While there have been some live and drive-by events in the Jewish community, most are still coming to participants via Zoom or Facebook. A notable exception is Temple Beth Emet’s outdoor Judaica sale. While the B’nai Israel Gala is virtual, the food is very real – and sounds amazing.
Please check out our midmonth update for Passover events and activities throughout Orange County.
Tuesday, March 2
11 AM
The Merage Jewish Community Center presents News from Israel with Muki Jankelowitz online. This session will discuss “Elections Again: Why, how, and what could be different this time?” This series will take an in-depth look at current events and recurring themes in Israeli news. Merage JCC’s favorite Israeli tour educator, Muki Jankelowitz will lead the series. To sign up, call Debibe Meline at (949) 435-3400 or e-mail debbiem@jccoc.org.
Friday, March 5
7 PM
University Synagogue will present National Refugee Shabbat services online in partnership with HIAS, led by Rabbi Arnold Rachlis and Cantor Ruti Braier. Rabbi Rachlis will interview Immigrant Attorney and Dreamer Dulce Garcia, who is the Executive Director of Border Angels, a non-profit organization along the entire US-Mexico border that primarily depends on volunteers. The organization defends the rights of migrants and refugees on both sides of the border through humanitarian work. Click here: https://universitysynagogue.org/virtual-services-2020-2021/.
Sunday, March 7
1 PM
Temple Beth Emet Women’s League Judaica Gift Shop will hold an outdoor, social-distanced sale of selected merchandise for Passover and other occasions. There will be chocolate, seder plates, hamsas, scrip and more. Temple Beth Emet is at 1770 West Cerritos Avenue in Anaheim.
Tuesday, March 9
11 AM
The Merage Jewish Community Center presents News from Israel with Muki Jankelowitz online. This session will discuss “Normalization” of the Middle East: What new relations with UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco mean for Israel. This series will take an in-depth look at current events and recurring themes in Israeli news. Merage JCC’s favorite Israeli tour educator, Muki Jankelowitz will lead the series. To sign up, call Debibe Meline at (949) 435-3400 or e-mail debbiem@jccoc.org.
Tuesday March 9
12:30 PM
The Orange County Community Scholar Program (CSP) 2021 Great Israeli Writer Event
featuring Etgar Keret, live from Israel, in conversation with Rabbi Elie Spitz. The program, “Inside the Dark and the Surreal World of Etgar Keret,” is dedicated in memory of Amos Oz. Known for his short stories, rarely extending beyond three or four pages, Keret fuses the bizarre with the banal, and offers a window on a surreal world that is both dark and comic. Keret’s books have been published in over 45 languages and are bestsellers in Israel. Check out www.occsp.org.
Wednesday, March 10
6:30 PM
Shir Ha-Ma’alot presents the Adult Music Experience: A Night at the Show: Jewish Legends of Musical Theatre with Rabbi Zive. Congregants and friends will head off to Radio City Music Hall to focus on the most Jewish of Musicals, in theme and storyline. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Sign up here: https://www.shmtemplemembers.org/form/adult-music-experience-2021-March-10.
Wednesday, March 10
7:30 PM
Temple Beth Sholom’s March selection in its Jewish Drama Series is The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez, set in the post-Civil war era during Passover. Tensions run high as Caleb de Leon, a young Jewish Confederate soldier, celebrates Passover with his family’s newly-freed slaves in the de Leons’ crumbling antebellum mansion. This gripping drama explores a little-known aspect of the Civil War, unearthing dark family secrets on the way to a shocking climax. Register here: https://tbsoc.shulcloud.com/event/jewish-drama-the-whipping-man.html.
Sunday, March 14
5 PM
Congregation B’nai Israel will hold its 2021 Annual Gala virtually. The event, which features signature cocktails, a dinner from Blueberry Hill, live streaming entertainment and an online auction, will honor Immediate Past-President Marc Goldin. Sign up here: https://cbi18.ejoinme.org/GALA2021?utm_source=Congregation+B%27nai+Israel+-+Email+News+%26+Events&utm_campaign=c919648ab6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_26_05_09_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a3d29b9892-c919648ab6-41610713
Saturday-Sunday, March 13-14
4:30 PM on
The Jewish Collaborative, along with Beit T’Shuvah will host STEPPING INTO LIBERATION, a Pre-Passover Jewish Recovery Retreat. The event will offer dynamic speakers, live music, text study, break-out meetings, art and yoga, a panel program, a film screening and a Rosh Hodesh experience. Featured presenters are Rabbi Mark Borovitz of Beit T’Shuvah ad Rabba Yaffa Epstein of Wexner Heritage Foundation. Scholarships are available. Register here: https://jewishcollaborativeoc.shulcloud.com/event/stepping-into-liberation-retreat.html.
Tuesday, March 1611 AM
The Merage Jewish Community Center presents News from Israel with Muki Jankelowitz online. This session will discuss “Reading the Writing on the Wall: A Graffiti Tour of Tel Aviv.” This series will take an in-depth look at current events and recurring themes in Israeli news. Merage JCC’s favorite Israeli tour educator, Muki Jankelowitz will lead the series. To sign up, call Debibe Meline at (949) 435-3400 or e-mail debbiem@jccoc.org.
March 26
7:30 PM
Temple Beth David will hold HIAS Refugee Shabbat: Welcoming the Stranger – Hope & Reality at the Border. During Shabbat services, the congregation will be joined by Chris Olsen, Director of Public Policy & External Affairs for Jewish Family Service of San Diego, who will speak about the refugee and asylum seeker situation at the border. If looking for resources or actions to help refugees, click https://bit.ly/3p1bzGN.
Watch for an e-blast in the middle of March to tell you all about Passover programs and activities in Orange County.
