Thursday, January 27 – Thursday, February 3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27

  Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited.   Sandra Malamed discusses ‘Return to Judaism: Descendants from the Inquisition Discovering Their Jewish Roots,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. During the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal, many Jews were forcibly converted to the Catholic faith. During the 1990s, historian Sandra Malamed conducted a series of probing interviews with people of Spanish and Portuguese descent across the country and abroad, who considered themselves Christians or even non-believers, but who nonetheless practiced various Jewish traditions often without knowing where the traditions came from.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28

German writer Christiane Neudecker will read from her prize-winning short story ‘And Then: This Sound,’ 8 p.m. at Villa Aurora on Paseo Miramar. The reading will be in English and admission is free. Shuttle service begins at 7 p.m. from street parking on Los Liones Drive. RSVP: (310) 573-3603 or visit infola@villa-aurora.org.   Theatre Palisades presents ‘The Diviners,’ 8 p. m. at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. The show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 2 p.m. through February 20. For tickets ($20-$16), call (310) 454-1970 or visit theatrepalisades.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

Gallery 169 presents paintings by artist Paul Rusconi, with an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the gallery, 169 W. Channel Rd. in Santa Monica Canyon. (See story, page 12,)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30

  Organ Dedication Service and Recital, 4 p.m. at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, 15821 Sunset. Program features PPPC Chancel Choir and James Vail, choirmaster and organist, performing works by Bach, Widor, Dupr’ and Mulet and choral works by Tye, Hassler, Hanson, Britten and Franck. Admission is free.

MONDAY, JANUARY 31

Palisadians Bernard and Shirley Kinsey discuss ‘The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey’Where Art and History Intersect,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. This impressive book tells the story of the African-American experience from 1632 onward, through original art, artifacts and historical documents. One of the few published works that includes many overlooked and often untold stories of African-American achievements and contributions, ‘The Kinsey Collection’ makes an excellent teaching tool, gift, or resource for personal discovery and inspiration. (See story, page 12.)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

  Chamber Music Palisades will present four chamber music gems, 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s church, 1031 Bienveneda. For tickets ($30) or a free season brochure, call (310) 463-4388 or visit www.cmpalisades.org. Tickets are also available at the door. (See story, page 13.) ‘

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

  Danny Bergen and Friends of the Jazz Forum will give a free one-hour concert at the monthly Palisades AARP meeting, 2 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. The public is invited.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Pacific Palisades resident Betty Lussier discusses and signs ‘Intrepid Woman: Betty Lussier’s Secret War, 1942-1945,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. A college student in Maryland when World War II began, Betty Lussier went to England to help the British fight off an impending invasion. Armed with a private pilot’s license, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary and was soon ferrying planes and pilots for the RAF. Her experiences with a special liaison unit in Algeria, Sicily and France helping to set up a chain of double agents and transmit misinformation to the enemy are described in compelling detail.