Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on February 28, 2020

Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who cant sleep with the window shut, and a woman who cant sleep with the window open. George Bernard ShawNow I know many of you, when seeing China in the headline, figured that I would write about coronavirus. Well I did two weeks ago, and my advice hasnt changed. The China I am referring to this week is about my 20th wedding anniversary. According to theknot.com, Traditionally speaking, the material that represents the 20th anniversary gift is china. It brings meaning to the delicate, beautiful and elegant relationship youve built after 20 years together.This Shabbat the Torah portion of Teruma is read. As I have written previously, one of the topics discussed is the shewbread used in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. The loaves were baked on Friday and only on Saturday were they put on display, replacing the previous weeks bread. What is interesting is that its not fresh bread replacing old bread, rather its day-old bread that is used. In modern times day-old bread is sold at a discount, if not thrown out. Its hard to imagine that that is what would be used in the holy Tabernacle, and then kept there all week. In the Talmud tractate Chagigah 26b, the shewbread is discussed. Our Sages of Blessed Memory teach that this bread was distributed to the priests nine days after it was baked. Miraculously, the bread was as fresh and warm as when it was baked.I would like to wish my wife a happy anniversary and that we should merit a marriage like the shewbread that doesnt get stale. May we continue to relate to each other with the same excitement and optimism for the future that we had when we stood under the chuppah. Like the shewbread, may our love stay warm and fresh until 120!For me that was emotion overload! I have an image to keep, so dont think I am getting soft in my old age. So what does stale bread and my wedding anniversary have to do with your investments?FutureAs many of you know, I am a big believer in goals based investing. That means a client should measure his progress towards specific life goals such as saving for childrens education, marrying off children or building a retirement nest-egg, rather than focusing on generating the highest possible portfolio return or beating the market. Do you remember back to when you got married? Before life took over and your most philosophical conversation became where to buy the cheapest diapers or whether to use thick or thin dental floss? Back when you became engaged, you used to speak about life goals and dreams. As life takes over, more often than not those goals and dreams become a distant memory.Investors cant allow their portfolio to become stale. In order to keep it fresh and updated, its imperative for investors to periodically redefine their goals and needs. I had a meeting this week with a woman who said that now that she is out of diaper fog she wants to start organizing her finances. She has had no time because for the last decade because she always had infants in diapers. Is retirement approaching? Do you still have the same type of portfolio you had when you were 45? If so, you may have a portfolio that is far more aggressive than recommended for a person in your age category. If you are nearing retirement yet havent given any thought to how you plan on spending time during retirement and how much that will cost, you may be in for a very rude awakening a few years down the road when you start running down your principal. I cant stress enough the importance of planning your retirement. Obviously the financial aspect of retirement is critical to plan for, but filling up the day in a meaningful way is even more important. Remember back to when you were engaged you sought advice from others newly married? Well, its the same concept. Speak to other retirees to understand how they made the transition from working to this new chapter in their life.Use the example of the shewbread to re-energize your marriage, turn back the clock and start dreaming again. Use this time to redefine goals and needs, and get your portfolio allocated so that you can achieve what you set out to accomplish.Happy 20th Anniversary, Yael!The information contained in this article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates.Aaron Katsman is author of the book Retirement GPS: How to Navigate Your Way to A Secure Financial Future with Global Investing (McGraw-Hill), and is a licensed financial professional both in the United States and Israel, and helps people who open investment accounts in the United States. Securities are offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. (www.prginc.net). Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, FSI. For more information, call (02) 624-0995 visit http://www.aaronkatsman.com or email aaron@lighthousecapital.co.il.

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My China anniversary and goals-based investing - The Jerusalem Post

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Posted By admin on February 28, 2020

To call Eat Something a cookbook would do it a disservice. It is much more than that.

Subtitled A Wise Sons Cookbook for Jews Who Like Food and Food Lovers Who Like Jews and co-written by Wise Sons co-owner Evan Bloom and S.F.-based freelance writer Rachel Levin, the book of course includes recipes from the local favorite Jewish deli, founded as a pop-up in 2010. But shining next to the 60 or so recipes is a collection of essays about Jews, Jewish rituals, holidays, culture and the oversize role food plays in all of that.

As someone very Jewishly identified, I had many moments of instant recognition while reading this book. A double-page spread called We Found It in Grandmas Pocketbook shows typical miscellany found in said older Jewish womans purse, such as hard candies and packets of SweetN Low, which made me think How did they get inside my grandmothers pocketbook? At the same time, I think this would be a wonderfully entertaining primer for those who want to know more about Jews.

No doubt some readers will find the shtick factor a bit over the top, but I kept coming across passages that made me laugh out loud, like the essay On Jews & Drinking in which Levin begins: My mom went through a fleeting Cosmopolitan phase, meaning she had one once, at my sisters wedding, and an essay called The L Word, which opens with, I once witnessed what looked like a drug deal at a Yom Kippur break-the-fast the drug in question was Lactaid.

I also was surprised at how much I learned that eating favorite foods during last meals before leaving for Jewish summer camp is a thing, and that despite the ubiquity of bagels served at bris ceremonies, it turns out were doing it wrong because the Talmud commands us to serve meat at a bris. (Thats in the chapter titled On Pastrami & Penises.)

The chapters are broken down into all the holidays, yes, but so many other aspects of Jewish culture are covered as well, for example the Jewish love for Chinese food, especially on Christmas. And the Dinner with the Goyim In-Laws: So, You Didnt Marry a Jew chapter includes a recipe for Intermarriage Meat Loaf with Melted Onions.

Fans of Wise Sons will find their favorite recipes, such as chocolate babka (in the Are You Pregnant Yet? chapter) and Chinese Chicken Salad.

One thing missing, in this reviewers opinion, is that while Wise Sons pastrami is featured in at least 10 recipes, in everything from burgers to breakfast tacos to pastrami fried rice, there is no recipe for the pastrami itself. Having made pastrami from scratch myself once, I know that having a slab of meat in brine for a week without a walk-in fridge at home is a commitment that goes beyond the scope of many home cooks. However, I think it would have been wise to leave it up to the home cook to decide, as store-bought pastrami will never be as tasty as one made by an artisanal deli or at home.

Eat Something is more than slightly reminiscent of the 2005 instant classic Bar Mitzvah Disco: The Music May Have Stopped, But the Partys Never Over by Roger Bennett, Nick Kroll and Jules Shell, a coffee-table book full of dated bnai mitzvah photos of awkward adolescents. Fourteen years later, its high time for a new generation to have its own book with its own dated photos of awkward adolescents, along with grandparents in their Boca finery.

Thats by design, as Bloom and Levin explain in the introduction, admitting that they looked to that book for inspiration. They sum it up this way:

Our lives, as Jews, revolve around food in a way thats at once fanatical, logical, and comical, and to be honest, kind of pathological. Especially when family is in town. Meals are plotted with the care and calculation of a presidential campaign. While spreading the cream cheese on our bagels, we discuss where we should go for lunch; while the Russian dressing drips from our Reubens, we ruminate over dinner reservations; while arguing over the best way to get to the airport in the morning, we wonder if well have time to pick up egg-and-cheese sandwiches on the way. (We wont.)

Published by Chronicle Books, Eat Something features food photos by Maren Caruso and illustrations by George McCalman, a frequent contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. He and Levin have a sporadic column together called The Regulars, in which they profile regulars at their favorite restaurants.

