A CELEBRATION OF TRADITIONS: “Traditions: Celebrating 4,500...
A CELEBRATION OF TRADITIONS: “Traditions: Celebrating 4,500 Years of Jewish History” will be the theme of this year’s Valley Jewish Festival, which will include more than 200 booths featuring Jewish arts and crafts, books, jewelry, gift ware and information about Jewish organizations. The festival will also feature live performances by the klezmer music group the Maxwell Street Band, Ladino music by Judy Frankel and folk music by ESTA. There will be a children’s park with live entertainment, arts and crafts workshops and rides, and ethnic, kosher foods from six continents available for sale.
This year’s event “is 30% bigger,” said Dan Shuster, a Woodland Hills businessman and chairman of the event for the third time. He said that this year he has asked representatives as well as members of the community to come dressed in traditional Jewish costumes to complement the theme. The festival, sponsored by the Jewish Federation/Valley Alliance, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children, students and seniors. Information: (818) 587-3205.
Also for the first time, the festival will feature daylong study sessions with the following topics:
* “A Psalm and a Song--Healing Through Study and Music,” presented by Rabbi Steven Jacobs and Cantor Caren Glasser from Kol Tikvah Synagogue of Woodland Hills.
* “Jewish Spirituality--Countdown to Revelation,” presented by Rabbi Mordechai Finley of Ohr HaTorah Synagogue in North Hollywood.
* “Finding a Woman’s Voice in Judaism,” given by Rabbi Judith HaLevy from the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue.
* “How to Explain Judaism to Your Non-Jewish Neighbors,” by retired Rabbi Ed Zerrin.
* “What Ruth Had to Do to Get a Jewish Husband,” by Rabbi Tobah August from the Stephen S. Wise Temple.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church will celebrate its 45th anniversary Sunday with a special service, featuring the Rev. Larry Hinshaw, a former pastor, who will preach at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon, music and a dramatic performance will follow the service. Information: (818) 708-7068.
TALK ON ART: Rabbi Harold Schulweis of Valley Beth Shalom and author of “For Those Who Can’t Believe” will lead a discussion on a sculpture by George Segal that is based on the story of the near sacrifice of Isaac, at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 Sepulveda Blvd., Sepulveda Pass. Information: (310) 440-4500.
THE ETHICS OF ETHICS: “Understanding Ethical Culture, Part IV,” which includes the basic tenets of the ethical culture movement, will be discussed at an Ethical Culture Society of Los Angeles meeting at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Book Grinders, 13321 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys. Admission is free. Information: (310) 470-2873.
A MASS CHOIR PERFORMANCE: The third annual Interfaith Choir Concert will feature performances by the Valley Beth Shalom Choir, the Church of the Valley Choir, the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church Alchemy Handbell Ensemble, and the Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir. Dr. Jerome Adler, DDS, who was a founding member of the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council, will be honored in the concert. He is an Encino resident who is retiring as member of the board of directors. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. Tickets for the concert cost $20 and $10, and proceeds benefit the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council’s various programs. Information: (818) 718-6460, Ext. 3007.
VETERAN ACTOR TO SPEAK: The Catholic Community Luncheon will feature veteran actor Fred Applegate as guest speaker. He will discuss “The Message of Our Faith,” beginning at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Barone’s restaurant, 10123 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake. Information: (818) 789-7621.
REFORM RABBI TO RETIRE: Rabbi Akiva Annes, one of the youngest men to be ordained as a rabbi in the modern history of Hebrew Union College, is retiring after 43 years as Temple Judea’s senior rabbi, the temple has announced.
Born in Osten, Belgium, Annes emigrated to the United States as a child. He went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Hebrew letters and recently received an honorary doctorate of divinity. Annes, who led the 900-family congregation, will become rabbi emeritus. Taking his place will be Rabbi Donald Goor, who has served the congregation as assistant rabbi since 1987. In recognition of Annes’ retirement, a special public farewell concert and service featuring a composition he commissioned in 1967 titled “Shabbat for Today” will be held at 7:45 p.m. Friday at Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. Information: (818) 758-3800.
News and announcements for this column can be sent to Susan Abram at the Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311.