Best of February Happenings
Speakers and Galas highlight month
By Ilene Schneider
February appears to be a month to honor some special people who have made an impact on their congregations, as well as a chance to explore interesting topics and catch concerts. Enjoy the best Jewish Orange County has to offer.
Saturday, February 2
7 p.m.
JG25
A gala honoring 25 years with Cantor Jonathan Grant will kick off a monthlong celebration at Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback Street, Newport Beach, CA. Temple Bat Yahm will transform into the cabaret and supper clubs of New York City for a night honoring the cantor. The Jazz Dinner and Auction Soiree is sold out. For more information, call the temple at (949) 644-1999.
Saturday, February 2
7 p.m.
A Night on the Red Carpet
University Synagogue’s Pre-School will hold its largest fundraising event of the year. The evening will include live entertainment, desserts, adult beverages and a silent auction. Tickets and auctioning and bidding will all be done through the Handbid app. Tickets are required to attend the event at the synagogue, 3400 Michelson Drive, Irvine, CA. For more information, call the University synagogue office at (949) 553-3535.
Tuesday, February 5
10:00 a.m.
Community Cultural Concert
University Synagogue and Jewish Community Foundation Orange County will present a community cultural concert at University Synagogue, 3400 Michelson Drive, Irvine, CA. Chamber Music OC will perform a selection of light classical music followed by a bagel brunch. All Orange County Jewish community social service agencies have been invited. This event is open to any Orange County social service agency or member of the broader community. The facility is wheelchair accessible and welcomes anyone from 3 years old to 103. Tickets are complimentary but RSVPs are required. RSVP to Pam Nathanson at (949) 553-3535 by Friday, February 1.
Wednesday February 6
12 p.m.
The Jewish National Fund Annual Planned Giving Luncheon
Alon Ben-Gurion, grandson of David Ben-Gurion, will be the keynote speaker at the Jewish National Fund Annual Planned Giving Luncheon. For 21 years, Alon enjoyed a close relationship with his grandfather, David Ben-Gurion. This is felt in Alon’s hospitality and consulting work, where he uses his extensive network to actively promote development in the Negev, working to realize his grandfather’s dream to make the desert bloom. Also speaking are Matt Bernstein, JNF’s planned giving officer, who has more than 20 years of experience in the financial arena, and Cynthia Hizami, Esq., JNF’s west coast planned giving director, who helps individuals, families, and their loved ones with integrating tax-wise philanthropy into their estate and financial plans. The luncheon will be held at Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, 3350 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA. There is no cost to attend, and dietary laws will be observed. For more information or to RSVP (required), please contact Dan Reback at dreback@jnf.org or (949) 260-0400 x964.
Sunday, February 10
5:30 p.m.
Beth Jacob Congregation Annual Gala
The 2019 Beth Jacob Gala will honor Uzi Yair with a community service award and Vivienne Hotz with the Adina Kaufman Eishet Chayil Award. There will be a glatt kosher meal, live entertainment and surprise guests. Attire is semi-formal. Tickets are $180 per person. Contact the office at (949) 786-5230.
Wednesday, February 13
7:15 p.m.
Tracing Ancestors in Eastern Europe: Strategies and Examples
The Orange County Community Scholar Program (CSP) will present an evening with genealogist Karen Franklin at Congregation B’nai Israel, 2111 Bryan Avenue, Tustin, CA. Demonstrating “how to” for genealogy researchers of every level of expertise, Karen will use case studies of families who will be traveling to Lithuania and Poland in July 2019. No black sheep will be discussed without prior permission. For more information, call (949) 682-4040.
Sunday, February 17
4 p.m.
Jews in Baseball
Dr. Don Schwartz, professor emeritus of history at California State University, Long Beach, will speak at the Merage Jewish Community Center as part of the Jewish Americans 101 program. Dr. Schwartz has been named a distinguished lecturer by the Organization of American History. Tickets are: members, $10; public, $12; at the door, $14; priority, $50, including a reception. For more information or to RSVP, contact Geri Dorman at (949) 435-3500, extension 303, or gerid@jccoc.org.
Saturday, February 23
5 p.m.
Temple Beth Tikvah Gala
An evening of recognition and appreciation honoring Miriam Van Raalte for lifetime dedication to the Jewish community will be held at Temple Beth Tikvah, 1600 N. Acacia Drive, Fullerton, CA. Beginning with cocktails and live music by Jon and Ann Goldman and a raffle and silent auction, the evening will include dinner and live music by the Sam Glaser Orchestra and dancing until 11 p.m. Cocktail attire is suggested. The couvert is $180 per person. For more information, call (714) 871-3535.
Sunday, February 24
2 p.m.
“The Cantor’s Couch” Concert
A concert honoring 25 years with Cantor Jonathan Grant will wrap up a monthlong celebration at Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback Street, Newport Beach, CA. Cost of tickets is $178 per person. For more information, call the temple at (949) 644-1999.
Tuesday, February 26
6:30 p.m.
OC iEngage Lecture with Yehuda Kurtzer
The Rose Project of Jewish Federation & Family Services (JFFS) will present an evening with Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, at Temple Beth El of South Orange County, 2A Liberty, Aliso Viejo, CA. Dr. Kurtzer is a leading thinker and author on the meaning of Israel to American Jews, the value of the Jewish past to the Jewish present and questions of leadership and change in American Jewish life. He leads the efforts of the Institute across the North American Jewish communal landscape, and teaches widely in the Institute’s many platforms for rabbis, lay leaders, Jewish professionals and leaders of other faith communities. Dr. Kurtzer is the author of Shuva: The Future of the Jewish Past, which offers new thinking to contemporary Jews on navigating the tensions between history and memory, and on how we can relate meaningfully to our past without returning to it. For more information, contact Lisa Armony at (949) 435-3484 or Lisa@jffs.org.
Tell Jlife Extra about your events. To be included, contact Ilene Schneider, (949) 433-6862 or ILENESCHNEIDER@aol.com by the 20th of the month. We want to hear from you.