WORLD HEADLINE MAKING NEWSMAKERS TO APPEAR AT YOM KIPPUR
SERVICES TELLING THEIR COMPELLING AND PROVOCATIVE STORIES
MEET THEM IN-PERSON – VIP INTERVIEW & PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
AT KOL NIDRE SERVICE ON THE EVE OF YOM KIPPUR (SEPTEMBER 22ND)
AND ON THE DAY OF YOM KIPPUR (SEPTEMBER 23RD)
LASSANA BATHILY: A 24-year-old Muslim immigrant from Mali who followed his heart by saving the lives of 15 French Jewish hostages at the Hyper Cacher, a popular kosher supermarket in Paris, under terrorist attack.
MATTHEW SCHRIER: An American photographer, and the only person to have escaped from the al-Qaeda while imprisoned.
DAN GORDON: Author of the new books, Day of the Dead – Book One: Gaza and Day of the Dead – Book Two: America, and screenwriter of a new movie in development with Relativity Media entitled Day of the Dead, based on his books.
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS: The award-winning Mexican-American actor, activist and humanitarian will speak about his latest film in development, “The Accomplices,”; about an unsung hero whose efforts served to save the lives of 220,000 Jews and non-Jews during the Holocaust.
WHO:
Officiating at the Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur Services:
RABBI DAVID BARON, Founder of the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts, the largest arts and entertainment synagogue in the United States which owns the Saban Theatre. The Rabbi’s sermon is entitled, “Speaking Truth To Power.”;
High Holy Day Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur Special Guests:
LASSANA BATHILY – In one of the darkest moments in France’s history on January 9, 2015, a 24-year-old Muslim immigrant from Mali named Lassana Bathily followed his heart by saving the lives of 15 French Jewish hostages at the Hyper Cacher, a popular kosher supermarket in Paris, under terrorist attack. Four Jewish hostages were killed during the tragedy at Hyper Cacher. Two days earlier, on January 7, 2015, terrorists killed 12 people at the Parisian satirical magazine,
“Charlie Hebdo.”; Lassana Bathily’s acts of heroism were recognized by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve who awarded Bathily French citizenship. (September 22nd and 23rd)
MATTHEW SCHRIER, an American photographer and the only person to have escaped from the al-Qaida. Matthew Schrier, a proud Jew, hid his Jewish roots from his captors, strategically converted to Islam and used his sense of humor as tools to foil his captors, escaping through a narrow window of his prison cell undetected just before sunrise on July 29, 2013. His tale of abduction, torture and survival as a prisoner in Syria of Jihandi fighters opposed to President Bashar
al-Assad has been documented in media around the world, including 60 Minutes and The New York Times. Matthew Schrier is now in the process of writing a book about his life. (September 22nd and 23rd)
DAN GORDON, Author of the new books, Day of the Dead – Book One: Gaza and Day of the Dead – Book Two: America, and screenwriter of a new movie in development with Relativity Media entitled Day of the Dead, based on his books, Dan Gordon reveals the vicious world of radical Islamists, criminal gangs, and their victims. He has served on the front lines of the Gaza Wars as an Israeli Defense Force Reserve Officer. As a Hollywood screenwriter, his films include:
“The Hurricane,” “Wyatt Earp,” “Passenger 57,” “The Assignment” and “Murder in The First.” (September 22nd and 23rd)
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS, the Mexican-American Academy Award, Tony Award, Directors’ Guild Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Imagen Award nominee and Golden Globe Award, Emmy Award, Independent Spirit Award and Alma Award winning actor, activist and humanitarian will speak about his latest film in development, “The Accomplices,”; about an unsung hero whose efforts served to save the lives of 220,000 Jews and non-Jews during the Holocaust. Edward James Olmos recently appeared in May 2015 as the Keynote Speaker at the 5th Annual Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism held in Jerusalem. (September 23rd)
Performers and Service Readers for the High Holy Day Services:
MARY HART, Iconic Former American Television Personality for Entertainment Tonight (September 22nd)
