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festival
Darfur Seder Raises Awareness, Funds
\”We need for America to speak out and really do something,\” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, one of the many high-powered guests in attendance. \”Where to start, of course, is in the faith community.\”
Passover Fest Offers Many Paths to Fun
It is not only illegal immigrants for whom the Passover tale holds appeal. The story of the Exodus can be easily updated for any of the numerous people in the Third World seeking freedom from oppression.
Hip Cynics for Export
In Israel, no one wants to be a friar — a sucker, a patsy, a flunky, a tool.
It\’s the Israeli equivalent of the Chinese never wanting to lose face. And in Israel, this primary motivation explains much of the country\’s machismo — and perhaps even its political situation.
Vintage Israeli posters, MethodFest, ‘Bush Is Bad’
Theater with a historical lesson comes to The Other Space at Santa Monica Playhouse, with the guest production of \”Black and Bluestein.\” The dramedy written by Jerry Mayer takes place in early \’60s St. Louis, and tells the story of Jewish homeowner Jeff Bluestein and the issues he faces while deliberating whether to sell his home — in a largely white Jewish neighborhood — to a black family.
Spectator – Assimilation and a Blonde Doll
Filmmaker Tiffany Shlain laughs when asked where she gets her finely honed sense of ironic humor. It comes with being Jewish, she explains — a group whose number constitutes just one-quarter of 1 percent of the human race and thus makes getting along with others paramount.
7 Days in The Arts
Saturday, February 4
It’s the year of the gay cowboy, so why not the privileged lesbian? Head to the Geffen Playhouse for the Los Angeles premiere of David Mamet’s, “Boston Marriage,” titled after the Victorian euphemism used to describe a long-term, intimate relationship between two unmarried women. The play about two upper-class women involved thusly is also directed by Mamet and stars Rebecca Pidgeon, Alicia Silverstone and Mary Steenburgen.
Through March 12. $35-$69. 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. (310) 208-5454.
Sunday, February 5
Israeli musician Ehud Banai comes to the Avalon Hollywood. Hear songs from the folk/rock/traditional songwriter’s album, “Answer Me,” which won Best Album of the Year at the 2004 Israeli Music Awards, and other favorites tonight only.
9 p.m. $45. 1735 Vine St., Hollywood. (323) 462-8900. www.groovetickets.com.
Vienna Glories in Past and Present
The best way to discover Mozart here might be a night at the Vienna Opera. I was lucky enough to attend a performance of \”The Magic Flute\” during my visit, which was sponsored by Austria Tourism. This was classical Mozart through and through in terms of the music, but the performance was strikingly modern.
A Blizzard of Flicks for Jewish Eyes
At the Sundance wintertime festival, which began Jan. 19 and runs through Jan. 29, Jewish viewers can check out a blizzard of flicks.
Leonard Cohen Film Toasts Songwriter
Cohen became first an accomplished poet and then, starting with 1967\’s \”Songs of Leonard Cohen\” (which contained the oft-recorded \”Suzanne\”) a singer-songwriter. According to Ira Nader\’s Cohen biography, \”Various Positions,\” Cohen\’s Judaism has influenced his songs greatly — \”Who By Fire\” is based on the melody of a Yom Kippur prayer, \”Mi Bamayim, Mi Ba Esh,\” and \”If It Be Your Will\” is derived from a \”Kol Nidre\” phrase.
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