One needn’t be Jewish to find great rewards and entertainment value at the 16th annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival, in full swing through June 22 at the Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, and at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach through June 29. This year’s festival holds both the new and the tried and true for theater and music lovers. Of interest to theatergoers and fans of San Diego Repertory Theatre associate artistic director Todd Salovey is the world-­premiere reading of “Women of Valor,” a script developed by Salovey, his daughter Leah and young San Diego actor Ali Viterbi. Both young women were featured in the festival-sprung “The Blessing of a Broken Heart” (workshop reading 2007, workshop production 2008) based on Sherri Mandell’s nonfiction book. Featuring nine actors, “Women of Valor” expounds on the question “A woman of valor who shall find?” found in Proverbs 31:10. “For more than 10 years, I’ve been thinking of exploring the phrase,” Salovey said, “and doing a play that honors the many different ways that women bring strength and courage to their lives and to the lives of others. I wanted to explore it through a story that reflects the different communities within the Jewish community, women from Israel, from Mexico and from Persia.” In partnership with his daughter, a student at Torah High School of San Diego, and Viterbi, a student at the Jewish Academy, Salovey organized lists and stories about women they know and most admire. “These are women that faced tests in their lives and found the courage [to] not only survive and make the best of it but who also seemed to thrive and grow and inspire others through their example,” Salovey said. One of the women is Lt. Col. Beth Robbins, who weaned her 1-year-old daughter and left for Baghdad the following day to serve a year with the State Department. “She not only kept her family thriving while she was away,” said Salovey, “she also led the Jewish Shabbat services in Baghdad for a year. There were women from Baghdad who had not attended services since Sadam Hussein had come to power. They risked their lives to come to her service.” Salovey talks of other Jewish women of valor from Mexico and Israel and elsewhere who are celebrated throughout the evening, each played by a different actor. Each story celebrates a woman of valor and to some extent suggests how one can live a life of valor. Eshet Chayil—”Eshet,” woman, “Chayil,” valor—is actually recited at the Shabbat table every week in celebration of the amazing qualities a woman brings to the home. “I love the phrase,” said Salovey, “because it’s a discussion point about the many different roles that women can play.” Those interested in Shabbat, the family ceremony held each week in observant Jewish households, may wish to attend “Glorious Groove of Shabbat,” a concert featuring Hassidic star Benny Friedman at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 15 at the Lyceum Stage (lecture at 6:30). Friedman shares the “beautiful and groovin’ melodies” of Shabbat and tells stories. Not to be missed is the ninth annual Klezmer Summit: Klezmer and Knaidlach (matzo ball soup, served at the interval) at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22 at the Lyceum Stage. The concert (you’ll laugh, clap and dance, believe me) features the amazing Russian clarinet virtuoso Alexander Gourevitch and his daughter, violinist Natasha, who have dazzled festival audiences in past years. They are joined by Gustavo Bulgach and Klezmer Juice, who perform Latin-American klezmer influenced by the tango. Closing the festival at North Coast Repertory Theatre (987-D Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach) at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 28 and 29, is Aaron Posner’s “My Name Is Asher Lev,” adapted from the Chaim Potok novel, featuring David Ellenstein and directed by Steve Lipinsky. It tells the story of a young Hassidic artist torn between his community and his need to create. Tickets for shows at the Lyceum are available at sdrep.org or (619) 544-1000. Tickets for “My Name Is Asher Lev” are available at northcoastrep.org or (858) 481-1055.