The Circuit

Worth Their Mettel

Jewish Vocational Service, a beneficiary agency of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, honored donors and recipients at its 2001 Jewish Community Scholarship Awards reception at the home of Dr. Richard and Karen Mettel. This year, 131 students received scholarships ranging from $750 to $5,000.

Reaching the Big 102

At a September luncheon, Lillian Levin, who established The Isadore and Lillian Levin Auxiliary Fund of Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy in Beverly Hills, helped to celebrate the 102nd birthday of Ruth Donchin.

La Vie En Rose

The Circuit swung by The Court Theater for the opening of “Piaf — Sa Vie En Rose” and caught up with the show’s director, Jules Aaron.

Known as “The Little Sparrow,” Edith Piaf became France’s national treasure singing beloved chestnuts “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien,” and her signature song, “La Vie En Rose.”

“Piaf — Sa Vie En Rose” transcends mere tribute, as singer/actress Torill, in a one-woman performance, portrays Piaf, as well as five women who influenced her life — including songwriting partner Marguerite Monnot and friend Marlene Dietrich — to round out the portrait of the tragic chanteuse.

Brooklyn-born Aaron recently finished directing “Musical Chairs,” a dramatic piece about World War II-era Jewish musicians that just ended its run at El Portal Center for the Arts in North Hollywood.

Aaron, who also directed “The Eleventh,” a comic history of the Jews, said that he enjoys connecting with his heritage through Jewish-themed plays.

“I grew up reading Sholom Aleichem,” Aaron said. “As a commercial director, I’ve noticed that there’s definitely a dearth of Jewish material out there. Unfortunately, we’re living in a time where the closest thing you’ll get to Jewish material is something of the Wendy Wasserstein or Woody Allen variety,” what Aaron calls “Jewish sensibility” but not overtly Jewish in subject matter.

“Piaf: Sa Vie En Rose” runs at The Court Theater in West Hollywood through Oct. 28.

Enter Dr. Jay

Northridge Hospital Medical Center has appointed Dr. Jay Udani as medical director of the hospital’s integrative medicine program. Udani previously served as the chief resident of internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

UJ Granted

University of Judaism (UJ) received a coveted National Endowment for the Humanities Focus Grant for $25,000 to support the implementation of the UJ’s new undergraduate core curriculum.

Finding Employment Online

Jewish Communal Professionals of Southern California is a founding partner in a new online Jewish job placement/information service launching this month at www.JewishJobFinder.com .

Come Fly With Her

El-Al’s first female pilot, First Officer Merav Schwartz, 33, completed her first commercial flight for the Israeli airline from Tel Aviv to Nairobi, Kenya. Schwartz flew a Boeing 737 and eventually wants to pilot a jumbo jet.

Conservative Party

Women’s Alliance for Israel (WAIPAC) guest speaker Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) is flanked by co-presidents Nancy Klemens and Fran Sherwood, and members Rosalie Zalis and Elaine Robinson at a recent brunch at the home of Margie Oswald.