Passover Celebrations Begin Monday

Beginning at sundown Monday, Jews throughout Southern California and the world begin Passover, a celebration marking the angel of death’s “passing over” of homes of Israelites held captive in ancient Egypt, and of Israel’s exodus from Egyptian bondage during biblical times.

Also known as Pesach, Passover is observed for eight days, ending after sundown April 29.

The first night of Passover (and for some Jews also the second and third nights) is a time of gathering family and friends for the Passover Seder, or meal at which matzo or unleavened bread is eaten to symbolize the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt. They left in such a hurry that it is said there was no time for their bread to rise.

In addition to family gatherings, a number of community Seders are planned throughout the area. And last week, a number of congregations held “model Seders” designed to teach the meaning of Passover and the symbolism of the dinner.

During the Seder, many variations of the Haggada (literally, the “telling”) are used to recount the story of the Exodus with commentaries, blessings, prayers and songs. Always there is a place at the table that remains vacant in case the prophet Elijah knocks on the door. “Elijah’s cup” also graces the table. Elijah is identified with the “Wandering Jew” of medieval folklore.

COMMUNITY PASSOVER SEDERS

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A traditional Passover Seder open to the community is planned Tuesday at 6 p.m. by Temple Beth Tikvah of Fullerton, 1600 N. Acacia Ave. Cost is $25 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 3 to 13. Children under 3 are free. Phone (714) 871-3535. Rabbi Ned Soltz will lead the Seder in prayer and songs.

A community Seder will be held Tuesday by Kehillat Ma’arav--The Westside Congregation--at 6:30 p.m. Rabbi Michael Gotlieb will preside over a traditional Kosher Passover meal. 1715 21st St., Santa Monica. Cost is $40 for members, $45 for nonmembers, $16 for children under 13. Reservations at (310) 453-8358.

A variation on the community Passover Seder is planned by Temple Beth Zion-Sinai. The Conservative congregation, at 6440 Del Amo Blvd, Lakewood, plans a “Share a Seder” program in which congregants invite members of the community into their homes to share a Seder. To participate, call the temple office at (562) 429-0715.

JAILED AT PASSOVER

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Passover services and Seders will be held in Los Angeles County jails. Sheriff Sherman Block said his department encourages inmates to observe religious events. “Our hope is that by allowing them to practice their faiths, the paths of their lives may take a turn for the better,” Block said. Passover observances will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the North County Correctional Facility, and at 12:30 p.m. at the Sybil Brand Institute. An observance was held Friday at the Central Jail. Participating were Rabbi Martin Ryback, Jewish Chaplain at Men’s Central Jail, and Rabbi Mike Weiss.

PASSOVER IDEAS WANTED

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B’nai B’rith Center for Jewish Identity is asking families to share their Passover Seder ideas for “putting pep into Pesach” for possible publication in a booklet to be printed in time for next year. For example, some families have a wine-tasting Seder. Some Seder hosts get creative with old standards, challenging guests to sing a verse of “Chad Gadya” without taking a breath. “We hope that this booklet introduces people to ways to make the holiday even more meaningful for people of all levels of religious observance,” center President Barbara Stollman said. Send Passover ideas to: the Center for Jewish Identity, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 or e-mail CJI@bnaibrith.org.

GERMAN REQUIEM

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“A German Requiem” by Johannes Brahms will be performed at Garden Grove United Methodist Church, at 4 p.m. on May 4. It will feature a full orchestra and chorus, including soloists Patricia Larkin and Mark Schneider. 12741 Main St., Garden Grove. Suggested donation of $5. Phone (714) 775-6501.

“A German Requiem” will also be performed by Westwood Presbyterian Church’s Chancel Choir, with full orchestra under the direction of Donn Weiss. Soloists will be Rhonda Dillon, soprano, and Conrad Immel, baritone. April 27, 4 p.m. at the church, 10822 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Donation of $10. Call (310) 474-4535.

Pasadena Presbyterian Church and First United Methodist Church of Glendale will present two performances of “A German Requiem.” They will be May 3 at 8 p.m. at the Methodist church, 134 N. Kenwood, Glendale; and May 4 at 4 p.m at the Presbyterian church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd. The performance will involve 90 voices of the combined choirs and an orchestra. $10 donation. Call (818) 568-2608.

