Calendar Picks and Clicks: Sept.1-10, 2010

WED | SEPT 1

(THEATER)
Four elderly Jewish men bond while picking out tiles in “The Men of Mah Jongg.” Directed by Richard Atkins, the comedy kicks off a four-week run tonight. Wed. Through Sept. 26. 8 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. $23-$25. Reuben Cordova Theatre at Beverly Hills High School, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 364-0535. theatre40.org.

THU | SEPT 2

(FOOD)
Tired of the same old Rosh Hashanah dinner recipes? Birthright Israel NEXT helps you spice up the traditional nosh with modern culinary flair during its cooking class, “Beyond Apples and Honey.” Thu. 6:30-10 p.m. $22. Sur la Table at The Grove, 6333 W. Third St., Los Angeles. (323) 330-9568. next.birthrightisrael.com.

(POLITICS)
Make educated decisions at the ballot box this November with the help of Raphael J. Sonenshein, a political science professor at California State University, Fullerton, and a Jewish Journal columnist, as he lectures on “What to Expect in the 2010 Election” for The Executives of the L.A. Jewish Home. The morning event includes breakfast prior to the talk. Thu. 7-9 a.m. $25 (members), $30 (general). El Caballero Country Club, 18300 Tarzana Drive, Tarzana. (818) 774-3332. jha.org.

(TELEVISION)
The Sadowskys, a Long Island Jewish family, adopt an 8-year-old Chinese orphan in “Wo Ai Ni (I Love You) Mommy.” The documentary by Stephanie Wang-Breal, which airs on the PBS series “P.O.V.,” highlights one story out of the 70,000 Chinese children who have been adopted by U.S. families and the challenges adoptees face adjusting to their new life. Tue. 9:30 p.m. KCET. pbs.org/pov.

SAT | SEPT. 4

(COMEDY)
A Vietnamese Jew, an Indian Jew and an Indian Hindu walk onto a stage … for The Mahatma Moses Comedy Tour. Stand-up comics Joe Nguyen, Samson Koletkar and Dhaya Lakshminarayanan deliver highbrow comedy about politics, entertainment, culture, immigration and more while refraining from profanity. Comedians Abhay Nadkarni and Asim Kaleem open. Sat. 5, 7 and 9 p.m. $12-$20. Forum Theater at El Portal Theater, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. (415) 676-1371. tour.mahatma-moses.com.

(RELIGION)
Valley Beth Shalom (VBS) brings you an evening of learning, prayer, reflection and ice cream with its Selichot service Haneshama Lach — Renewing Your Soul. Rabbi Joshua Hoffman, Rabbi Paul Steinberg and Rabbi Noah Zvi Farkas lead a family service, while Rabbi Edward Feinstein and Rabbi Harold Schulweis lead a study session on “How We Feed Our Souls.” Following Havdalah, the Temple Ramat Zion, Beit T’Shuvah and VBS choirs, along with VBS rabbis and cantors, VBS music director Noreen Green, musician Chris Hardin and the Yuval Ron Ensemble perform. Sat. 7-10:30 p.m. Free. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 788-6000. vbs.org.

(THEATER)
Temple Judea Players — Bonnie Franklin (“One Day at a Time”), writer-producer Bill Prady (“The Big Bang Theory),” CBS/KCAL head meteorologist Josh Rubenstein, Larry Mann (“Hogan’s Heroes”) and others — bring you “Standing at Sinai — A Series of Monologues,” relaying stories of people today finding room for Torah in their everyday lives. Written by Jeff Bernhardt and directed by Vicki Kupetz. Refreshments and Selichot services follow. Sat. 8:30-11:30 p.m. Free. Temple Judea’s West Campus, 6601 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills. (818) 758-3800. templejudea.com.

SUN | SEPT. 5

(ART)
“Beyond the Camera,” a photography exhibition at American Jewish University, features work by Susan Berkowitz, Marcie Kaufman, Tamar Lando and Sammy Silberstein. Sun. Through Nov. 21. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sun.-Thu.), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Fri.). Free. AJU’s Platt and Borstein Galleries, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 476-9777, ext. 201. ajula.edu.

(MITZVAH)
Help leukemia and lymphoma patients by participating in a bone marrow drive. Get your cheek swabbed, which places you in the bone marrow registry at the Gift of Life Foundation, an organization that facilitates bone marrow transplants to children and adults in need. Donors must be 18 to 60 and in good health. Sun. 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Beth Jacob Congregation, 9030 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 278-1911. bethjacob.org.

MON | SEPT. 6

(MUSIC)
RebbeSoul performs during the Labor of Love Fundraiser, with proceeds going to B’nai Horin’s Jewish Enrichment Club, which offers spiritual principles to youth and families exploring Jewish traditions. Storyteller Karen Golden opens after a garden reception. Mon. 3 p.m. $36 (individuals), $72 (couples/families). B’nai Horin, 12713 Dewey St., Los Angeles. (310) 600-6639.

(YOGA)
Rejuvenate your chi on your day off with a restorative yoga class. Hatha yoga instructor Michele Aaron leads a fun, spiritual session for all skill levels. Mon. 5-6 p.m. $12. Temple Emanuel’s Bess P. Maltz Center, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills. (310) 968-2726. tebh.org.

THU | SEPT. 9

(TELEVISION)
Avery, an African American Brooklyn teen and promising track star, struggles with her “true” identity. Adopted by white Jewish lesbians, she struggles with the circumstances of her adoption and her estrangement from black culture in “Off and Running,” a documentary by Nicole Opper. When Avery writes to her birth mother, the response throws her into crisis and forces her to make sense of her identity. Thu. 9:30 p.m. KCET. pbs.org/pov.

(DANCE)
French Jewish art director Jacques Heim leads the Diavalo Dance Theater company during a program that includes John Adams’ “Fearful Symmetries,” performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Thu. 8 p.m. $11.75-$139. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. (323) 850-2000. hollywoodbowl.com.