Evan Bloom and Rachel Levin will appear at three upcoming events:

March 4, 7:30 p.m. at Green Apple Books, 506 Clement St., San Francisco. greenapplebooks.com

March 15, 10:30 a.m., pop-up brunch and book talk/signing, including latke bar and pickle demo. Tickets must be purchased by March 10, no tickets available at the door. $36 adults, $61 includes cookbook. $15 for ages 3-12. Free for children under 3. Oshman Family JCC, Palo Alto. paloaltojcc.org

April 4, 12 p.m., book talk, signing and cooking demo w/ CUESA at S.F. Ferry Building. Free. cuesa.org

Reprinted from Eat Something by Evan Bloom and Rachel Levin with permission by Chronicle Books, 2020

Pastrami may have been the reason we started Wise Sons in 2011, but our babka instantly became a signature. This was long before Bon Apptit magazine compared babka to a young Taylor Swift, a niche figure ready for the crossover to mainstream star. Leo and I argued for days over what authentic babka was, both having our own ideas from childhood, as deli customers do. Eventually, we agreed on this refined version, swirled with 72 percent bittersweet chocolate covered with a thick layer of brown sugar streusel. Evan Bloom

Makes 2 loaves

Dough

Filling

Streusel

To make the dough, warm the milk for 30 seconds in a small microwave-safe bowl. The milk should be warm, but not hot. Transfer to a medium bowl, and whisk in the yeast. Whisk in 1 cup [140 g] of the flour and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes, uncovered.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and the sugar. Beat on medium speed for about 4 minutes, until well blended and pale yellow. With the mixer running on medium speed, add the eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, waiting until the first egg is fully incorporated before adding the next, and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl occasionally. Add the vanilla, and then the remaining 3 cups [525 g] flour.

Add the yeast mixture and mix on low speed for 1 minute.

Add the salt and continue to mix until the dough starts to look ropy and the color is uniform throughout, about 2 minutes. When you pull the dough with your hands, there should be wide strands of dough that come away cleanly from the bowl. Remove the bowl from the mixer, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

To make the filling, whisk the sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium heatproof bowl. Combine the butter and water in a medium saucepan over low heat and cook until the butter has melted and is beginning to foam.

Pour the melted butter over the dry ingredients and mix well. Let cool until thickened.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide it into two equal pieces. On a well-floured work surface, roll out one piece of dough into a 12 by 20 in [30.5 by 50 cm] rectangle. Cover edge to edge with half of the chocolate filling, and sprinkle on half of the chopped chocolate in an even layer.

Starting from the long edge farther away from you, roll the dough toward you tightly like a jelly roll. Fold the entire rolled log in half (it should be about 10 in [25 cm] long), and then twist a few times to make figure eights. This will create more swirls and reduce bready pockets. Repeat with the second piece of dough and the remaining filling.

Place each log in a well-buttered 9 by 5 in [23 by 12 cm] baking pan and let rest for 1 hour, until the dough rises just over the edge of the pan. Preheat the oven to 325F [165C]. While the dough is proofing, make the streusel.

To make the streusel, combine the flour, white and brown sugars, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter and mix with your hands until well blended and crumbly, with butter pieces the size of peas. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Cover the proofed babkas with streusel. (We like to cover them completely.) Gently press the streusel into the dough if you are having trouble getting it to stick. Bake the babkas for about 1 hours. The babkas will be a nice light brown color and pullaway slightly from the edges of the pans when done. When tapped with your knuckle on the bottom, the cake should sound solid.

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Wise Sons cookbook is a fun ride through Jewish cuisine old and new - The Jewish News of Northern California

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Posted By admin on February 28, 2020

Weve got a whole list of fun things to do this March as the weather warms up (fingers crossed), so be sure to make the most of it!

What:Its National Adoption Weekend in Canada, and PetSmarts across the country are hoping to find homes for their furry friends. Calgarys own Chinook PetSmart will be taking part, with the hope of seeing at least 30 animals adopted into forever homes by the end of the weekend-long event.

When:Now until Sunday, March 1Time:9 am to 9 pm Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm on Sunday. ARF will be on scene 1 to 3 pm on Saturday.Where:Chinook PetSmart 321 61st Avenue SW #7Admission:Free! Though adoption fees vary

What:The Calgary Hitmen battle it out against the Hurricanes on home ice this Sunday.

When: March 1, 2020Time: 4 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

Home renovation/Shutterstock

What:TheCalgary Home + Garden Show features a huge variety of vendors in its exhibition area, speakers and celebrity guests, contests, and more.

When:Now until March 1, 2020Time:12 to 9 pm (Thursday and Friday), 10 am to 9 pm (Saturday), 10 am to 6 pm (Sunday)Where:BMO Centre, Stampede Park 20 Roundup Way SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Body Worlds: Animal Inside Out features over 100 preserved animal specimens ranging from the common pigeon to an expertly dissected camel. Visitors will be able to check out whats under the skin of some spectacular animals and determine what makes us the same and different.

When:Now until March 1, 2020Time:Various timesWhere:TELUS Spark 220 Saint Georges Drive Northeast, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Canmore Winter Carnival features a variety of snowy, family-friendly indoor and outdoor events from February 28 to March 1, including ice carving competitions, log sawing competitions, a pooch parade, Snowy Owl Kid n Mutt Races, and more.

When:Now until March 1, 2020Time:Various timesWhere:Throughout the town of CanmorePrice:Varies per activity

What:Learn all about Dungeons & Dragons on the first Monday of the month at The Ship & Anchor.These nights are specifically designed for anyone who has no experience with the world of tabletop role-playing games such as D&D, Pathfinder, or any of the others out there. The evening will begin with a first-come-first-served selection of a character to play, followed by a quick Q&A, then diving right into the adventure.

When:The first Monday of every month March 2Time:5 to 10 pmWhere:Ship & Anchor Pub 534 17 Ave SW, CalgarySign-up:email[emailprotected]

What:Doc Soup Calgary is a monthly feature-length documentary series presented in partnership with the Calgary International Film Festival and Hot Docs.

When:March 4 and April 1, 2020Time:7 pmWhere:Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Market Cinemas 200 Barclay Parade Southwest #200, CalgaryTickets:Online

Image: Calgary Flames / Instagram

What:The Flames take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Saddledome on March 4.

When:March 4, 2020Time:6:30 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Explore the Glenbow Museum at your leisure for FREE on the first Thursday of every month.

When:March 5, 2020Time:5 pm to closeWhere:Glenbow Museum 130 9th Avenue SEAdmission:Free

What:The Flames face off against the Coyotes on March 6 for a Friday showdown.

When:March 6, 2020Time:7 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Explore Albertas wildlife and natural spaces on the first Friday of the month. Visit investigation stations in the Discovery Centre, then join the group activity with special guests from Alberta Parks at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, or 2:30 pm and discover how wildlife has adapted to city life. Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society will also be hosting an investigation station about furry and feathered friends found in the city. Note: Hands-on activities are designed for learners two-years-old and up.

When:March 6, 2020Time:10 am to 3 pmWhere:Bow Habitat Station 1440 17A Street SE, CalgaryAdmission:All activities are included with Discovery Centre Admission.

What:Eachyear, the Womens Centrecelebrates International Womens Day with a potluck where community members gather for aspecial celebration. All genders and ages are welcome to this event.

When:March 8, 2020Time:11:30 am to 1:30 pmWhere:Womens Centre of Calgary 39 4 Street NE, CalgaryAdmission:Free

Women supporting women (Shutterstock)

What:Anyone in Calgary hoping to celebrate the women in their lives this International Womens Day can head over to an event hosted by Westbrook Mall.

When:March 8, 2020Time:1 to 5 pmWhere:Centre Court, Westbrook Mall 1200 37th Street SWAdmission:Free, clothes donations will be accepted

What:The Calgary Hitmen take on the Chiefs for a Saturday contest.

When: March 7, 2020Time:7 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Actually, written by Anna Ziegler and directed by Jenna Rodgers, examines the issue of consent while touching on sub-themes of race, gender, and privilege on a university campus. The award-winning play focuses on two characters and their respective points of view in the same situation. Amber comes from a comfortable, well-off Jewish family; Tom is a young African American man who was raised in poverty and is the first in his family to attend university.

When:Now until March 15, 2020Time:Showtimes start at either 2 or 7:30 pm based on dateWhere:Martha Cohen Theatre 215 8th Avenue SE, CalgaryTickets:Prices vary based on seat, availableonline

What:Do you collect comics, toys, manga, art, and more? Then you need to check out Red & White Calgary Comic and Toy Expo.

When:March 8, 2020Time:10 am to 5 pmWhere:Red & White Club, McMahon Stadium 1833 Crowchild Trail NW, CalgaryAdmission:$5, 12 and under Free

What:Its an early start this Sunday when the Flames take on the Golden Knights.