MUSIC

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Mary Preston, organist of the Dallas Symphony, plays the works of Windor, Durufle, Doppelbauer, Rinck, and Reger at All Saints Episcopal Church, 504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills. April 20, 5 p.m. $10 admission, $5 for students and seniors. Call (310) 275-2910.

Recording artist O.C. Smith, known for his hit “Little Green Apples,” will present a benefit concert April 20, 3 to 5 p.m. Also appearing is Della Reese Lett. It is sponsored by Founder’s Action Group to defray expenses in a dispute involving Founder’s Church of Religious Science. The concert will be held at the Proud Bird Grand Ballroom, 11022 Aviation Blvd., Los Angeles. Admission is $25. Tickets are available at the door. For information call (310) 285-8437.

A worship service featuring mariachi music will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Fuller Theological Seminary. It will be followed by a speaker’s forum and bag lunch with Randy Rowland, pastor of Church at the Center in Seattle. He will discuss designing a contemporary worship experience. (818) 584-5367. Also at Fuller, assistant professor of psychology Jeff Bjorck will speak Thursday at 10 a.m. about how music has affected his spiritual journey.

QUOTABLE

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Cardinal Roger M. Mahony speaking on KCET’S “Life & Times” on the neutering of pets: “I think if we’re going to take care of the animals, I think we have to make sure they’re spayed and neutered, so that we don’t have an excessive number of animals who end up having to be euthanized. I think that’s a terrible waste. We’re the ones responsible. I have my two cats. [They] are neutered. And I think everyone else should do the same.”

EVENTS

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A four-day conference on spiritual transformation, “Revelation ‘97: The Spirit of Joy,” will be held Tuesday through Sunday at the Wyndham Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. Sponsored by the Agape International Center of Truth, it will feature the Rev. Matthew Fox, Father Leo Booth, Mary Manin Morrissey, Brother Ishmael Tetteh, and the Rev. Mary Tumpkin. On Thursday night there will be an experimental, multimedia Mass developed by Fox. Cost is $249 for entire conference. Individual event tickets are available. Call (310) 829-9173.

A spring dance to raise funds for St. Ambrose Catholic Church and school will be held Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. at the church, 1281 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. Entertainment and refreshments. $5. (213) 656-4433.

Divorce and grief recovery groups began April 14 and run through June 28 at La Habra Christian Church, 1400 Bella Vista Drive, La Habra Heights. $30. (562) 691-0514.

Sri Karunamayi, revered by followers as the Divine Mother, Sarasvati, Goddess of Knowledge, Music and the Arts, will be in Southern California next week. She will speak at 7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday at the Church of the Truth, 690 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena; 7 p.m. April 26 at Chinmaya Mission of Southern California, 899 W. West St., Anaheim; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27 at the Pasadena church. Call (818) 954-0453.

Reformation-era scholar Hans Hillebrand will deliver the final speech in Concordia University’s lecture series on the Reformation. His topic is “The ‘Other’ in the Age of the Reformation.” He is general editor of the four-volume work “The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation.” Sunday, 7:30 p.m., Concordia University, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine. Call (714) 854-8002, Ext. 307.

“The Sound of Zen,” a program to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Zenshuji Buddhism, will be held today at 2 p.m. at the Japan America Theater in Little Tokyo, 244 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles. The program will involve silent meditation. Headsets for English translation are $6. Tickets are $30. (213) 680-3700.

Notices may be sent by mail to Southern California File, c/o John Dart, L.A. Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311, or by fax to Religion Editor (213) 237-4712. Items should arrive at least three weeks before the event, except for spot news, and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time.

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EXHIBITIONS

“Politics of the Spirit,” an exhibition by Jerry Berndt of portraits of faith in Los Angeles runs through June 30 at the downtown Los Angeles Central Library, 524 S. Flower St. It is sponsored by the library and the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC. The photos illustrate a research project by USC professors Donald E. Miller and John B. Orr, and Wade Clark Roof of UC Santa Barbara, documenting the response of religious leaders to the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

An exhibition of the works of artist George Hodgson, a garden party and silent art auction are planned today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 2936 W. 8th St. Los Angeles. (213) 389-1356.