Rally Will Show Support for New Israeli Leadership

Just days after the landslide victory of Ariel Sharon as prime minister of Israel, Orthodox Jews in Los Angeles are closing ranks behind the new government. While many Jewish leaders are taking a wait-and-see attitude, Orthodox leaders say that Jews must unite.

A rally sponsored by the Orthodox Union to show solidarity with Israel will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at the southeast corner of Doheny Drive and Olympic Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Scheduled speakers include Israeli Consul General Yuval Rotem, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) and Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

OTHER EVENTS

“Neuroscience, Dreaming and Religious Visions” is the subject of a conference today sponsored by the Center for the Study of Religion at UCLA, beginning with 8 a.m. registration. The program ends at 9 p.m. Guest presenters will include Harvard University neuroscientist Alan Hobson, dream researcher Jeremy Taylor of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, cognitive psychologist Tracy Kahan of the University of Santa Clara and theologian Lee Hayward Butler Jr. of the Chicago Theological Seminary. The conference will be held on the UCLA campus, 1102 Perloff Hall (Building 14 on campus map). $20.

* Thomas Toivi Blatt, a survivor of a successful revolt at Sobibor, a Nazi death camp, will speak at the Ventura County Jewish Council-Temple Beth Torah Brotherhood’s lox and bagel brunch Sunday at 9:30 a.m., 7620 Foothill Road, Ventura. $10. (805) 647-4181.

* Artifacts from the ancient palace of King Herod Agrippa II, including jewelry, bronze bowls and pottery, will be on exhibit Sunday through May 4 at the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Free. (310) 506-4851.

* Jeremy Kagan, who has directed “Chicago Hope,” “The West Wing” and “The Chosen,” will lead an interactive forum for young Jews (ages 25 to 40) on the ethical dimensions of current events at 7 p.m. Thursday. The forum, “Project Next Step,” is sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, 9911 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Members $5, nonmembers $7. Reservations required. (310) 552-4595, Ext. 27.

* An “Interfaith/Intercultural Breakfast” featuring author Phoebe Eng and sponsored by the Greater Long Beach office of the National Conference for Community and Justice will be held at 7 a.m. Thursday at the Long Beach Hilton. Reservations deadline is Monday. $22. (562) 435-8184.

* The romantic comedy “Love, It’s Ageless,” will be presented by the University of Judaism’s performing arts department and Judy Arnold Productions on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the university’s Gindi Auditorium, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air. $15. (310) 476-9777, Ext. 203.

* An intergenerational cast of 65 actors, singers and dancers will perform “Hyrcanus,” a musical about great Talmudic rabbis of the 1st century, at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 and at 2 and 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Emanuel Arts Theater, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills. The event is sponsored by Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills. $15 adults, $10 seniors and children. (310) 274-6388, Ext. 232.

MUSIC

Bach’s Concerto in C for Three Harpsichords and Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 will be among the offerings of the St. Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Thomas Neenan at 8 p.m. Friday. Harpsichordists are Jennifer Paul, Jefferson McConnaughey and Neenan. $15; $10 for students. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades. (310) 573-7787, Ext. 2.

An organ recital featuring Charles H. Webb, dean emeritus of the Indiana University School of Music, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Claremont United Church of Christ at Harvard and Harrison avenues. Free. The recital is part of ceremonies leading to the inauguration Feb. 24 of Philip A. Amerson as president of the Claremont School of Theology. (909) 626-3521, Ext. 1210.

PEOPLE

Philip A. Amerson will be inaugurated as fifth president of the Claremont School of Theology at 2 p.m. Feb. 24 on the Kresge Chapel Green at the seminary, 1325 N. College Ave. Amerson most recently was senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Ind. An authority on the sociology of religion and urban ministry, he has degrees from the Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., and Emory University in Atlanta. He previously served on the faculty of the Candler School of Theology at Emory.

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