When:March 8, 2020Time:5 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

Photo: Telus Spark / Facebook

What:TELUS Spark hosts an adults-only experience the second Thursday of every month, with drinks, music, and, newadult-programming each month. Guests can also visit the immersive dome theatre, the various Spark galleries, and more.

When:March 12, 2020Time:5 to 10 pmWhere:Telus Spark 220 St. Georges Drive NE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:The Flames take on the Islanders for a Thursday game at the Saddledome.

When:March 12, 2020Time:7 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Harry, Hermione, Ron, Sirius Black, and the massively misunderstood Hippogriff, Buckbeak, will be seen on the screen at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium for three shows this winter, accompanied by a full orchestra that will bring the iconic soundtrack to life.

When:March 12, 13, and 14, 2020Time:7:30 pmWhere:Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium 1415 14th Avenue NWTickets:Start at $53, availableonline

What:The Calgary Roughnecks take on the Saskatchewan Rush in a St Patricks Day celebration.

When: March 13, 2020Time: 7:30 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Crescent Heights Community Association presents a free potluck for members of the community.

When:March 14, 2020Time:Noon to 2 pmWhere:Crescent Heights Community Association 1101 2nd Street NWAdmission:Free

What:Keep em Rolling hosts roller skate nights at Hounsfield/Briar Hill Community Hall, featuring skate music provided by DJ Plasma.All skates must have toe stops or jam plugs to prevent damage to the floor.

When:March 14 and 28, 2020Time:7:30 to 10:30 pmWhere:Hounsfield/Briar Hill Community Hall 1928 14 Avenue NW, CalgaryAdmission:$10, $20 for a family (max of four), additional family members $5. Skate rentals $2, email[emailprotected] for sizing and availability.

What:Americas iconic comic, TV personality, and actorBob Saget(Full House, Americas Funniest Home Videos) is performing a stand-up show atJack Singer Concert Hall on Saturday, March 14 with special guests.

Sagats stand-up comedy career spans more than 30 years, and his 2014 stand-up specialThats What Im Talkin Aboutwas even nominated for a Grammy.In January 2016, Saget starred asPastor Greg in the Tony-nominated playHand To God,which showed on Broadway for nine weeks. His first book,Dirty Daddy, became a New York Times best-seller.

When:March 14, 2020Time:Doors 7 pm, show 8 pmWhere:Jack Singer Concert Hall 225 8 Avenue SE, CalgaryTickets:Starting at $46.41 available via Art Commons

Image: Calgary Flames / Twitter

What:Itll be a battle of the Prairies when the Jets come to town to end of the Flames five game homestand.

When:March 14, 2020Time:8 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Its the Hitmen vs the Rebels in Calgary this Sunday afternoon.

When: March 15, 2020Time:2 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Studio Bell is bringing back its $10 Date Night events, with Marchs landing on Tuesday, March 17.

When:March 17, 2020Time:5 to 9 pmWhere:Studio Bell 850 4th Street SE, CalgaryTickets:Availableonline,$10

Heritage Park/Facebook

What:Whether its by checking out Heritage Parks living history museum, or cozying up to a classic movie with a loved one, youll be able to do both this winter thanks to Dinner and a Movie nights.

When:March 17, 2020Time:Dinner anytime between 5 to 6:45 pm, show at 7:45 pmWhere:Heritage Park 1900 Heritage Drive SWTickets:Either $45 per person for both dinner and a movie, or just $8 per person for movie

What:Sample wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, and more at Grape Escape Saturday. There are over 100 booths with hundreds of products to try. There will also be food booths to visit.

When:March 21, 2020Time:5 to 9 pmWhere:BMO Centre, Stampede Park Hall D 20 Roundup Way SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:The Flames face off against the Lightning on home ice this Saturday.

When:March 21, 2020Time:8 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Raise awareness on World Down Syndrome Day at PinBar by taking part in a fun pinball tourney.

When:March 21, 2020Time:11 am to 4 pmWhere:PinBar 501 17th Avenue SWTickets:$15

What:The Calgary Glow Party will be taking over Knoxvilles Tavern with upbeat music, laser lights, and LED sticks on Saturday, March 21.

When:March 21, 2020Time:9pmto 2:30 amWhere:Knoxvilles Tavern 840 9th Avenue SW, CalgaryTickets:Starting at$10, availableonline

Highway 1A/Shutterstock

What:Stock up for those spring hikes at the BMO Centre this weekend!

When:Saturday, March 21 to Sunday, March 22Time:10 am to 5 pmWhere:BMO CentreTickets:Starting at$8, availableonline

What:The Calgary will show the Broncos how cowboys deal with unruly beasts at this Sunday afternoon game at the Saddledome.

When: March 22, 2020Time:2 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:The Flames look to scorch the Sharks in a contest this Monday.

When:March 23, 2020Time:7 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Show off just how much you know about how Ted met his kids mother at this WURST trivia night.

When:March 24, 2020Time:7 pmWhere:WURST 2437 4th Street SWTickets: $20Online

What:The Ducks will be in Calgary this Wednesday for a game against the Flames.

When:March 25, 2020Time:7:30 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Silver Cove is partnering with Spruce Meadows Congress Hall to presentRock-A-Palooza Gem & Mineral Show.Family-friendly and free admission.

When:March 26 to 29, 2020Time:10 am to 8 pm (Saturday), 10 am to 5 pm (Sunday)Where:Spruce Meadows Congress Hall 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW, De WintonAdmission:Free

What:Check out everything LEGO from building stations, displays, themed activities, and more.

When:March 28, 2020Time:11 am to 5 pmWhere:Northland Village Mall 5111 Northland Drive NW #440, CalgaryTickets:Online

Image: Calgary Roughnecks / Instagram

What:The Calgary Roughnecks take on Vancouver Warriors for a West Coast battle at the Saddledome.

When: March 28, 2020Time: 7:30 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:The Flames will take on the Jets for their second contest this March to end off the month.

When:March 31, 2020Time:7 pmWhere:Scotiabank Saddledome 555 Saddledome Rise SE, CalgaryTickets:Online

What:Whether its by checking out Heritage Parks living history museum, or cozying up to a classic movie with a loved one, youll be able to do both this winter thanks to Dinner and a Movie nights.

When:March 31, 2020Time:Dinner anytime between 5 to 6:45 pm, show at 7:45 pmWhere:Heritage Park 1900 Heritage Drive SWTickets:Either $45 per person for both dinner and a movie, or just $8 per person for movie

What:Get a quick spin in surrounded by greenery at Devonian Gardens!

When:Mondays to ThursdaysTime:11:30 am and 12:30 pmWhere:Devonian GardensCost:$9.25

What:Head over to Hexagon Board Game Cafe in Kensington on Wednesday nights for some drop in D&D fun!

When:Every WednesdayTime:D&D starts at 7 pm, though arrive closer to 6:30 pm to ensure a seat (as its first come first served)Where:Hexagon Board Game Cafe #200 1140 Kensington Road NWTickets:$6 to drop in and mandatory drink purchase

What:Curious Calgarians will have a chance to learn about the ghostly figures that haunt their city by taking a Heritage Park Ghost Tour this spring.Each tour is 90 minutes long and will take attendees through the alleyways and streets of the Historical Village and verse them in various spooky stories that will make their skin crawl. They depart from Gasoline Alley at 7 and 7:30 pm, though the truly terrified would be wise to choose the earlier, brighter tour.

When:March 4, March 11, March 18, March 25, April 1 and April 8 for the adult tours, and April 15 for the family toursTime:Tours begin at 7 and 7:30 pm for adults, 6:30 pm for familiesWhere:Gasoline Alley Lobby, Heritage Park1900 Heritage Drive SWAdmission:$19.95 for family tours, $23 for adult tours, available atheritagepark.caLength:Adult tours: three km in 90 minutes.Family tours: two km in 60 minutes

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60 things to do in and around Calgary this March 2020 | Listed - Daily Hive

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Posted By admin on February 28, 2020

In 1952, on South La Brea Avenue, a restaurant called Robaires opened for business. It had stereotypical Parisian dcor, a fantasized French atmosphere and a very French menu.

But did you know the founder and owner was not French, but a Sephardic Jew who emigrated from Tunisia?

