A select member of jazz’s piano pantheon, Fred Hersch is a pervasively influential creative force who has shaped the music’s course over more than three decades. He has been proclaimed “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade” by Vanity Fair, “an elegant force of musical invention” by The Los Angeles Times, and “a living legend” by The New Yorker. A 14-time Grammy nominee, Hersch has remained committed to exploring the possibilities and limits of solo piano improvisation. A solo performance by Hersch is an elegant, pensive and playful invitation to explore the possibilities of both the instrument and the song.

Apr. 9, 10 am Passover Services

Apr. 16, 10 am Concluding Passover Services

Apr. 9 link

Apr. 16 link

You are cordially invited to join Congregation Beth Israel for this special service honoring their Intro to Judaism “graduates.”

Home Start, Inc., a nonprofit child abuse prevention and treatment agency that has strengthened and developed San Diego’s families and communities since 1972, will host its annual Blue Ribbon Extravaganza. This year’s event will be themed “Vaudeville at The US Grant.” Guests will be treated to fine dining, variety acts, and live entertainment. There will be many opportunities for all to win prizes from auctions and games throughout the night. Dress code is cocktail or vaudeville-themed attire.

For almost 40 years, Vermont’s acclaimed Sandglass Theater has been dedicated to the arts of theater and puppetry as a means of exploring contemporary issues, inspiring dialogue, and sparking wonder. The company visits with a series of programs focused around refugees. This action-packed, high energy production is Sandglass’ response to the worldwide refugee crisis. The work examines the relationship of refugees to their homelands, and the conflicts that exist within the American communities to which they have fled. Working with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Sandglass interviewed asylum-seekers to gain insight into their plight and the challenges of resettlement. Using puppets, moving panoramic scrolls, and original four-part choral songs, Babylon tells the stories of seven refugees at a metaphorical hearing about their need for asylum. Their stories intertwine: one of the refugees is a ghost; another is a voiceless caterpillar. The others come from Syria, Afghanistan, El Salvador, and Burundi. Babylon blends first-hand testimony with imaginary figures to give us a perspective on how we respond to the enormity of this crisis.

The Oscars constitute Hollywood’s recognition of the movies which were the most cinematically, financially, or socially significant in the year of their release. Between 1945 and 1960, a number of documentaries and feature films relating to the Holocaust garnered Oscars or nominations. Based on how they depicted the Shoah, this lecture, led by Dr. Lawrence Baron, traces the contours of American awareness of the Holocaust in those years.

Luck can be on your side. Join Beth Am for an evening of friends, fun and gambling. You don’t have to go to Vegas or be a member of the Beth Am Men’s Club to enjoy this night.