By Ilene Schneider
The new year has lots of events in store for the Jewish community of Orange County. Start the year off right with a film, a concert, a relationship booster or a special service. Start teens off on their journey to college with the right tools to stay proud of their roots.
We have listed the Orange County Community Scholar Program events separately for easy reference. See the article in the January issue of Jlife for more details about the speaker, historian Marc Dollinger.
Saturday, January 5
9:30 a.m.
CBI Coastal
Congregation B’nai Israel offers CBI Coastal, a musical and informal lay-led service held in Irvine (1 Beech Tree Lane), in addition to regular services at CBI in Tustin. Click https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0849aea72ea0fa7-happy to here to RSVP and choose an item to bring for a shared Tex-Mex potluck.
Sunday, January 6
9 a.m. Lox and Bagel Breakfast/10 a.m. Showing
Film Festival
The OC International Jewish Film Festival, founded by University Synagogue, presents Sammy Davis Jr. in “I’ve Gotta Be Me.” The star-studded Orange County premiere film will be presented at the Westpark Cinemas in Irvine. The film includes never-before-seen photographs from Davis’ vast personal collection, excerpts from performances on television, in film and on stage, and interviews with Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Humphrey Bogart, Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal. Call Susan at (714) 964-0565 to reserve tickets.
Wednesday, January 9
7:30 p.m.
“Judaism’s Secrets to Love and Lasting Relationships
Shoshana Kay will offer an evening of inspiration, depth and fun as she talks about Jewish ideas about love and relationships. Dessert and wine will be served. The event will be held at Congregation Beth Jacob Irvine, 3900 Michelson Drive, Irvine. To register, visit https://www.bethjacobirvine.org/form/oc-bji-jwrp-relationships.html.
Wednesday, January 9
7 p.m.
“From Broken to Breakthrough”
Hadassah’s Atid Group presents Esther Hatfield Miller, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse and author of Answering the Call, who will describe her five-step healing system that took her from victim to survivor to thriver. The organization will also hold its installation of 2019 officers. Wine, cheese and dessert will be served. The event will take place at the Pacific Club. Mail reservations with a check for $36 to Hadassah, 21757 Tahoe Lane, Lake Forest, CA 92630.
Saturday, January 12
7 p.m.
Shir Appeal Concert
Temple Beth Sholom (TBS) Sisterhood presents the Maxine Cultural Series Shir Appeal Concert at Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana. Tickets, which are $10 for adults, include the concert, Havdalah service immediately following and a festive dessert reception.
Shir Appeal, Tufts University’s only mixed-gender Jewish a cappella group, has sung at synagogues, nursing homes, day schools, Bnai Mitzvahs, private parties and fundraisers. The group sings Jewish music in a variety of languages, from Hebrew, to Yiddish, Ladino, Amharic, and English. The award- winning, mixed-gender Jewish a Capella group offers Israeli pop and rock, traditional and liturgical songs, Jewish world music and English songs with Jewish themes. Shir Appeal’s lively and beautiful harmonies entertain and inspire. Shir Appeal is the first non-secular and only Jewish group featured on the prestigious Voices Only and Best of Collegiate a Capella (BOCA) and has been featured on every Best of Jewish a Capella (BOJAC) album to date.
For more information or to purchase tickets by phone, contact Vivienne Shear at (714) 532-5049. To purchase tickets online, visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3904369.
January 12
7 p.m.
Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel
The Merage JCC, I federation Way, Irvine 92603, will present this stirring story of sports, patriotism and personal growth that charts the underdog journey of Israel’s national baseball team competing for the first time in the World Baseball Classic. After the OC film premiere, there will be a Q&A with professional baseball player Cody Decker and his wife, Jenn Decker. Tickets are $15 for JCC members and $20 for guests. Get the tickets at .
Sunday, January 13
4 p.m.
Knowledge for College (K4C), Session I – Center for Israel Education (Dinner included)
All high school juniors and seniors are invited to participate in K4C, a three-part program focused on educating, preparing and empowering pre-college teens to be confident and engaged Jewish college students. K4C’s first session of 2019, “Israel on Campus: How to Think Critically” & “The Evolution of Israel Culture, Society and Politics,” will be held at Congregation B’nai Israel in Tustin. Students will have the opportunity to interact with educators from Emory University’s Center for Israel Education. This seminar will provide engaging content to enhance participants’ knowledge of Israel and give them tools to better prepare for college. Topics covered: cultivating critical thinking skills of Israel in the media, review of primary sources to understand Israel’s creation; as well as fun elective workshops focused on evaluating Hebrew hip-hop and learning about Israeli society through the making of hummus. Dinner and social time are included. Other sessions are: March 3 with Chloe Valdary from Jerusalem U and April 14 with Hillel representatives and current college students. To register and learn more, visit www.know4college.org.