His story, along with dozens of others involving the mutual interplay between Los Angeles and Sephardic Jews, is part of an online exhibition called 100 Years of Sephardic Life in Los Angeles, which, since Feb. 9, has been accessible via the internet.

The project is produced by the UCLA Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies and Sephardic Archive Initiative at UCLA. Leve Centers director, UCLA professor Sarah Abrevaya Stein, and the centers associate director, Caroline Luce, co-curate. The digital exhibits opening was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Tifereth Israel in Westwood, L.A.s largest Sephardic temple.

Stein told the Journal the project has two main goals: The first is to alert people interested in the history and culture of Los Angeles, to make them aware of the richness, cultural diversity and complex depth of the citys Sephardic history. And the second goal is, conversely, to teach people who have an investment in Sephardic culture about the significance of Los Angeles and Southern California as a crucial [part] of Sephardic culture.

She added the relationship between Sephardic communities and L.A. touches on important aspects of both: commercial history, the arts and the complex immigrant story. The aim of the project is to put Sephardic communities into the City of Angels cultural map.

Luce added those who created the digital exhibit have tried, as much as we could, to represent every micro-community that is within the broad category of Sephardic. That is exceedingly difficult, so I dont want to imply that weve actually done it.

The Welcome page notes the project is inclusive but not comprehensive and the term Sephardic includes communities that dont always claim the title for themselves. It also states the projects segments explore histories of Jews from across the Mediterranean and Middle East, from Iraq and Iran to North Africa and Ottoman Anatolia and the Balkans and beyond.

The Home page provides headings by which the segments can be grouped: Journeys; Landscapes; Leisure; Style; Sounds; Practices; Foundations. Since all 25 segments fit into more than one category, visitors may go in a number of directions. If Sephardic food, music or design is what youre looking for, you easily can follow those groupings.

The site includes period photos as well as old videos and recordings of parties, gatherings, music and dance. Although the segments essays are written mostly by scholars and have been peer-reviewed, the site is easy to understand, since the segments focus more on human stories than on institutions or academic analysis.

[One goal of the exhibit] is to alert people interested in the history and culture of Los Angeles, to make them aware of the richness, cultural diversity and complex depth of the citys Sephardic history. Sarah Abrevaya Stein

Several of these human stories go beyond the 100 years of the title, and one takes place in the 1850s. Solomon Nunes Carvalho a painter, photographer, author and inventor was born in South Carolina in 1815. In 1854, he traveled as the official artist and photographer of an expedition headed by John C. Fremont. They trekked through Kansas, Colorado and Utah. After five months of visually documenting the trailblazing adventure to the West, Carvalho nearly died of frostbite, starvation and scurvy. He recovered, nursed by Mormons in Utah, then went on to Los Angeles, where he stayed for three months.

The author of the Carvalho in Los Angeles segment is Michael Hoberman, professor at Fitchburg State University. He writes that in Carvalhos journals, the explorer described L.A.s delicious grapes [as well as] the unkempt social atmosphere, where acts of violence occurred on a daily basis. Hoberman adds Carvalho was remarkably prescient in his observation that even in the L.A. of the 1850s, true power lay in the hands of the tiny minority of its inhabitants who happened to be of pure European ancestry. During his time in L.A., Carvalho helped organize the small Jewish community and formed L.A.s first Hebrew Benevolent Society.

Its hard to imagine Ashkenazi Jews feeling nostalgic about Poland or Russia, but in segments called American Days, Turkish Nights, Life of the Party, Little Jewish Morocco and Reading Ladino in Los Angeles, there is a feeling some non-Ashkenazi Jews, while living in L.A., remained nostalgic about the home life and close-knit communities theyd once had. The exhibit includes photos of L.A. parties where participants wore fezzes, and there are many examples of these L.A. communities Arabic, Persian or Ladino music and art.

Luce said one of the reasons for this may be that non-Ashkenazi groups in L.A. have felt like a minority within the Jewish community, and retaining a tighter hold on some aspect of the life theyd had in the old country was a way of maintaining their differences from Ashkenazi Jews. Theres a feeling among many Sephardim, Luce said, of not surrendering to a typical American Jewish identity, as defined by the Ashkenazis.

One of the most moving segments is called Sarajevo to the City of Angels. Written by Rachel Smith, a UCLA graduate student, this segment traces the lives of Al and Rose Finci, a Sephardic couple who first met as children in Sarajevo but parted ways as their families fled the Nazi invasion during World War II. Their story involves internment, fighting alongside partisans and traveling across the Alps. In so many ways, their story of love in spite of devastations and disruptions encapsulates the horrors and triumphs of the 20th century.

100 Years of Sephardic Los Angeles features only a small part of the UCLA archive on this topic, but Stein feels there is a lot more to be found, and a great deal more to be said about the influence Sephardim have had on L.A. and vice-versa. As the Welcome page to the exhibit says, To think about Southern Californias Sephardic history is to think about our region and city in new ways and to rethink the arc of American Jewish history.

100 Years of Sephardic Los Angeles is available online.

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Sephardic Jews Are Fighting for Their History to be Represented - Jewish Journal

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By Joel Davidi Weisberger | February 27, 2020

This piece will focus on how and why some Ashkenazic Jewsboth religious and (later) secularadopted the Sephardic pronunciation of Hebrew because they deemed it superior to the Ashkenazi one.

The Maskil Nafatali Herz Wessely, whose admiration for the Sephardim of Amsterdam was borne of personal experience, had contended in the fourth and final letter of his Words of Peace and Truth that the Sephardic pronunciation of Hebrew was grammatically preferable to the manner in which the Ashkenazim rendered it. A generation later, the teachers and preachers who pioneered the development of a German rite adopted the Sephardic pronunciation for their German synagogue. Not a point of halachic contention, the switch could be defended by Eliezer Liebermann in terms of grammatical propriety or by Moses Kunitz of Ofen (modern-day Budapest) in terms of demography: More than seven-eighths of the Jewish world offers its prayers in the Hebrew of the Sephardim, but the ultimate motivation of this unnatural and self conscious appropriation of Sephardic Hebrew was the desire to extinguish the sound of the sacred tongue from that of Yiddish, which these alienated Ashkenazic intellectuals regarded as a non-language that epitomized the abysmal state of Jewish culture [8].

Another proponent of Sephardicism was Mayer Kayserling (1829-1905), who was born in Hanover in 1829 and eventually became the liberal rabbi of Budapest and his generations leading scholar on Sephardic Jewry. In his work titled Sephardim: Romanische Poesien der Juden in Spanien, he betrays an unmistakable pro-Sephardi bias, contrasting the lowly language and manner of the Ashkenazic Jew with the nobility of character and purity of the language of the Sephardic Jew. He extols the virtue of the Sephardim and maintained that persecution had not destroyed the aristocratic bearing, the cultural loyalty, the linguistic purity, and the alliance of religion with secular learning that had distinguished Sephardic Jewry. He also naturally felt that the Sephardic pronunciation of Hebrew was the correct one.

It should be noted that the close resemblance in pronunciation between the biblical Hebrew taught at German universities of the time and the Hebrew of the Sephardim no doubt bestowed a verisimilitude of correctness of the latter.

Schorch also quotes an interesting letter dated 4th October 1827 by J.J. Bellerman, a well-known theologian, scholar and director of the prestigious Berlin Gymnasium. He advised Zunz to teach the youngsters in the Jewish communal school over which Zunz presided over the Sephardic pronunciation of Hebrew from the very beginning. Bellerman had been invited to observe a public examination of the children. While expressing his pleasure at the event, he did see fit to challenge the retention of the Polish pronunciation of Hebrew, because it managed to offend both the vowels and accents of the language. And in conjunction with the vowels, he pointed out the historical superiority of Sephardic Hebrew.

Bellerman writes in the letter:

As you well know, the writings of learned Alexandrian Jewsin the Septuagint, Josephus, Philo and Aquilashow that the Polish pronunciation is incorrectthe learned Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian Jews have the correct one. Why shouldnt the Jews of Berlin and in fact of Germany choose the better (of the two)? Especially Berlin Jewry, which has already adopted so much that is correct? It would indisputably accrue to their honor if they would offer other communities in this matter an example.

