GREENEBAUM TALK: Rabbi Gary Greenebaum, the American...

GREENEBAUM TALK: Rabbi Gary Greenebaum, the American Jewish Committee’s western regional director since 1990 who is better known for his service on the city’s civilian Police Commission, will speak Thursday at the monthly breakfast meeting of the Valley Jewish Business Leaders Assn. in Woodland Hills.

Greenebaum, who was president of the Police Commission in 1993, and Enrique Hernandez, who succeeded him, resigned in protest a month ago. They cited the Los Angeles City Council’s refusal to review the commission’s reasons for reprimanding LAPD Chief Willie L. Williams, accused of accepting free accommodations in Las Vegas, before the council overturned the reprimand.

“I feel saddened by what I consider to be the fact that police reform in Los Angeles is dead by virtue of the council vote,” Greenebaum told The Times shortly after his resignation.

Before coming to Los Angeles, Greenebaum led a congregation, had taught at several colleges and served for 10 years as a Hillel director and regional director for the national Jewish campus organization in the San Francisco area.

The fee for the 7:30 a.m. breakfast at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel is $15 for members of Valley Jewish Business Leaders and $20 for non-members. For more information, call (818) 774-3331.

OBON FESTIVAL: The San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple will hold its annual Obon festival today and Sunday at the Japanese American Community Center in Pacoima.

A holiday honoring ancestors, Obon also celebrates “the oneness of life,” according to the Rev. Kakuye Tada, minister of the temple.

Dancers in kimonos and hapi coats will perform traditional folk dances. Exhibits will feature flower arrangements, bonsai trees and Japanese dolls.

Food and games are also part of the festival, which will be open from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. today and 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the center, 12953 Branford St.

BURBANK CHURCHES: In an effort to overcome any competitive attitudes between churches in Burbank, leaders of a dozen congregations will hold a prayer and Communion meeting at 6 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Bible Church, 1101 S. Main St.

Pastors of most of those churches regularly meet Tuesday mornings for fellowship, and pastors of Calvary Bible and Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church recently preached in each other’s pulpits calling for “greater unity,” according to a spokesman for Calvary Bible.

Other participating churches in Sunday’s meeting are St. Jude Episcopal, Burbank First Foursquare, Toluca Lake Foursquare, Magnolia Park United Methodist, Bethany Presbyterian, First Presbyterian of Burbank, Westminster Presbyterian, Village Church and Vineyard Christian Fellowship.

For more information, call (818) 556-4840.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: Two perspectives on the debate over affirmative action programs will be presented during services at 8 p.m. Friday at Temple B’nai Hayim, a Conservative synagogue at 4302 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks.

Rabbi Sally Olins said that one speaker will represent the American Civil Liberties Union and another the California Republican Assembly. For more information, call (818) 788-4664.

SONGBIRD: Soloist Mandie Pinto, a Northridge 17-year-old who frequently appears as a guest singer in local churches, will perform a contemporary Christian music concert at 7:30 p.m. today at First Baptist Church of Reseda, 18644 Sherman Way.

Produced and arranged by Mark Vogel, the concert will also feature backup vocals by the group Reflexions from Los Angeles Baptist High School. Admission is free, but an offering will be taken for a high school project.

Mandie will also sing at the 9 a.m. service Sunday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 9440 Balboa Blvd., Northridge, and at the two Sunday-morning services of Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch on Aug. 27.

CONCERT: Michael John Poirer will perform in a concert titled “Songs and Stories” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 5011 White Oak Ave., Encino. Call (818) 342-4686 for more information.