LEONARD MALTIN, Renowned American Film Critic and Historian (September 23rd)
CHLOE TUCKER, Star of the North American Tour of the Broadway Musical, “Mamma Mia!” (September 23rd)
SELA WARD, Film and Television Star (September 22nd and 23rd)
CORKY HALE, World Renowned Harpist (September 22nd and 23rd)
JULIE HAGERTY, American Film and Television Actress (September 23rd)
HILA PLITMANN, Grammy Award-winning Soprano (September 23rd)
MICHAEL PEER, Renowned Bass-Baritone (September 23rd)
MICHAEL FITZPATRICK, World Renowned Cellist (September 23rd)
DR. JUDEA PEARL, Father of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl (September 22nd)
GOLDA BERKMAN, 15-year-old rising opera star from Hollywood High School of the Arts (September 22nd)
SHARON FARBER, Emmy Award-Nominated Composer and Music Director for the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre (September 22nd and 23rd)
ILYSIA J. PIERCE, Co-Cantor, Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre (Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,”; First National Tour) (September 22nd and 23rd)
JORDAN BENNETT, Co-Cantor, Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre (Lead in “Les Misérables”; on Broadway) (September 22nd and 23rd)
ADRIENNE BARON, Noted Vocalist (September 22nd and 23rd)
EVIE AND STUART STEINBERG, Parents of fallen soldier Max Steinberg (September 23rd – Yizkor Service)
RONIT SILBERSTEIN, Noted Flutist (September 22nd)
The creative services will also feature the temple’s choir comprised of singers from theLOS ANGELES OPERA and the LOS ANGELES MASTERS CHORALE (September 22nd and 23rd)
KESHET CHAYIM DANCE ENSEMBLE(September 22nd)
WHAT & WHEN:
The High Holy Day Services will include:
The sounding of the Shofar was heard on the first of the High Holy Days, the Eve of Rosh Hashanah, that began the Jewish New Year 5776 on Sunday, September 13th, believed to be the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman.
Kol Nidre Service Highlights (The Eve of Yom Kippur) on Tuesday evening, September 22nd, starting at 8:00 p.m. will include:
The Rabbi’s Special Guests, Lassana Bathilyand Matthew Schrier will speak. Grant Palmer, a student who recently had his Bar Mitzvah, will serve as a translator for Lassana Bathily who speaks French; Grant Palmer’s mother, Ann Palmer, will assist.
Christophe Lemoine, Consul General of France in Los Angeles will attend the Kol Nidre service.
Dr. Judea Pearl, father of slain Wall Street Journal writer, Daniel Pearl will sing the Hebrew song, “Mi Haish” (“Who Is The Man Who Desires Life?”) based on Psalm 34 from The Book of Psalms, composed by Baruch Chayat, arranged by Sharon Farber.
The text of the Psalm is as follows:
Who is the man, Who desires life, Who loves all his days, To see good
Guard your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit
Turn away from bad, And do good, Seek peace, And pursue it
Performance of Sharon Farber’s musical composition, “Selach Ianu”; (“Forgive Us”)featuring co-cantors Ilysia J. Pierce and Jordan Bennett, Choir and a String Quartet.
Harpist Corky Hale will perform the song “Over The Rainbow”; written by Yip Harburg (a Jewish refugee from Europe) and Harold Arlen (whose father was a cantor).
Jordan Bennett will sing “Shema Kloeinu”;written by Max Helfman.
Adrienne Baron will sing “Ma Navu”;written by Berry and Batya Segal, featuring a dancer from Keshet Chayiim Dance Ensemble and flutist Ronit Silberstein.
Golda Berkman will sing “Eli Eli”; written by Hana Senesh, arranged by Sharon Farber.
Yom Kippur Servie Highlights on Wednesday, September 23rd, starting at 10:00 a.m. will include:
A Yizkor Memorial Service (memorial service for the departed) will begin at 12-Noonwith the participation of Evie and Stuart Steinberg, parents of fallen soldier Max Steinberg, and a special tribute to the late Academy Award-winning composer James Horner, during which time co-cantor Ilysia J. Pierce will sing James Horner’s song, “My Heart Will Go On”; from the movie “Titanic.”
Grammy Award-winning Soprano Hila Plitmann and Bass-Baritone Michael Peerwill sing the song, “The Prayer”; written by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager and “Lu Yehi”; (“May It Be”) written by Naomi Shemer, arranged by Sharon Farber.
Cellist Michael Fitzpatrick will also play an original composition dedicated to the plight of the Syrian refugees.