Obviously not all Ashkenazim were thrilled with the radical changes now gaining popularity. They were particularly disturbed by the change in pronunciation.

As early as 1502, the Jewish false Messiah Asher Lmmlein, a German Jew who appeared in Italy and succeeded in attracting a large following of both Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews, mocked the Sephardic migrs in his city. In his writings, Lammlein barely hides his contempt for the peculiar Sephardic accent. He publicly excoriated the Spanish Jews (who had recently fled to Italy after being expelled from their home country) for their corrupt ways and demanded that they correct their prayer liturgy. In his writings he also heaped scorn upon the writings of Maimonides, particularly the latters injunction that it is important to distinguish between an ayin and an aleph and between a heh and a chet. He called them , literally stutterers. Lemlein wrote: They [the Sephardim] do not distinguish between a samech and a tzadiand the kamatz and patach is the same to them as is the tzere and the segol

Some Ashkenazi rabbis were of the opinion that an Ashkenazi praying in the Sephardic rite and or using the Sephardic pronunciation rendered the prayer null and void. Some rabbis took issue with the way Sephardim pronounce Gods name and maintained that one should be careful to say Adoin-oi [as in oy] rather than the Sephardic Adon-ay [as in aye] (which could be mistaken as a declaration of polytheism). See Hamburger, Benyamin. Meshichei Hasheker Umitnagdayam pp. 242-243

The historian H.Z. Zimmels hypothesized that the chasidim did not switch to the Sephardic pronunciation because it would have been too difficult for them to do so. Adler reportedly had a Sephardic scholar living in his house for over a year in order to teach him the proper pronunciations of Hebrew. Cf., Chatam Sofer, Responsa, Orach Chayim, para. 15: Therefore, my master, the wise, pious, and priestly Nathan Adler, of blessed memory, he would himself lead the services and pray in Sephardic pronunciation from R Yitzchak Lurias prayer book. Cf. Abraham Lowenstein of Emden, Responsa Zeror HaChayim, Amsterdam 1820, sec,. U-neginotay yenaggen: As to what has been testified of the unique sageR Nathan Adler in Frankfurt, that he too used to pray in the Sephardic pronunciation, I too know thisAnd heard him pray in the Sephardic pronunciation and apart from thatR Nathan was at that time quite alone in his usage, counter to all the great authorities of that time in Frankfurt a.M., and no one ruled like the aforementioned R Nathan but prayed in the Ashkenazic accent as we do. According to Adlers biographers, he had learned the Sephardic accent in his youth from a Jerusalemite visitor to his home. (Derech HaNesher p. 22 [quoted in Elior].)

The author is an independent scholar of history and translator of hebrew text. Please contact [emailprotected] Check out Channeling Jewish History on Facebook for daily updates in your inbox.

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Ashkenazim and the Sephardic Pronunciation of Hebrew, Part II - Jewish Link of New Jersey

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The American Sephardi Federation's New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF) honored iconic fashion designer Elie Tahari, as well as filmmaker Keren Yedaya, with Pomegranate Awards for Sephardi Excellence in the Arts, each sculpted by internationally acclaimed, Baghdad-born artist Oded Halahmy, at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St., New York, NY 10011).

On Opening Night (February 23rd at 6pm), Elie Tahari received the Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Fashion Designer and filmmaker Keren Yedaya (winner of the Camra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival) received the Pomegranate Award for Director. The evening featured the New York premire of her film RED FIELDS, starring Sephardi-Israeli stars Neta Elkayam and Dudu Tassa, followed by a Moroccan After Party.

ASF's President David E.R Dangoor introduced Elie Tahari and praised his path from immigrant to icon and noted the ubiquity of Tahari's high-end fashion designs at the best stores. Israel's Consul General at New York Dani Dayan said "Tahari represents the Israeli spirit," which is "encapsulated by ingenuity, innovation... and...entrepreneurship." ASF Young Leaders President Lauren Gibli and ASF Executive Director Jason Guberman joined in presenting the award. In his acceptance speech, Tahari thanked the American Sephardi Federation, NYSJFF Producer David Serero, and said "I am honored & humbled to receive this Pomegranate Award. I love you all."

Moroccan-Sephardi opera star David Serero and 2nd generation Israeli singing-sensation Meshi Kleinstein surprised Tahari with a special medley of songs in his honor: Serero sang "Jerusalem of Gold" (in reference to Tahari's birthplace), Meshi followed with Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," and then together they serenaded Tahari with a rousing rendition of "Tonight" from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.

In her acceptance speech, Israeli filmmaker Keren Yedaya spoke about "the unbelievable connection I have to this festival without ever being here. So be ready because it is quite amazing." Indeed, Yedaya was a friend of the late, great ASF Pomegranate Award honoree Ronit Elkabetz, A"H and Vicky Shirans, A"H (whose husband Haim Shiranas was a founder of the NYSJFF), and Neta Elkayam, who performed at the Opening of the 20th NYSJFF, stars in her new movie.

Ambassador Adama Dieng, United Nations Under-Secretary-General & Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, members of the Grammy-nominated Innov Ganawa, ASF Pomegranate Award honorees Elie Chouraqui and Dan Hedaya, as well as Academy Award-winning actress Rachel Weisz were amongst the dignitaries in attendance.

This 23rd edition of the NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival delivers an action-packed program of 19 films. Showcasing 11 premire films, including two world premires (THE WOLF OF BAGHDAD and THE HUG OF DESTINY). The NYSJFF specializes in bringing to NY audiences compelling, Greater Sephardi narratives and documentaries, comedies and critical perspectives that celebrate the beauty, diversity, and vitality of the Jewish experience. 10 filmmakers will be joining the NYSJFF for post-screening Q&As and several stars will be honored with the Pomegranate Award for Sephardi Excellence in the Arts. The Pomegranate Awards are hand-sculpted by world-renowned, Baghdad-born artist Oded Halahmy of the Pomegranate Gallery in Soho and Jaffa. The Festival's Artistic Director, Sara Nodjoumi produced REGGAE BOYZ (Audience Award, Brooklyn Film Festival 2019), WHEN GOD SLEEPS (PBS 2018, Passion for Freedom Gold Award Winner, 2018) and THE IRAN JOB (Shortlisted German Academy Award, 2014) and is a programming alumna of the Tribeca Film Festival.

The complete list of selected NYSJFF films with dates, times, pass and ticket information can be found at http://www.nysephardifilmfestival.org

Media ContactCompany Name: THE CULTURE NEWSContact Person: Media RelationsEmail: Send EmailPhone: 646.724.3129State: New YorkCountry: United StatesWebsite: http://www.theculturenews.com

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Fashion icon Elie Tahari and Israeli filmmaker Keren Yedaya honored at the 2020 New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festivals Opening Night - Press Release...

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CASTELO DE VIDE, Portugal - The Spanish Inquisition is an ugly chapter in the history of the church. It lasted more than three hundred years, spanned continents and became one of the most extreme examples of anti-Semitism ever seen.

Today, theyre called Bnei Anusim or sons of the forced ones. Thats because their ancestors faced the choice of converting to Catholicism or death.

But why is the Spanish Inquisition still important today?

Jimmy McClintock, is board member of the Netivyah Ministry in Jerusalem thats leading the way to help restore the Jewish heritage of the Bnei Anusim so they can immigrate to Israel.

He joined Christians and Jews in Portugal to pray for the Bnei Anusim.

Its something in the Jewish world. I dont think apart from what is happening here, Ive never heard about it not 10 years ago, the plight of the Jewish people from the time of the Inquisition. And its easy to understand that because it was, of course, 500 years ago, McClintock told CBN News

For the Jewish people in America, youre either Jewish or youre not Jewish. The Bnei Anusim is different from that The Bnei Anusim today (are) being confronted with the realization that they are Jewish and yet their family life took a huge turn 500 years ago, McClintok explained.

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela of Spain initiated the Spanish Inquisition to expose Jews who converted to Catholicism but secretly kept their Judaism.

Either you convert or you die so they never gave Jewish people these descendants the option. But these descendants, they chose to keep their Judaism in secret and it was a risk and many of them died because of that and they paid a high price for keeping, you know, to their origins and to their faith, Matheus Guimaraes, told CBN News.

