Coming up

JFilm, in collaboration with the East Suburbs Jewish Connection, will show the director Ori Ravid’s film, “Eli & Ben,” at Destinta Theatres, North Versailles, Sunday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. The film, in Hebrew with subtitles, is 89 minutes. Discussion will follow the film. Israeli heartthrob Lior Ashkenazi plays Ben, a man searching for his identity in this universal story about truth and honesty. When Ben is accused of white-collar corruption, his 12-year-old son, Eli, doesn’t believe it and defends his father at all costs. As Eli’s relationship with the detective in charge of the case (a winning performance by Tzahi Grad) deepens, he is forced to ponder some of life’s big questions. “Eli & Ben” raises important moral issues for all of us, young and old (ages 12 and up). Contact http://ujfpittsburgh.org/Section.aspx?ID=560 for more information.

Jewish high school students will participate in the Israel 3D Experience — a six-week course meeting Sunday evenings beginning Oct. 24, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Chabad of Pittsburgh, 6401 Forbes Ave. The course will explore critical questions and ideas such as: Why does Judaism need a homeland? What right do Jews have to the land of Israel? How can teenagers identify and combat media bias? Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? Rabbi Shmuly Rothman will facilitate the course. Visit chabadpgh.com/jliteens or contact Rabbi Shmuly at (412) 715-4883 or JLITeens@chabadpgh.com to register.

Beth Israel Center will hold the first adult education lecture of the year Sunday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Art Donsky of Temple Ohav Shalom will speak on the Israel action group J Street. There is no fee for this lecture. The community is invited to attend.

Anita and Morris Kornblit will talk about what it was like to be a modern Orthodox Jewish family living in Beijing for two and a half years at NA’AMAT Lunch and Learn Wednesday, Oct. 27, noon at the Labor Zionist Building, 6328 Forbes Ave. Morris was in China working on the 2008 Olympics. The program is free and open to the community. Call the office at (412) 521-5253 for more information.

Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, will be the keynote speakers for the upcoming annual meeting of the Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee, Thursday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., at Rodef Shalom Congregation. The theme for that evening’s program is “Civil Rights in an Increasingly Uncivil Society.” Jealous is the 17th president and CEO of the NAACP, and the youngest person to hold the position in the organization’s nearly 100-year history. Newsweek Magazine named Saperstein America’s most influential rabbi in 2009. In his capacity as RAC director, he represents the Reform Movement to Congress and the Obama administration. Pittsburgh talk show host Lynn Cullen will be the moderator the program, which is free of charge. Visit pajc.org for more information.

National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh Section will kick off the 2010 Designer Days with “Fashion Flashback,” a patron party and fundraiser to raise funds for National Council of Jewish Women community service projects and advocacy efforts Thursday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Monroeville Convention Center. Fashion designer Kiya Tomlin is the honorary chair for this year’s party. Contact NCJW at (412) 421-6118 or at ncjwpgh.org for more information about the Designer Days kick-off event or sale.

Joan Nathan, the author of 10 cookbooks and the host of the PBS television series “Jewish Cooking in America,” will conduct cooking demonstrations at the Shadyside Market District store at 5550 Centre Ave. Thursday, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m. Nathan’s appearance, where she will share recipes from her new book “Quiches, Kugels and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France,” is free to the public.

Rabbi Donni Aaron, Jewish educator at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, will hold a Family Shabbat program with the JCC’s My Baby and Me Friday, Oct. 29, during which she’ll play guitar and sing.

The Squirrel Hill Health Center will launch its new mobile medical unit during a ceremony, Thursday, Nov. 4, 5 p.m., at the Health Center, 200 JHF Drive.

(Angela Leibowicz can be reached at angelal@thejewishchronicle.net.)