Saturday, January 19
9:15 a.m.
Kol Isha Shabbat Service (KISS)
Temple Beth El’s KISS is inspiring, musical, engaging and entertaining. Special guest speaker Cantor Emerita Shula Kalir-Merton will deliver inspiring words of Torah. Men, women, teens and children are invited and encouraged to attend this popular women-led Shabbat morning service followed by a lavish Kiddush Luncheon and entertainment. RSVP at http://tbesoc.org/upcomingevents.htm.
Sunday, January 20
2:30 p.m.
Temple Beth Emet (TBE) Women’s League Tu B’Shevat Seder
TBE Women’s League invites members and friends to experience the spiritual side of the “birthday of the trees” while sampling the fruits and nuts that are part of the celebration. According to TBE’s Rabbi Joel Berman, the Tu B’Shevat Seder was designed by the kabbalists in medieval Tzfat to help people to understand the range of human diversity by separating the fruit into four categories. The seder will be held at Temple Beth Emet, 1770 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim, CA 92804. Make reservations by calling the office at (714) 772-4720 and sending a check for $7 payable to TBE WL.
Sunday, January 27
2 p.m.
TBT Movie Mavens: The Court Jester
Temple Beth Tikvah’s Movie Mavens will present the movie, The Court Jester, with Danny Kaye and an outstanding supportive cast. One critic said, “Danny Kaye spoofs Robin Hood and Scaramouche in this inventive slapstick swashbuckler. Portraying the clownish but good-hearted entertainer Hawkins, he infiltrates the court of the corrupt Basil Rathbone disguised as the legendary king of jesters, Giacomo. After a court sorceress hypnotizes Hawkins into believing he is also a legendary assassin, Hawkins has more identities than he can keep straight, and Kaye zips back and forth between them at, literally, a snap of the fingers.” The fun afternoon will be in Room 102 at Temple Beth Tikvah, 1600 N. Acacia Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92831. The $5 fee includes treats and great company. For more information, call (714) 871-3535.
Community Scholar Program
A Journey Through American Jewish History
18th Annual CSP One Month Scholar
January 3–January 27, 2019
Dr. Marc Dollinger holds the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies and Social Responsibility at San Francisco State University. He is an author and an expert in the fields of Jews and American politics, American Zionism and
California Jews. A past president of both the Jewish Community High School of the Bay and Brandeis Hillel Day School, he serves as academic vice president of Lehrhaus Judaica as well as trustee of URJ Camp Newman and the Bay Area Jewish Healing
Center. He sits on the California advisory committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, was named 2008 Volunteer of the Year by the SF Jewish Community Federation and was awarded the San Francisco JCRC’s 2015 Courageous Leader award for his work against the BDS movement.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3
OPENING PROGRAM
Reception 7:00 p.m.; Presentation 7:30 p.m.
New Interpretations of American Jewish History:
What really happened and what did it mean?
University Park Community Center, 1 Beech Tree Lane, Irvine 92612
Cost: $18 General Admission, Free to CSP Members/Legacy Circle.
Reservations required.
Contact: akatz@occsp.org
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
Services 9:00 a.m.; Presentation 11:00 a.m.
Lunch following services
American Jews, Power and Israel in the Contemporary Era
Temple Beth Emet
1770 W. Cerritos Avenue, Anaheim 92804
Contact: (714) 772-4720
SUNDAY, JANUARY 6
Presentation 10:00 a.m.
Jews and Politics
Temple Beth David
6100 Hefley Street, Westminster 92683
Contact: (714) 892-6623
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8
Presentation 7:00 p.m.
Anti Semitism From the Right and the Left: Jews and the American University
Temple Beth El
2A Liberty, Aliso Viejo 92656
Contact: (949) 362-3999
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9
WEDNESDAY BROWN BAG
LUNCH SERIES – PART 1 OF 3
Lunch 12:00 p.m.; Presentation 12:15 p.m.
American Jewish History, 1654-1880:
What Do We Owe Peter Stuyvesant?
Samueli Jewish Campus, 1 Federation Way, Irvine 92603
CSP Member and Legacy Circle only series
Contact: For information akatz@occsp.org
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10
THURSDAY EVENING
SERIES – PART 1 OF 3
Presentation 7:15 p.m.
Land of Opportunity and Land of Challenges:
Immigration and Jewish Acculturation
Samueli Jewish Campus, 1 Federation Way, Irvine 92603
CSP Member and Legacy Circle only series
Contact: For information akatz@occsp.org
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11
Services 7:30 p.m.; Presentation 8:15 p.m.