Castelo de Vide is a quaint Portuguese town of about 5,000 people. Its about 10 miles from the Spanish border. When the Spanish Inquisition started hundreds of years ago, Spanish Jews fled to this area for protection.

Picture Credit: Yehuda Chamorro, CBN News. A street in Castilo de Vide

Over about four years, King Manoel I of Portugal welcomed some 120,000 Spanish Jews to his country. In 1496, however, the Catholic Church demanded King Manuel deal with his Jews before he could marry the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela of Spain.

First, (King Manoel I) thought he would ship them out, like the Jews were kicked out of Spain in 1492. And then he realized that if he does, hes got nobody to administer his country and to run the country. So, he forced to convert them in one day, said Israeli Joseph, who started the Netivyah Ministry in Jerusalem.

For example, the Jews would be rounded up, brought the town square, sprinkled with water and given new names. Afterwards, they were sent to new homes in Christian neighborhoods and called New Christians.

Picture Credit: Yehuda Chamorro, CBN News. This is where forced baptisms took place.

At the time many of Portugals Jews fled to newly discovered Brazil where an estimated 60 million of their descendants still live today.

Guimaraes said the descendants of those who were forced to convert, want to know more about how to reconnect to the Jewish people and to the Jewish faith.

What is happening is that today we have thousands, if not millions of Brazilians, that know that they are descendants from Jews from Portugal and Spain and I believe the Lord is doing an awakening and these people want to know more about their heritage, he said.

But they face a situation similar to their ancestors.

The Orthodox establishment in Israel, they want to convert them to Jewish Orthodoxy, which is exactly what the Catholic Church did. They forced them to do something they don't want to do, Shulam told CBN News.

Shulam is leading the immigration campaign for the Bnei Anusim.

These people say we are Jews. We never stopped being Jewish. We were Jews even when we knew that if the church catches us and tries us in the Orthodox faith, we could be burned alive. They converted on the outside and at home in secret, they kept Jewish customs, he said.

The smallest things could give them away, like preparing on Friday for the Sabbath or for the Jewish holidays.

According to Shulam, the challenge is convincing Israel to change its Law of Return. It currently states a Jew who converts to another religion is automatically disqualified from immigrating to Israel a right granted to other Jews from around the world.

They have kept their Jewish customs for 500 years free of their own free will at the pain of death and torture. So why now force them to convert? Shulam asked.

Shulam and others believe this return to Israel would fulfill biblical prophecy.

God says through Obadiah the prophet that the Jews from Sepharad - I'm a Sephardic Jew -the Jews from Sepharad will come back to the Land with God's blessing and settle the Negev (desert). Israel has been trying to settle the Negev for 70 years. It's still empty. The Negev is waiting for these Jews, Shulam said.

Isaac Herzog, Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, told CBN News discussions are underway on how to handle immigration of the Bnei Anusim.

This is a major issue because it also has to do with legal issues, historical issues but yes I am very much looking forward to an enhanced policy together with the government of Israel on this, Herzog said.

The vision is big. Shulam says they hope to eventually bring two million of these Jews back to Israel.

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'The Lord is Doing an Awakening': Jews Fight To Return to Israel Centuries After Spanish Inquisition Began - CBN News

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The event at Butler hosted Quentin Hill, a representative from A Wider Bridge.

OLIVIA KLAFTA | Staff Reporter | oklafta@butler.edu

On Feb. 19, Butler University Hillel held an event in the Reilly Room called The LGBTQ+ Rights Movement in Israel, in which Quentin Hill, the national outreach director for A Wider Bridge, spoke.

A Wider Bridges website states they are an organization working through education, advocacy, relationship-building and grant-making to create equality in Israel by expanding LGBTQ inclusion in Israel, and equality for Israel by cultivating constructive engagement with Israel.

Butler Alliance and Butlers chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine publicly expressed disapproval for A Wider Bridge and the event. The organizations sent out a joint press release on Feb. 17.

One of the organizations four stated values is pluralism and diversity. The values of A Wider Bridge align with the notion that societies improve when they include and value those with different backgrounds; this includes people with different gender and sexual identities, cultures, political opinions, and religions. Specifically, A Wider Bridge believes that those who identify within the LGBTQ+ community are imperative to Israelis success as a just and undivided society.

However, in the statement, SJP said A Wider Bridge is part of Israels pinkwashing campaign.

Pinkwashing, according to a journal article written by Corinne E. Blackmer and published by Indiana University Press, refers to Israels putatively dishonest abuse of its sterling record on LGBT human rights to conceal or whitewash its struggles with the Palestinians.

Madison Pines, a first-year elementary education major and Hillel Israel education chair, worked to schedule and organize the event. Pines said the event was not meant to take a stance on pinkwashing, and that the speaker did not talk about pinkwashing at all.

The event qualified as a Butler Cultural Requirement, which are cultural activities students must attend before graduation. The press release stated that qualifying this event as a BCR is problematic because it goes against the purpose of BCRs, which aim to expose students to cultural and artistic learning opportunities as a means to enrich their Butler education and increase engagement with public intellectual life.

The press release asked that parties who approve events for BCR status look more closely at events and the values they promote, specifically those that might impede the progression of anothers culture.

SJP reached out to Alliance after they developed their initial statement. SJP president Roua Daas, a junior psychology and French major, said reaching out to Alliance was an easy decision since they had previously worked with them on past events.

We talked about like how important it is for us to stand in solidarity for something like this, of course, just as people that fight against discrimination of any form, Daas said. Its important to look at it through an intersectional lens and so we decided that were going to put up the statement.

The press release said that most of A Wider Bridges funders have contradictory perspectives, and are instead tied to right-wing, anti-muslim, anti-gay, hate-endorsing organizations that donate large amounts of money to homophobic, racist and oppressive practices.

The funders Alliance and SJP refer to in their press release include The Paul E. Singer Foundation, The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. These funders can also be found on A Wider Bridges Our Institutional Funders website page.

The Paul E. Singer Foundation makes donations in the name of Paul Singer, who personally donates to the Heritage Foundation, an anti-LGBTQ+ institution according to GLAAD. Similarly, Charles and Lynn Schusterman make personal donations to the Central Fund of Israel, which supports right-wing, pro-Israel initiatives.

According to The Forward, a Jewish-American newspaper, The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund has made donations to far-right and anti-Muslim groups. The organizations the JCF has made donations to include Turning Point USA, The Heritage Foundation, ACT for America and the Center for Security Policy.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, an international Jewish organization, Turning Point USA spokespeople, activists and members have been connected to or have made pro-white, anti-muslim, anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ+ comments. ACT for America is considered one of the largest anti-muslim groups in the U.S. by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the ADL. The Center for Security Policy was founded by Frank Gaffney Jr., anti-muslim conspiracy theorist according to ADL.

While Pines said she was not the best person to speak on A Wider Bridges funders, she said the event was not intended to target any group at Butler.

Stephanie Skora, who describes herself as an organizer, writer, Ashkenazi Jewish trans woman and dyke who organizes for Palestinian, Jewish, queer and trans justice and liberation, spoke at Butler on Nov. 6 about pinkwashing. The event was held by SJP and Alliance.

One topic Skora went in-depth about during the event was A Wider Bridge. SJPs public relations officer Reilly Simmons, a senior international studies, political science, and Spanish triple major, said it felt too coincidental when it was announced that a representative from the A Wider Bridge would be speaking on campus. Simmons said she felt like the event was a direct retaliation.

We were like, All right, like should we do anything about it? Simmons said. We felt like at the end of the day, yes, because our mission is to stand against discrimination in any form and especially with Stephanie literally addressing A Wider Bridge specifically in her presentation. We were like, Yeah, theres no way that we can not do anything.

Pines said the reaction to the event was upsetting because she hoped people would approach the event with an open mind. She said Butler Hillel tried to be careful in the events marketing and wording.

We werent trying to offend anyone or cause any controversy on campus, which is why we brought in Quentin because he has an education background and hes been trained to do this professionally, Pines said. So all of his information is very much fact-based and there is not an emotional side. We were very careful with who we chose to bring onto campus so we would have liked if they would have come in with an open mind. But of course were never going to agree on situations like that.

