel of Hollywood members, UCLA students and faculty. Temple Israel of Hollywood, 7300 Hollywood Blvd.

“Duet of Remembrance”
The New West Symphony and conductor Michael Christie remember the Holocaust and honor the 75th anniversary of the liberation of concentration
camps with “Duet of Remembrance,” featuring two concerts. The first is “Dreams.” Among the pieces is “Brundibár” (Czech for “bumblebee”), which was performed in 1942 by children at the Jewish orphanage in Belgicka Street in Prague before the Nazis began shipping Jews to the Terezin camp. 6:30 p.m. pre-concert talk. 7:30 p.m. program. $30-$120. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Sunday at 3 p.m. $30-$96. Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center, 4235 Mar Vista Drive, Camarillo.

Yuval Ron Ensemble

Yuval Ron Ensemble
The Yuval Ron Ensemble, known as “The Soul of Spain,” returns to the stage with guest flamenco artists Manuel Gutierrez and Jose Tanaka in Topanga Canyon. The Ensemble brings together seldom-heard melodies exploring Jewish and Gypsy Andalusia sounds. 9-10:30 p.m. $20. Corazon Performing Arts, 125 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga.

SUN MARCH 1

American Jewish Music Festival
The all-day UCLA American Jewish Music Festival, titled “Music Crossing Boundaries,” offers nine hours of diverse styles from the American-Jewish experience and songbook. Concerts and workshops include classical, klezmer, jazz, Broadway and bluegrass. Additionally, artists talk about their influences and how their music reflects their Jewish identity. Performers include the Chloe Pourmorady Ensemble, Nefesh Mountain and Asher Shasho Levy. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. $10-$20. Schoenberg Music Building, 445 Charles E. Young Drive East.

Boyle Heights Tour
Join Shmuel Gonzalez, aka Barrio Boychik, on his three-hour tour of the original Jewish neighborhoods of East Los Angeles. From the “Hotel Mariachi” to the 111-year-old craftsman Max Factor House, the walking tour brings to life how and where Jews lived and worked. Noon-3 p.m. $25. Children 13-and-younger free. Meet at the Mariachi Plaza, 1817 E. First St., near the corner of Boyle Avenue, at 11:45 a.m.

Jewish Genealogical Society
Wondering how to gain more information about your family background? Stop by this meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County. Ellen Kowitt, a professional genealogist, discusses “Comparing Jewish Resources on Ancestry, FamilySearch, Findmypast and JewishGen. 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Temple Adat Elohim, 2420 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

The Climate Crisis
Drawing on the work of Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, professor Jeremy Kagan presents a slide and video presentation titled “The Climate Crisis … What Is Real? What Can We Do?” Kagan demonstrates where we are on the planet confronting global warming, what the actual problems are, what current and future solutions exist and what we can do as individuals and community to confront this challenge. 4-6 p.m. Free. IKAR, 1729 S. La Cienega Blvd.

“Leaving Home, Staying Jewish”
For students leaving for college, a gap-year or travel, Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills’ fair brings together 17 organizations to show how to retain and strengthen your commitment to Jewish life while away. 5-8 p.m. Free. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Greer Social Hall, 300 N. Clark Drive, Beverly Hills. RSVP at the link above.   

TUE MARCH 3

“Cooking in Hebrew”
Congregation Kol Ami continues its “Cooking in Hebrew” series. Israeli-born food artist Sharon Shalom leads the hands-on experience organized by the World Zionist Organization. At the end of the evening, everyone sits around the table and feasts. 6:30-9 p.m. $40. Congregation Kol Ami, 1200 N. La Brea Ave., West Hollywood.

WED MARCH 4

“Planet Purim”
Sinai Temple holds its “Planet Purim,” including a puppy party, go-karts, karaoke, mega slides, DJ and live entertainment, Xbox sports games, prize booth and more. Adults and children are encouraged to arrive in their favorite costumes. 3:30-7 p.m. All-inclusive game wristbands are $39 through March 1, $50 day of event. Free for children up to 12 months and adults. $15 kosher BBQ meal. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd.

THU MARCH 5

Rabbi Ed Feinstein

A Schulweis Conversation
Rabbis Ed Feinstein and Bradley Shavit Artson, who knew the late and legendary  Rabbi Harold Schulweis, talk about Feinstein’s new book, “In Pursuit of Godliness and a Living Judaism: The Life and Thought of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis.” 7:30 p.m. Free. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino.

The State of Israel and Judaism
Rabbi David Golinkin, who has authored 38 books on Jewish law and eight volumes on Midrash, speaks to the Men’s Club of Sinai Temple on “What to Do About the State of Judaism in the Jewish State?” 6:30-9 p.m. Free and open to the community. $10 at the door for dinner after the program. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd.

Muslims and Anti-Semitism
The latest event in Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s ongoing series, “Global Briefing on Anti-Semitism,” focuses on “Anti-Semitism and the Muslim World.” Held in partnership with the American Jewish Committee, the program explores conspiracy theories, the political dimension of Islam and the potentially explosive status of Iran. 7:30 p.m. Free. Wilshire Boulevard Temple Irmas Westside Campus, 11661 W. Olympic Blvd.


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.