Jews and Whiteness
Congregation Shir Ha-Ma‘alot
3652 Michelson Drive, Irvine 92612
Contact: (949) 857-2226
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12
Services 9:30 a.m.; Presentation 1:00 p.m.
American Jews, Power and Israel in the Contemporary Era
Congregation B’nai Israel
2111 Bryan Avenue, Tustin 92782
Contact: (714) 730-9693
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12
Presentation 7:30 p.m. A CSP Patron and Legacy Circle Event
Campus Anti-Semitism—SF State, A Personal Reflection
Private Home
Contact: RSVP to akatz@occsp.org
SUNDAY, JANUARY 13
Presentation 2:00 p.m.
“What do we owe Peter Stuyvesant?“
350 Years of American Jewish History
Temple Judea of Laguna Hills
24512 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Woods 92637
Contact: (949) 830-0470
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
Presentation 7:00 p.m.
California Jews
Congregation B‘nai Tzedek
9669 Talbert Avenue, Fountain Valley 92708
Contact: (714) 963-4611
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16
WEDNESDAY BROWN BAG
LUNCH SERIES – PART 2 OF 3
Lunch 12:00 p.m.; Presentation 12:15 p.m.
American Jewish History, 1880-1945:Becoming American
Samueli Jewish Campus, 1 Federation Way, Irvine 92603
CSP Member and Legacy Circle only series
Contact: For information akatz@occsp.org
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
THURSDAY EVENING
SERIES – PART 2 OF 3
Presentation 7:15 p.m.
Land of Opportunity and Land of Challenges:
Affirmative Action, Quotas and the Myth of Meritocracy
Samueli Jewish Campus, 1 Federation Way, Irvine 92603
CSP Member and Legacy Circle only series
Contact: For information akatz@occsp.org
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18
Dinner 6:00 p.m. (by reservation); Services 7:00 p.m.; Presentation 8:15 p.m.
American Zionism
University Synagogue
3400 Michelson, Irvine 92612
Contact: (949) 553-3535
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
Presentation 10:30 a.m.
“Civil Rights and Social Justice” The Untold Story
of American Jews in the 1960s
Temple Beth Sholom
2625 N. Tustin Avenue, Santa Ana 92705
Contact: (714) 628-4600
SUNDAY, JANUARY 20
Presentation 1:00 p.m.
Jews and Politics
Temple Beth Ohr
15721 Rosecrans Avenue, La Mirada 90638
Contact: (714) 521-6765
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Presentation 7:30 p.m.
Anti-Israelism, Anti-Zionism, Anti-Semitism
California State University, Long Beach
Alpert JCC, 3801 E. Willow Street, Long Beach 90815
Contact: (562) 985-2196
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
WEDNESDAY BROWN BAG
LUNCH SERIES – PART 3 OF 3
Lunch 12:00 p.m.; Presentation 12:15 p.m.
American Jewish History, 1945-present:
The Quest for Inclusion
Samueli Jewish Campus, 1 Federation Way, Irvine 92603
CSP Member and Legacy Circle only series
Contact: For information akatz@occsp.org
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
THURSDAY EVENING
SERIES – PART 3 OF 3
Presentation 7:15 p.m.
Land of Opportunity and Land of Challenges:
Jews and Liberalism in Modern America
Samueli Jewish Campus, 1 Federation Way, Irvine 92603
CSP Member and Legacy Circle only series
Contact: For information akatz@occsp.org
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Wine/Cheese Reception 5:30 p.m.; Services 6:00 p.m.; Dinner 7:00 p.m. (by reservation)
Presentation 7:30 p.m.
Jews and Politics
Temple Bat Yahm
1011 Camelback Street, Newport Beach 92660
Contact: tby.org/csp.html or call (949) 644-1999 to RSVP
SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Wine/Cheese Reception 5:00 p.m.; Presentation 5:30 p.m.
American Jews, Power and Israel in the Contemporary Era
Temple Beth Tikvah
1600 N. Acacia Avenue, Fullerton 92831
Contact: (714) 871-3535
SUNDAY, JANUARY 27
CLOSING PRESENTATION
Reception 7:00 p.m.; Presentation 7:30 p.m.
Past, Present, and Future:
Deploying our understanding of history to frame contemporary American life and wonder about its future
University Park Community Center, 1 Beech Tree Lane, Irvine 92612
Cost: $18 General Admission, Free to CSP Members/Legacy Circle.
Reservations required. Contact: akatz@occsp.org