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Butler Alliance and Students for Justice in Palestine respond to on-campus speaker from A Wider Bridge - The Butler Collegian

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For Freedoms, a nonpartisan collective for creative civic engagement, holds its first congress in L.A. this weekend. ( For Freedoms)

Frankenstein rises again. The Industry presents their newest immersive opera. Puppet shows and a carnival usher in Bob Baker Day. L.A.'s LGBT Center holds a wellness fair in South L.A. Cuteness abounds at a dog show in Pomona. Bighorn sheep get counted. A Jewish American music festival plays to the beat of many different drums.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 - SUNDAY, MARCH 1For Freedoms Congress (FFCON)The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA 152 N. Central Ave., downtown L.A.A nonpartisan civic engagement event brings together artists, academics, cultural institutions and social justice organizations before the 2020 presidential election. Expected attendees include Duckwrth, Hank Willis Thomas, Klaus Biesenbach, Glenn Kaino, Dread Scott, Gina Belafonte, Narcissister, and Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors. FFCon includes a free Duckwrth concert on Sunday at MOCA Geffen.COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 - SUNDAY, MARCH 15Lying with BadgersAutry Museum of the American West 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith ParkNative Voices, the only Equity theater company dedicated exclusively to developing and producing new work by Native American artists, presents the world premiere of a new play by Jason Grasl (Blackfeet). Taking place in a magical realm with spirit animals and puppets, the play tackles economics, mineral rights and sovereignty. A cast and crew reception follows Friday's opening, and there are conversations with the playwright throughout the run. COST: $10 - $25; MORE INFO

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28; 7 - 9:30 P.M.Tsirk (Circus)West Hollywood City Council Chambers 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West HollywoodThe 1936 Russian film explores miscegenation, racism and the rise of global white supremacy in the '30s through a seemingly light-hearted circus romance. A panel discussion follows the film with Boris Dralyuk (Los Angeles Review of Books), Sasha Razor (UCLA), Rob Adler Peckerar (the Yiddishkayt cultural organization) and Jennifer Wilson (University of Pennsylvania).COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28; 7:30 - 9 P.M.The Fast and the Furious: A Musical ParodyDynasty Typewriter 2511 Wilshire Blvd., WestlakeNot only does this crew drive fast and furiously, they sing and dance while they do it. In this unauthorized parody, Dominic Toretto (aka Vin Diesel's character) and his team commit and solve crimes while harmonizing. The show includes original music and a twist on the story. The production is 18+.COST: $30 - $60 (VIP); MORE INFO

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28; 8 - 10 P.M.Samora PinderhughesThe Echo 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo ParkMusician and activist Samora Pinderhughes debuts his new project, Grief. The Juilliard-trained pianist and vocalist, who has collaborated with Common and Robert Glasper, was commissioned by Chamber Music America and seeks to convey the feeling of the "emergency moment" of 2020. The show benefits the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project. COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 - SUNDAY, MARCH 1FrankensteinJames Bridges Theater at UCLA 235 Charles E. Young Dr. E, WestwoodStacy Keach stars in the role of "The Creature" for this original L.A. Theatre Works commission, adapted by the BBC's Kate McAll. The cast also features Adhir Kalyan as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Seamus Dever, Mike McShane, Darren Richardson and Karen Malina White. A post-performance discussion following the 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Feb. 29 will be moderated by author Leslie S. Klinger.COST: $15 - $65; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 - SUNDAY, MARCH 15Sweet Land Los Angeles State Historic Park 1724 Baker St., downtown L.A.L.A.-based experimental opera company the Industry,returns with the world premiere of a "grotesque historical pageant" that unravels narratives surrounding American identity. There are two "tracks" with different stories, music and cast members. The box office will assign your track. (If you want to see both tracks, tickets must be purchased for separate nights.) With music by Du Yun and Raven Chacon, libretto by Douglas Kearney and Aja Couchois Duncan, the production is directed by Cannupa Hanska Luger and Yuval Sharon.COST: $75 - 110, $250 (opening night) includes post-show reception; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 9:30 A.M. - 11:30 P.M.7th Annual LA IPA FestMohawk Bend 2141 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026, USAThe brewpub celebrates California craft beers by tapping 60 IPAs made by breweries in the Golden State. VIP tickets guarantee early entry (at 9:30 a.m.) and first dibs.COST: Free to $30; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 - SUNDAY, MARCH 1Bighorn Sheep SurveySan Bernardino and Los Angeles countiesThe California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Society for Conservation of Bighorn Sheep (SCBS) needs volunteers to help biologists count sheep and stay awake. The counts take place in L.A. and San Bernardino counties. Participants must be at least 16 years old and capable of climbing, scrambling over boulders and hiking at least one mile in rugged terrain.COST: FREE, but reservations necessary; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 - SUNDAY, MARCH 1Break the RulesSubliminal Projects 1331 Sunset Blvd., Echo ParkThis interesting event combines an art exhibition that doubles as a prelaunch for a new cereal brand called OffLimits. Studio Number One curates works from more than a dozen artists with a portion of the proceeds from sales going to the afterschool art programs through Wide Rainbow. Opening reception on Saturday is from 7 to 10 p.m. with complimentary drinks and cereal. DJ sets by Obey Giant and Grace Danico.COST: FREE; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 - SUNDAY, MARCH 1The Beverly Hills Dog ShowFairplex 1101 W McKinley Ave, PomonaWatch more than 2,000 dogs, representing more than 200 eligible breeds and varieties, compete for Best in Show. On Saturday, NBC Sports will be onsite to tape segments. On Sunday only, the 4-to-6 Month Puppy Class (aka cuteness overload!) will be held. Despite its title, this dog show takes place in the I.E.COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.Better & WellROW DTLA 777 Alameda St., downtown L.A.This all-day experience features yoga, group hypno-meditation, live music, panel discussions, sound baths and a marketplace. Attendees will also have access to a lounge with free mini-Ayurvedic consultations, massages, gua sha, cupping and acupuncture ear seeds.COST: $99 - $125; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.Bob Baker Day 2020Los Angeles State Historic Park 1245 N. Spring St., downtown L.A.The Bob Baker Marionette Theater holds a day-long, all-ages carnival with puppet shows, live music, crafts, games and food trucks. SoCal kitsch historian Charles Phoenix serves as the day's grand marshal while David Arquette leads a puppet show.COST: FREE; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 11 A.M. - 4 P.M.South L.A. ConnectsLeimert Park Plaza 4395 Leimert Blvd., Leimert ParkThe Los Angeles LGBT Center holds a wellness celebration and expo with free HIV testings and STI screenings; resources and information about local programs and services related to mental health, medical, housing, employment and food subsidies; free yoga and Zumba sessions; games and giveaways; and a live music concert with local artists at 1 p.m. COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 1 - 3:30 P.M.Adobe PunkAngels Gate Cultural Center 3601 S. Gaffey St., San PedroThis is a live reading of a work-in-progress with music and sound design. Set in Bell Gardens in the 1980s, it tells the story of three young music fans who find refuge in one of the oldest adobe homes in L.A. County. The full-production premiere is set for 2021. After the reading, stick around for a special 30-minute concert set with Mike Watt + the secondmen.COST: FREE - donation; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 6 - 9 P.M.Leap Day Silent Disco1300 Block of the Third Street Promenade, Santa MonicaDance out the last day of the month in the middle of Santa Monica. There's unlimited dancing, dueling DJs, free treats and Carlo's Bakery cupcakes for all the leap day babies (bring your ID to prove it). This is an all ages event. Headsets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.COST: FREE; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 6:30 - 9:30 P.M.Angel City Derby: All League Mash UpACD Warehouse 1519 139th St., GardenaACD's 2020 roller derby season starts strong with favorite skaters from all their teams hitting the track together in a classic "Nerds v. Punks" bout. Watch the badassery of the Rising Stars, Road Ragers, Shore Shots, Rocket Queens and Hollywood Scarlets.COST: $10 - $15; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 7 - 11 P.M.Haus of Horror Launch Party + Women in Horror Q&ABlack Sheep Gallery 231 N. 1st St., BurbankDread Central holds a screening and party for its new web series, hosted by Vanessa Decker. Haus of Horror explores the horror influence, from fashion to food and travel. The night also features a live taping of a Q&A with guests Chelsea Stardust (director, Satanic Panic, All That We Destroy), Eryn Krueger Mekash (SFX artist for American Horror Story), Lin Shaye (Insidious)Caroline Williams (Texas Chainsaw 2). COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 5 - 7:30 P.M.A Night in Focus: The Belle poqueNorton Simon Museum 411 W. Colorado Blvd., PasadenaBonjour! Visit Paris without leaving Pasadena as the museum presents a night program focused on the exhibition By Day & by Night: Paris in the Belle poque. Enjoy live music in the galleries or take part in art-making activities for guests of all ages. French-themed food and wine will be on sale in the caf. The soiree is included with museum admission.COST: Free - $15; MORE INFO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29; 8 - 11 P.M.Pandora's Box with Live Musical AccompanimentThe Egyptian Theatre 6712 Hollywood Blvd., HollywoodThe American Cinematheque teams with the L.A. Phil to screen the 1929 Weimar cinema classic. Louise Brooks stars as a dancer-turned-hooker who draws men the way bees flock to honey. The live musical accompaniment is performed by jazz pianist Cathlene Pineda along with trumpeter Stephanie Richards and guitarist Jeff Parker.COST: $15; MORE INFO

