B’nai B’rith to Celebrate 100 Years of Service

B’nai B’rith will commemorate 100 years of Jewish communal service in Los Angeles on Sunday, celebrating the dynamic growth of charitable programs ranging from child care and senior housing to medical services and disaster relief.

The commemoration will focus on the Los Angeles Lodge, the oldest of 43 Southern California B’nai B’rith chapters that collectively represent more than 10,000 members. A century ago, Los Angeles optometrist Siegfried Marshutz led 41 charter members to initiate the first organized communal services for the then-fledgling Jewish community of 2,500.

“The lodge was a forerunner of a lot of today’s major Jewish institutions,” said B’nai B’rith regional director Steven Koff.

B’nai B’rith International President Richard D. Heideman will deliver the keynote address. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 6161 Centinela Ave., Culver City. (818) 227-6588.

CONFERENCES / LECTURES

Bukkyo University Los Angeles will host a symposium on “Footsteps to Enlightenment: Zen, Numbutsu and the Dharma,” today from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at 442 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles. More than 300 scholars, students and practitioners from Japan and the United States are expected to discuss such topics as Zen deliverance from ignorance and the American view of the path to enlightenment. (213) 346-9677.

* John Hick, best-selling author of “The Philosophy of Religion” and winner of the Grawemeyer Award for innovative religious thinking, will present the keynote address at the “Images of Jesus” conference Monday through Wednesday at Chapman University in Orange. Hick, now retired and living in his native England, has just published “The Fifth Dimension,” a synthesis of his diverse religious and mystical experiences. (714) 633-3556.

* An interdenominational study session about being Jewish and American will be held from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Monday at the Jewish Federation, 1950 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles. The Torah study meeting is sponsored by the Board of Rabbis of Southern California and 21 Westside synagogues. (323) 761-8600.

* A free talk on spirituality and healing will be presented at 4 p.m. today at Borders Books, Music and Cafe, 5055 S. Plaza Lane, Montclair. Susan Cobb will speak about her practice of the principles outlined in “Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy. (562) 592-6261.

EVENTS

Leo Baeck Temple will hold a Jewish book fair at 9:30 a.m. Sunday offering fiction, nonfiction, picture books, sacred literature and reference materials for all ages. The temple is at 1300 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 476-2861.

* Valley Beth Israel will hold a Hanukkah Holiday Boutique beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday and an auction at 2 p.m. The temple is at 13060 Roscoe Blvd., Sun Valley. (818) 782-2281.

* St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church will hold a Holiday Boutique featuring more than 35 crafters, a bake sale and food booth from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday. The church is at 15520 Sherman Way, Van Nuys. (818) 349-5222.

* The 19th Annual Festival of Jewish Artisans will feature nearly 30 artisans from Israel and the United States today and Sunday at Temple Isaiah, 10345 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles. The artists will present works of contemporary Judaica in glass, ceramics, gold and silver jewelry, ketubah, textiles, photography, calligraphy and paper cutting. (310) 277-2772.

* The Frances-Henry Library will hold a book sale Wednesday through Friday at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 3077 University Ave., Los Angeles. Hundreds of books on Judaica and Hebraica, as well as subjects of general interest, will be sold at discount prices beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday. (213) 749-3424, Ext. 4225.

PERFORMANCE

Hollywood United Methodist Church will host a Hollywood Choir Festival featuring 10 choirs and more than 125 participants at 3 p.m. Sunday. “The Magnificat” by Charles Pachelbel and “How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place” by J.S. Brahms are highlights. Suggested donation is $5. The church is at 6817 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 874-2104.

* A free concert of gospel music, drama and dance will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Bel Air Presbyterian Church, 16211 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. Performers include comedian Robert Lee, recording artists Jan Lacy Chorley and Don Snyder, actress Riley Pamela Bowman and ballerina Chase Laurel Knowles. (818) 788-4200.

* The Cathedral Choir of First Congregation Church of Los Angeles will perform a special choral program celebrating the music of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams at 4 p.m. Sunday. The church, home to the largest pipe organ in the world, is at 540 Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 385-1345.

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Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, faxed to Southern California File at (213) 237-4712, or e-mailed to [email protected]. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time. Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee publication.