Karla S. Blume

Repairing the World, One Book at a Time

Published on November 17, 2009

Finding the true meaning of the word “mitzvah” can be a difficult task, especially as a newly minted teen. While the Hebrew word means commandment, it’s also come to mean an expression of loving-kindness. And luckily for seventh-grader Jacob Tobias, 12, he knew right away what his mitzvah was when he set out on a mission of good deeds.

Bringing a ‘Golem’ to Life

Published on October 28, 2009

For a scare steeped in Jewish mysticism this Halloween, REDCAT is bringing Paul Wegener’s “The Golem” to the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater on Friday and Saturday night. But the screening of the 1920 silent horror classic, which recounts the Eastern European legend of a large clay figure brought to life to protect the Jews of Prague, will be accompanied by the debut of an improvised musical score by Brian LeBarton.

Book for Kids Answers Cancer Questions

Published on October 14, 2009

When Beverlye Hyman Fead was diagnosed with fourth-stage inoperable cancer in 2002, her doctors gave her two months to live. After being treated with four different forms of chemotherapy and two experimental treatments, the eight large tumors lining her abdomen were reduced and she’s been able to live with the cancer.

10-K to Stomp Out AK-47s.

Published on October 6, 2009

Ten years ago, any talk of the shooting victims of the North Valley Jewish Community Center would likely have been discouraging to hear, at best. Now two of the survivors, Mindy Finkelstein, 26, and Joshua Stepakoff, 16, have put the fear behind them and joined up with Women Against Gun Violence (WAGV) to organize Victory Over Violence, a 10-K run and 5-K run/walk and kids fun-run. Finkelstein chose the Los Angeles-based WAGV because it donates money to gun-violence victims and reinforces a zero-tolerance attitude about the use of guns by having victims tell their story in public venues. “Mindy and I wanted to do something positive to remember this day, to raise more awareness about gun violence,” Stepakoff said.

Party Like a (Bar Mitzvah) Rock Star

Published on June 24, 2009

Most parents are willing to do anything to make their kids’ dream bar or bat mitzvah celebration come true, even if it means fulfilling rock-star ambitions — be they genuine or virtual.

Theater: Sax on the mic molds music into ‘Clay’

Published on September 27, 2007

Since the beginning of human history, man has struggled to figure out the meaning of life. Writer and solo performer Matt Sax's hip-hop musical, "Clay," doesn't just explain the notion of pain and struggle, but makes audiences part of the cure.

L.A. punk rock poet Rollins tours Israel—on TV

Published on April 12, 2007

Before Henry Rollins returns to the Independent Film Channel on April 13 with his alternative brand of celebrity interviews, the late-night host will precede the second season premier of "The Henry Rollins Show" with a half-hour special on the Jewish state. "Henry Rollins: Uncut From Israel" mixes tidbits of Rollins' tour of the Holy Land with moments of his politically charged spoken-word show recorded in Tel Aviv earlier this year.

Rock ‘n’ roll dreams come true at the Westside JCC

Published on March 8, 2007

The musicality of this band was evident from the start due in no small part to the piano parts derived by Isaac Himmelman, also the band's singer. He was charismatic and easy on the eyes, a rock star in training. Himmelman comes from a musical family and took the love of the audience all in stride.

Time for the last dance at folk dancing venue

Published on February 1, 2007

Café Danssa opened for business in December 1965 on a nondescript block of West Los Angeles on Pico Boulevard. The name of the business was a morphing of the first three letters of Dani Dassa's first name and the last three letters of his last name.

Reggae grows another Jewish branch

Published on January 11, 2007

One of the most meaningful Jewish gifts would have to be the planting of an elan, Hebrew for tree, in Israel in one's honor.

And in the case of Los Angeles-born musician Elan, no other name would suit him quite as well.

missFlag shuns politics for love in Israel’s indie rock scene

Published on November 22, 2006

missFlag, an up-and-coming indie band from Israel, hopes to receive some special attention of its own when it makes its first stab at securing a place in the history of commercial pop music success stories.

Radio DJ Jimmy Kay brings folksy charm to folkie L.A

Published on November 9, 2006

A radio DJ might not be your idea of an innovative storyteller, but who can't relate to the desire to inflict your own personal interests onto the greater Los Angeles listening public? DJ Jimmy Kay does just this every Sunday night from 9 p.m. to midnight on KKGO 1260AM, where he hosts the program "Sunday Night Folk."

Silver Jews Singer Polishes Up Dirty Past

Published on September 7, 2006

David Berman, lead singer, songwriter and head-miner of the alt-rock group the Silver Jews is finding out that the depression of his musical past has been rejuvenated by of all things, hope for his musical future.

Psalm-Thing to Sing About in New Album

Published on June 29, 2006

Haruach sings with a modesty and softness that enhances the simple and good-natured spiritual messages of her songs. That, in itself, is an unusual trait, because audiences have come to expect artists who make spiritual/new age, religious music to have overproduced studio performances.

Cultural Mix Inspires Revenge’s Warfield

Published on April 27, 2006

Justin Warfield, the monotone-voiced, seductive lead singer and co-songwriter of the local nouveau and dark-wave group, She Wants Revenge, has roots that stretch across the city, and truth be told, he really doesn't feel any tinge of revenge these days, because his band's moody, dance-club-beat debut self-titled album has not only conquered the radio waves nationally, but is about to take on the avid audience at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival this weekend, too.

Big-Screen Beasties

Published on March 30, 2006

You've probably never thought about what the music of the Beastie Boys and grandma's kugel have in common. Both artistic endeavors call for a recipe with a whole cup of spunk, a teaspoon of social and cultural justice and more than a pinch of love mixed in for the perfect consistency. With a new live concert movie, "Awesome: I F****** Shot That," coming out in theatres in Los Angeles today, the once seemingly party-driven, white hip-hop group from New York has learned to wear all their outfits well, from their early days as prankster punk rockers standing on top of their Bronx soap box, to their time as hip-hoppin' haters of war and injustice standing on top of the prestigious stage at Madison Square Garden.