SUNDAY, MARCH 1; 11 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.Japanese Cherry Blossom FestivalBowers Museum 2002 N. Main St., Santa AnaThe family festival features complimentary face painting, art projects and live performances that celebrate Japanese art and culture. Watch Taiko drumming and traditional dance then sample treats by candy sculptor Shan.COST: FREE ; MORE INFO

SUNDAY, MARCH 1; 11 A.M. - 8 P.M.UCLA American Jewish Music Festival UCLA's Royce Hall and Schoenberg Music Building, WestwoodWith the theme of "Music Crossing Boundaries," the first-ever American Jewish music fest features a diverse lineup of artists and genres including klezmer, tango, Middle Eastern beats, bluegrass and Broadway tunes. There will also be workshops where artists teach attendees of all ages how to play or sing different types of music.COST: $10 - $20; MORE INFO

SUNDAY, MARCH 1; 1 - 4 P.M.Tiki Diablo Mug Release PartyFormosa Cafe 7156 Santa Monica Blvd, West HollywoodThe bar hosts a special release party for its limited-edition Formosa Pagoda Cocktail Mug. Tiki collectors can meet and chat with artist Danny "Tiki Diablo" Gallardo during a launch party and be the first to purchase the Pagoda-shaped drinking vessel. Only 200 of these mugs have been made ($150 each). COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO

SUNDAY, MARCH 1; 6:30 - 9:30 P.M.Swingout Sunday!Burbank Moose Lodge 1901 Burbank Blvd., BurbankEnd the weekend on the right foot: Dance the night away. Cocktail hour starts at 6:30 p.m., a free beginner's dance lesson starts at 7 p.m. and the live music, with Luke Carlsen and the Fresh Rhythm, kicks off at 7:30 p.m.COST: $20; MORE INFO

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24 Amazing Events Happening In Southern California This Weekend - laist.com

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Posted By admin on February 28, 2020

SAHEL: ART AND EMPIRES ON THE SHORES OF THE SAHARA at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (through May 10). Sahel derives from the Arabic word for shore or coast. It was the name once given by traders crossing the oceanic Sahara to the welcoming grasslands that marked the deserts southern rim, terrain that is now Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. To early travelers, art from the region must have looked like a rich but bewildering hybrid. It still does, which may be one reason it stands, in the West, somewhat outside an accepted African canon. This fabulous exhibition goes for the richness. One look tells you that variety within variety, difference talking to difference, is the story here. New ideas spring up from local soil and arrive from afar. Ethnicities and ideologies collide and embrace. Cultural influences get swapped, dropped and recouped in a multitrack sequencing that is the very definition of history. (Cotter)212-535-7710, metmuseum.org

ZILIA SNCHEZ: SOY ISLA (I AM AN ISLAND) at El Museo del Barrio (through March 22). Snchez, who will turn 94 this summer and is still at work, has spent some 50 years making abstract yet sensual sculptural paintings, approximately 40 of which are gathered here to lead the viewer through her career. While modern art has a firmly established tradition of objects that simultaneously hang on the wall and jut into space, Snchez does something different. Lunar con Tatuaje (Moon With Tattoo), one of her most elaborate pieces, features two semicircular canvases with raised half-moons in the middle. Frenzied groups of lines arc between various points, accompanied by arrows and an occasional eye or hand. The picture isnt legible, but it calls forth a kind of cosmic knowledge. Such is the duality and lesson of Snchezs art: Its grounded in the material world but points toward something metaphysical. (Jillian Steinhauer)212-831-7272, elmuseo.org

TAKING SHAPE: ABSTRACTION FROM THE ARAB WORLD, 1950S-1980S at Grey Art Gallery (through April 4). The graphic simplicity of the Arabic alphabet means that it can be made to look like almost anything, from a rearing horse to a pixelated television screen. Most of the artists in this exhibition had some European or American training, and alongside unusual sandy palettes and a few unexpected details, youll see plenty of approaches that look familiar: lucid colors la Josef Albers, crimson bursts of impasto similar to early Abstract Expressionism. But unlike European artists, they also have an alphabet with an ancient history in visual art and this gives their abstraction a very different effect. (Heinrich)212-998-6780, greyartgallery.nyu.edu

T. REX: THE ULTIMATE PREDATOR at the American Museum of Natural History (through Aug. 9). Everyones favorite 18,000-pound prehistoric killer gets the star treatment in this eye-opening exhibition, which presents the latest scientific research on T. rex and also introduces many other tyrannosaurs, some discovered only in this century in China and Mongolia. T. rex evolved mainly during the Cretaceous period to have keen eyes, spindly arms and massive conical teeth, which packed a punch that has never been matched by any other creature; the dinosaur could even swallow whole bones, as affirmed here by a kid-friendly display of fossilized excrement. The show mixes 66-million-year-old teeth with the latest 3-D prints of dino bones, and presents new models of T. rex as a baby, a juvenile and a full-grown annihilator. Turns out this most savage beast was covered with believe it! a soft coat of beige or white feathers. (Farago) 212-769-5100, amnh.org

WORLDS BEYOND EARTH at the American Museum of Natural Historys Hayden Planetarium (ongoing). This new space show is a bit like being thrown out of your own orbit. Surrounded by brilliant colors, the viewer glides through space in all directions, unbound by conventional rules of orientation or vantage point. Dizzying spirals delineate the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. At one point, museumgoers are taken along a journey from the perspective of a comet. In illustrating the far reaches of our solar system, the show draws on data from seven sets of space missions from NASA, Europe and Japan, including the Apollo 15 mission in 1971 and still-active ones like Voyager. With a sense of movement and scale that only a visual presentation could convey, Worlds Beyond Earth makes an unforced point about the dangers of climate change. Another celestial body might have an alien sea that contains more liquid water than all the oceans on Earth, as its narrator, Lupita Nyongo, states. But Earth itself, she adds later, is the only place with the right size, the right location and the right ingredients an easy balance to upset. (Kenigsberg)212-769-5100, amnh.org

MAKING MARVELS: SCIENCE & SPLENDOR AT THE COURTS OF EUROPE at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (through March 1). This exhibition brings together nearly 170 elaborately crafted objects, many never seen in the United States: the mesmerizing 41-carat Dresden Green, an ornate silver table decorated with sea nymphs, a clock with Copernicus depicted in gilded brass. Some, like a chariot carrying the wine god Bacchus, are spectacularly inventive Bacchus can raise a toast, roll his eyes and even stick out his tongue. Some, like a charming rhinoceros, a collage created from tortoiseshell, pearls and shells, are merely lovely. The show could have been simply a display of ornamental wealth for the one percent of long ago, an abundance of gold and silver that was meant to be shown off in any way possible. But Making Marvels is about more than that. (James Barron)212-535-7710, metmuseum.org

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21 Art Exhibitions to View in N.Y.C. This Weekend - The New York Times

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