Picks and Clicks: April 17-23, 2010

SAT | APRIL 17

(ART)
A twin exhibition boasts the Jew-centric work of artists Peter Krasnow, a Russian immigrant painter, sculptor and lithographer, and watercolor painter Bonnie Stone. Both artists enliven traditional Jewish subjects with contemporary sensibilities. “Gefilte Sushi” highlights Stone’s “Balabustahs” series, and Krasnow’s “Idiosyncrasies” offers abstractions of Noah, mikvehs and more. Sat. 2-5 p.m. Free. Tobey C. Moss Gallery, 7321 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 933-5523. tobeycmossgallery.com.

(THEATER)
“Backstreet,” a musical about the Jewish “working girls” of a brothel in 1905 New York, sets the experience of poverty-stricken European immigrants against the backdrop of the women’s movement. Sat. Through May 2. 8 p.m. (Sat.) and 6 p.m. (Sun.). $17.50. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth St., Santa Monica. (310) 394-9779. santamonicaplayhouse.com.

SUN | APRIL 18

(BOOKS)
Intrigued that Talmudic scholar Rashi had three daughters and no sons, Maggie Anton penned a trilogy of novels, one about each daughter. The author lectures on the research that went into the “Rashi’s Daughters” series and signs copies. Sun. 2-3:30 p.m. Free. Loyola Marymount University, William H. Hannon Library, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 338-2788. library.lmu.edu.

(CHARITY)
Jewish World Watch, a human rights organization, holds its fourth annual Walk to End Genocide. More than 2,000 people are expected to participate in the three-mile walk. An awareness fair and silent auction follow. Proceeds benefit survivors and victims’ families in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sun. 8 a.m. $18 (additional fundraising encouraged). Warner Center Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 501-1836. walktoendgenocide.org.

(COMEDY)
Comedian Bruce Fine hosts his Vegas-style comedy and music show, “The Laugh Pack,” at D’Cache restaurant. The lineup features stand-up veteran/weathercaster Fritz Coleman, Def Comedy Jam’s Chris Spencer and up-and-coming vocalist Phil Turk. Sun. 7:30 p.m. $15. D’Cache, 10717 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake. (818) 506-9600. thelaughpack.com.

(YOM HAZIKARON)
Honor the memory of Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror. Dor Chadash-L.A., an Israeli-American organization of young professionals, holds its inaugural Yom HaZikaron ceremony at the Museum of Tolerance. All proceeds benefit the Non-Profit Organization for Emotional Support of Girlfriends (Fiancées) of Fallen Soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces. Sun. 8 p.m. $5. Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 553-8403. dorchadashla.org.

(Memorial)
Cardinal Roger Mahony will be the main celebrant of prayer at a public service commemorating the Republic of Poland’s late President, Lech Kaczynski, first lady Maria Kaczynska, members of the Polish government and parliament, and other high-ranking dignitaries who died in a plane crash on April 10, as well as the Polish officers and intelligentsia killed in the Katyn massacre 70 years ago. Sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles. Sun. 10 a.m. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. (310) 442-8500 or (213) 680-5200.

TUE | APRIL 20

(FILM)
The 11th annual Polish Film Festival’s opening-night gala features a screening of “The Children of Irena Sendler,” a 2009 film starring Anna Paquin and Marcia Gay Harden about a Polish Catholic social worker who risked her life to rescue Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. Tue. 6 p.m. $60 (minimum donation). Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (818) 982-8827. polishfilmla.org.

(MUSIC)
Rachael Sage, a New York boho-indie songstress who started recording music after receiving a four-track recorder for her bat mitzvah, releases her ninth album, “Delancey Street.” Tue. rachaelsage.com. iTunes.com.

(THEATER)
Hannah Senesh, the heroic but ultimately tragic paratrooper from World War II, relives her youth, her days in Palestine and time spent with the man she loves in the musical “The Spark, The Story of Hannah Senesh.” This concert reading is part of the inaugural Palisades Playwrights Festival. Tue. 7:30 p.m. Free. Theatre Palisades’ Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Road, Pacific Palisades. (310) 454-1970. theatrepalisades.org.

(YOM HAATZMAUT)
Sinai Temple’s “Faith and Unity Concert,” a star-studded mega-event of Jews, Muslims and Christians, celebrates Israel’s Independence Day. Rabbi David Wolpe, Pastor Rick Warren, multiplatinum-selling Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza and L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca highlight an extensive lineup of international performers as well as religious and community leaders. Tue. 7:30 p.m. Free. Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-1518. sinaitemple.org.

THU | APRIL 22

(POLITICS)
“Can Obama Be Good for Israel?” Yossi Klein Halevi, the New Republic’s Israel correspondent and contributing editor, leads a discussion on the uncertain future of U.S.-Israel relations. Jewish Journal columnist David Suissa moderates. Thu. 7 p.m. $10 (members), $15 (door). Nessah Synagogue, 142 S. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 273-2400. nessah.org.