Religion Notes
TREE PLANTING: Tu B’Shevat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat celebrating the new year for trees, will be marked by a Seder and tree planting at 11 a.m. today at Temple Beth Torah, 16651 Rinaldi St., Granada Hills. Free. Information and reservations: (818) 831-0835.
CEREMONIAL MEAL: Tu B’Shevat will be celebrated with a Seder at 5:30 p.m. today at Beth Knesset Bamidbar, 1611 E. Avenue J, Lancaster. Free. Information: (661) 942-4415.
MAGIC NIGHT: Professional magicians will present a family night of magic at 7:30 tonight at Temple B’nai Hayim, 4302 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Admission in advance is $11 general, $10 for seniors and $8 for children 12 and younger; it will be $2 more at the door. Information and reservations: (818) 788-4664.
CATHOLIC SINGLES: Catholic Singles Network will host a dance for single Catholics in their 20s and 30s from 8 p.m. to midnight tonight at St. Mel Catholic Church parish hall, 20870 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. The cost is $8. Information: (310) 726-1111.
GRANDPARENTS LECTURE: The Rev. Bonnie Tarwater will conduct her first service as the new minister of Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society at 10:45 a.m. Sunday at the church, 9550 Haskell Ave., North Hills. The service, “Will You Be My Grandparents,” will examine the need for more extended family relationships and how the church can help foster these relationships. Free. Information: (818) 894-9251.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES: Kol Tikvah Temple, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, will host a picnic and park cleanup activity for sixth- and seventh-grade students at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, followed by a flag football game in honor of Super Bowl Sunday. Information and reservations: (818) 713-8774.
PLANET WORKSHOP: “Our Little Blue Planet: Performance and Art Workshop,” an event to celebrate Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish new year for trees, at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Sepulveda Pass. The cost is $5 per child for guests and free for members. Information and registration: (310) 440-4500.
COMMUNICATION LECTURE: Rabbi Chaim Morgenstern will present a free lecture, “Are We Really Talking to Each Other: Effective and Practical Communication Skills in Marriage,” at the weekly Torah study session from 8 to 10 p.m. Monday at Cal State Northridge’s Hillel House, 17729 Plummer St., Northridge. Information: (818) 832-8293.
JEWISH Y2K: Steve Posner, publisher of Fast Times, will lecture on “The Jewish Y2K Bug: Judaism the Next Generation” from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Adat Ari El Sisterhood, 12020 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. The cost is $3 for guests and free to members. Information: (818) 766-9426.
NEW MEMBER POTLUCK: Temple Ahavat Shalom will host a free Shabbat potluck dinner for new members to meet the congregation at 6 p.m. Friday at the temple, 18200 Rinaldi Place, Northridge. Information and registration: (818) 360-2258.
WEDDING TORAH: Rabbi Paul Kipnes and Cantor Doug Cotler will lead a wedding ceremony to honor and dedicate the first full-size Torah of Congregation Or Ami at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bay Laurel Elementary School, 24740 Paseo Primario, Calabasas. The ceremony will include a chupah, the traditional canopy that covers the bride and groom at a Jewish wedding; the recitation of the sheva brachot, the seven wedding blessings; and the symbolic breaking of a glass. Information: (818) 880-6818.
LUNCHING AND LEARNING: Rabbi Steven Tucker will host a lunch-and-learn session with the topic “The 10th Commandment: The Toughest of Them All” after the 9 a.m. Shabbat services on Jan. 29 at Temple Ramat Zion, 17655 Devonshire St., Northridge. Free. Information: (818) 360-1881.
PRAYER WORKSHOP: A workshop on the tradition of contemplative prayer in the Christian tradition will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road. Encino. The cost is $40 with lunch and $30 without lunch. Information and registration: (818) 784-4515.
News and announcements for this column can be sent to Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311.