Harpist Corky Hale will perform the song, “I Remember You”; written by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer and “Look For The Silver Lining”; written by Jerome Kern.
Singer Adrienne Baron will perform the song, “Band of Brothers”; written by the late Academy Award and Golden Globe Award-nominated film composer, Michael Kamen.
From 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Rabbi Baron will lead a Question and Answer Session with his High Holy Day Special Guests, Edward James Olmos, Dan Gordon, Lassana Bathily and Matthew Schrier, followed by a book signing of Dan Gordon’s new book, Day of the Dead – Book One: Gaza, followed by the screening of a short film entitled “The Mystery of the Jews,”; written and produced by David Greenberg for www.SimpleToRemember.com.
The Closing Mincha/Neilah/Havdalah Service will begin at 5:45 p.m. The services will conclude at approximately 6:30 p.m.
WHERE & WHEN:
The Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre; 8440 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, CA 90211. High Holy Day services will be held on the Eve of Yom Kippur (Kol Nidre) on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 starting at 8:00 p.m., and on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 starting at 10:00 a.m., including a Yizkor Memorial Service (memorial service for the departed) starting a 12-Noon.
HOW:
Tickets for the services begin at a tax-deductible donation of $400. Young Adult memberships for ages 18 to 35 are available for a donation of $150. Children’s services, led by Karen Abrams, will be held on the morning of Yom Kippur on Wednesday, September 23rd at 10:30 a.m. For more information, please call Kasey Carter at 323-658-9100 or log on to www.bhtota.org. Street parking restrictions have been lifted for the areas adjacent to the Saban Theatre for High Holy Days services.
MORE INFO:
Rabbi Baron said, “My guests for this year’s Yom Kippur services will include: Lasssana Bathily who saved the lives of 15 French Jewish hostages in Paris during a terrorist attack on a Jewish supermarket; Matthew Schreir, an American photographer who was abducted and tortured by the al-Qaeda and escaped to freedom; award winning and critically acclaimed actor, activist and humanitarian Edward James Olmos who is bringing to light the life of an unsung hero during the Holocaust in a new film; and Hollywood screenwriter, author and Israeli Defense Force Reserve Officer Dan Gordon who has fought on the front lines of the Gaza Wars. All of my guests have incredible personal stories that exemplify the strength of the human spirit as carried out in their respective lives through their acts of courageous deeds and humane kindness, all the while remaining hopeful and determined in the face of great oppression and personal sacrifices. These are all inspirational messages we need to hear.”;
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar; it is a day of prayer and fasting for Jewish people around the world. The Eve of Yom Kippur (Kol Nidre) on Tuesday, September 22nd, and Yom Kippur on Wednesday, September 23rd represent the end of a 10-day period of repentance.
The Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre is now celebrating its 23rd Anniversary. The temple was founded and incorporated on November 5, 1992.
High Holy Day Services will be conducted in the Winnick Family Auditorium on the ornate Harold Kapelovitz bimah, given as a gift from Mrs. Lee Kapelovitz in memory of her late husband. The bimah design was envisioned by Rabbi David Baron, with the assistance of his wife Adrienne Baron and Bruce Ryan. The goal was to create a dramatic living Jewish message of faith and peoplehood. Through the Rabbi’s efforts the temple secured the exclusive rights to recreate the magnificent tapestry of the legendary artist, Marc Chagall, entitled “The Journey of the People.” The original evocative work of art depicting the history of the Jewish people from Moses to King David hangs in Knesset in Jerusalem. The art deco elements of the temple’s proscenium were incorporated into the design of the pillars, Holy Ark and pulpits. Six backlit panels present 18 (chai) word concepts of Jewish faith and belief taken from the Torah.
The mission of the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre is to promote religion through music, drama, arts and dance. Many of the artists in these various creative fields participate in the temple’s services. To learn more about Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre, please visit the website, www.bhtota.org. Network with us at www.facebook.com/templeofthe arts and on Twitter @templeofthearts
The Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre also broadcasts its Yom Kippur service on DIRECTV, Comcast, Time Warner and other cable channels through JLTV (Jewish Life Television). JLTV can be viewed locally in Los Angles on Time Warner Channel 469. For more information, please visit the website, http://JLTV.tv/channels.
