Passover and Holy Week Observances Begin

Passover and Holy Week, among the most sacred and moving commemorations of faith and belief on the Jewish and Christian liturgical calendars, begin unfolding tonight with Seders and musical offerings.

For Jews, Passover is a time to remember the flight of the Israelites led by Moses from the slavery of Egypt. For Christians, Holy Week recalls the triumphant Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem of Jesus of Nazareth and his subsequent arrest, trial and crucifixion by the occupying Roman authorities on what is now called Good Friday. Churches teach that it is called “good” Friday because that is when humankind was redeemed from its sins by the sacrificial death of Jesus, whom Christians see as the son of God.

EVENTS

The annual Second Night Passover Seder will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6000 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. $45 members, $55 nonmembers, $18 children. (323) 931-7023.

* Congregation Mishkon Tephilo’s Second Night Seder will be held at 7:45 p.m. Sunday at 206 Main St., Venice. $20-$50. Discounts for members, seniors, children. (310) 392-3029.

* The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring Seder with Yiddish singer Moti Buchboot accompanied at the piano by Ruth Judkowitz will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. $32 members, $39 guests. Children half price. (310) 552-2007.

* A joint Good Friday service, the “Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross,” sponsored by the Hollywood-Wilshire Cluster of Presbyterian Churches and Mission Agencies, will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Friday at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Free. (213) 387-5387 or (323) 469-4551.

* The broadcast premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” will be aired at 8 p.m. Wednesday and 10 p.m. Thursday on KCET-TV Channel 28.

* The annual Men’s Club Yom Ha Shoah service will pay tribute Friday to Jewish heroic actions against Nazi oppression. Holocaust scholar Michael Berenbaum will discuss the failure to bomb Auschwitz and Jewish resistance. Dario Gabbai will describe his participation in the 1944 Auschwitz revolt. They will speak at 8:15 p.m. at Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. Free. (818) 887-0246.

* Peter Z. Malkin, the man who captured Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, will be the keynote speaker at Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 22 at Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., West Los Angeles. The program will begin at 1:45 p.m. and free bus transportation will be available from the Federal Building in Westwood and the Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus in West Hills. Preregistration is required for transportation. (310) 821-9919 or (310) 280-5010.

MUSIC

A Palm Sunday organ concert by Joyce Jones featuring an 80-rank Austin pipe organ will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at Glendale Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Louise St., Glendale. Free. (818) 242-8873.

* John Rutter’s “Requiem,” with soloist Mary Beth Haag and a chamber orchestra, will be performed by the Chancel Choir during the Maundy Thursday Communion service at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Pasadena First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd. Offering. (626) 796-0157.

* The “Requiem” by Maurice Durufle and Francis Poulenc’s Organ Concerto will be performed by organist Daniel Kerr, the Kirk Choir and the Friends of Music Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. $10 general, $8 students, seniors. (626) 793-2191.

* The Holman Choir and Orchestra, directed by Charles Dickerson and accompanied by organist William Campbell Jr., will present two Lenten cantatas, “Song of the Shadows” and “Colors of Grace” by Joseph Martin, at 7 p.m. Friday at Holman United Methodist Church, 3320 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles. Offering. (213) 731-7285.

* The Grove City College Touring Choir, directed by Douglas A. Browne and featuring the works of J.S. Bach, Johannes Brahms, Gustav Holst and Rene Clausen, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at St. James Presbyterian Church, 19414 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. Free. (818) 345-2057.

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