More About Rabbi Baron’s Special Guests:
Lassana Bathily came to the world’s attention as a result of his heroic actions on January 9, 2015 when terrorists overtook Hyper Cacher, the popular kosher supermarket in Paris where he was working in the basement of the store at the time of the attack. The 24-year-old Muslim immigrant from Mali, Lassana Bathily, acted quickly by hiding 15 French Jewish hostages in a freezer in the basement, which he turned off. Four Jewish hostages were killed during the tragedy at Hyper Cacher. Two days earlier, on January 7, 2015, terrorists killed 12 people at the Parisian satirical magazine, “Charlie Hebdo.” Lassana Bathily’s acts of heroism were recognized by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve who awarded Bathily French citizenship. Today Lassana Bathily has set up a foundation to help bring food and everyday necessities to citizens of his native Mali.
Matthew Schrier is an American photographer who was abducted, tortured and taken prisoner in Syria by Jihandi fighters opposed to President Bashar al-Assad. He is the only person to have escaped the al-Qaida. Matthew Schrier, a proud Jew, hid his Jewish roots from his captors, strategically converted to Islam and used his sense of humor as tools to foil his captors, escaping through a narrow window of his prison cell undetected just before sunrise on July 29, 2013. His ordeal has been well documented in media around the world, including prominent stories on 60 Minutes and in The New York Times. Today Matthew Schrier is the process of writing a book about his life.
Dan Gordon is the author of the new books, Day of the Dead – Book One: Gaza and Day of the Dead – Book Two: America. Gordon has also written a screenplay based on his two latest books which is in development as a film with Relativity Media, entitled Day of the Dead. In his new books and film, Dan Gordon reveals the vicious world of radical Islamists, criminal gangs, and their victims. Gordon has served on the front lines of the Gaza Wars as an Israeli Defense Force Reserve Officer. As a Hollywood screenwriter, his films include: “The Hurricane” (Denzel Washington), “Wyatt Earp” (Kevin Costner), “Passenger 57” (Wesley Snipes), “The Assignment” (Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland, Ben Kingsley) and “;Murder in The First” (Kevin Bacon). His plays include stage adaptations of “Rain Man,” “Terms of Endearment”; and the Broadway Outer Circle Critics Awards nominated, “Irena’s Vow” (Tovah Feldshuh). He was raised in Southern California and in Kibbutz Ginnegar, in the Valley of Jezreel in Israel. Gordon has served in the Israeli Defense Force as a Reserve Officer since 1973, originally as a sniper and squad leader in an armored infantry unit. He presently serves as a Captain in the Military Spokesperson Unit. He has served in six wars, including: Yom Kippur War, Operation Defensive Shield, The Second Lebanon War, Operation Cast Lead, Operation Pillar of Defense and Operation Protective Edge. He was most recently involved in the conflict in Hamas making headlines in the media around the world. Dan Gordon will be doing a book signing of his new book, Day of the Dead – Book One: Gaza, at the temple during the High Holy Days services.
Edward James Olmos is perhaps one of the most prolific and influential high profile Mexican-American actors, activists and humanitarians in the world today. As an actor he has been nominated for an Academy Award (“Stand and Deliver”), Tony Award (“Zoot Suit”), Directors’ Guild Award (“Walkout”), Screen Actors Guild Award (“Dexter”)and Imagen Award (“Battlestar Galactica”) and he has been recipient of many awards, including a Golden Globe Award (“The Burning Season,” “Miami Vice”), Emmy Award (“Miami Vice”),Independent Spirit Award (“Stand and Deliver”) and Alma Award (“Filly Brown,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Walkout,” “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” “12 Angry Men”). Olmos is an advocate for education and stresses the risks of gang life. He promotes the notion of taking responsibility for one’s owns actions and one’s happiness in life. He has served as an ambassador for UNICEF and has received numerous accolades for his activism. Upcoming movie projects include: “Monday Nights at Seven,” “An Untitled Jim Loach Project,” “The Art of Living”; and “El Americano: The Movie.”; At the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre High Holy Day Services Olmos will speak about his latest film in development, “The Accomplices,”; about an unsung hero whose efforts served to save the lives of 220,000 Jews and non-Jews during the Holocaust. Edward James Olmos recently appeared in May 2015 as the Keynote Speaker at the 5th Annual Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism.
