YOGA AND MINDFULNESS

Friday mornings at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills are times to take a breath and find your center, with a choice of yoga classes. Starting at 8 a.m., there’s an hour-long gentle practice class open to all. A second hour-long class starts at 9:30 a.m. Both are led by Michelle Aaron, who has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga for more than 30 years and received her Hatha Yoga teacher’s training in 2005 from Sacred Movement in Venice. $20 temple members, $25 general public. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, 300 N. Clark Driver, Beverly Hills. (310) 288-3737. RSVP at tebh.org/yoga.

WOMEN’S RETREAT

Spend a “Girls Night IN,” a women-only Shabbat retreat organized by Temple Judea. Join an evening designed to help you exhale, reconnect and turn inward. The evening begins with cocktails and a musical Kabbalat Shabbat, then share dinner and get really comfortable for dessert, cozy time in PJs, a meaningful activity and the kind of conversations that happen when they finally give themselves permission to slow down. Begins at 5 p.m. $75 temple members; $54 first-time attendees; $100 community guests. Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. (818) 758-3800. https://portal.templejudea.com/event/women39s-retreat.html

DEMOCRACY SHABBAT

Temple Israel of Hollywood welcomes the community into a powerful, timely and interactive Shabbat conversation with Aaron Dorfman, founder and Executive Director of A More Perfet Union. Dorfman explores how American democracy enables thriving Jewish life. During his Shabbat sermon and over dinner to follow services, he’ll discuss the challenges we face in this political moment.  Dinner at 7:30 p.m. follows 6:30 p.m. services. Also streamed on Zoom. Dinner: $36 members, $45 general. Temple Israel of Hollywood, 7300 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 876‑8330. https://tioh.org/event/democracy-shabbat-aaron-dorfman/

SHABBAT AND HALLOWEEN

Halloween falls on Shabbat this year, and at Kol Tikvah, celebrate a Shabbat a little chill. Tonight’s it’s a “Tales of Horror Shabbat Service.” Join the Reform community for an evening of spooky spirituality. 6:30 p.m. Kol Tikvah, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 348-0670. https://www.koltikvah.org/events/shabbat-service-2026-10-30/

BETH AM SHABBAT

Attending Shabbat services with young children can be tough, but Temple Beth Am has the solution. At 10 a.m., 15 minutes after the 9:45 a.m. service starts  there’s a Tot Shabbat in Pilch Hall and a Shabbat Yeladim in the sandbox. Both will keep the little ones amused while you daven.  Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 652-7353.https://www.tbala.org/calendar/

BAGELS & BIG QUESTIONS

Jewish young adults in their 20s and 30s are invited to join Rabbi Scott Goldberg of Leo Baeck Temple at a park in West L.A. for “Bagels and Big Questions.” Enjoy bagels, a schmear and meaningful conversation about being young Jews in America during this historic moment. Connect with new friends and wrestle with big questions about Israel, antisemitism and Jewish life today. Bagels and schmears are generously provided by LBT 20s+30s. 12:30-2 p.m. Details at https://leobaecktemple.org.

HOT HAZAK JAZZ

Hazak is Valley Beth Shalom’s community of seniors will be in the audience at Casey’s Tavern in Canoga Parkwhere the Jelly Roll Jazz Band will be  playing New Orleans classics, selections from the Great American Songbook and jazz favorites designed to make toes tap and fingers snap.. 6-9 p.m. Two-drink minimum. Cash only. Casey’s Tavern, 22029 Sherman Way, Canoga Park. (818) 788-6000. https://www.vbs.org/hazak

LEARN ABOUT ISRAELI MUSIC

“Israeli Music and the Sound of Resilience” is an opportunity to become much better acquainted with the musical history of Israel. For more than 30 years, Israeli music expert Josh Shron has been connecting English speakers with the musical soundtrack of Israel, and tonight he brings his knowledge to Beth Jacob Congregation. 6-7:15 p.m. Beth Jacob Congregation, Rubin Hall, 9030 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 278-1911. Details at bethjacob.org/cantor.

POLAND JEWISH DELEGATION

Roughly three million Polish Jews were killed in the Holocaust. Today, younger Poles are discovering Jewish roots hidden by earlier generations. At Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s Resnick Campus, hear Magda Dorosz, Maria Kos, Helise Lieberman and Jonathan Ornstein, leaders in Poland’s Jewish community, share powerful stories of Jewish life’s rebirth. Moderated by renowned Holocaust scholar Michael Berenbaum, director of the Sigi Ziering Institute at American Jewish University. Presented in partnership with Builders of Jewish Education and the International March of the Living. 7 p.m. Free, registration required. Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Resnick Campus, 11960 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 388-2401. simpletix.com/e/poland-jewish-community-delegation-tickets-296421

EXAMINING THE ELECTION

Elections ultimately are horse races, with winners and losers. This year’s midterms are hugely consequential. Both the U.S. House and Senate have the potential to flip from Republican to Democratic control as well as up to 14 State Houses. The IKAR community meets in-person to ponder and make predictions about the midterm election results. Discussion at 7 p.m. IKAR event space, 1737 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 634-1870.https://ikar.org/events/modern-history-circle-mid-terms/

ISRAELI ELECTIONS

During “2026 Israeli Elections: Public Opinion, Key Drivers and Future Trajectories” webinar, Professor Tamar Hermann of the Israel Democracy Institute examines the results of Israel’s 2026 elections, drawing on public opinion data to explore voting patterns, demographic trends and the events that shaped voter behavior. Hermann discusses the changing balance of power between liberal and national-religious-conservative political blocs and the implications for Israel’s domestic policy and foreign relations. Elizabeth Stein, deputy director of UCLA’s Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, moderates. 11 a.m. Free. Registration required at international.ucla.edu/israel/event/17828.

“IT”S NOW OR NEVER”

Holocaust Museum LA at the Goldrich Cultural Center stages “It’s Now or Never: Songs of Hope and Resilience,” a tribute to Holocaust survivor Renée Firestone. Firestone’s story has inspired multiple generations through her courage, resilience and commitment to bearing witness. At the heart of this program is a newly commissioned song cycle by composer Michael Schachter and librettist Gene Scheer as well as a Yiddish reimagining of the Elvis Presley classic “It’s Now or Never.” Inspired by Firestone’s testimony and journey, this work transforms personal history into a musical and storytelling experience. Premieres Nov 4. Additional performance Nov. 5. 7:30-9 p.m. $27 members, $54 adults, $45 seniors. Children 17 and under, free. Goldrich Cultural Center, 100 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles. https://www.holocaustmuseumla.org/event-details/its-now-or-never-songs-of-hope-and-resilience-1

SACRED CIRCLE

If an intimate issue is bothering you and you don’t want to blare it across the neighborhood, you are welcome to participate in Rabbi Amy Bernstein’s weekly Sacred Circle on Wednesdays at Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades. 3:30 p.m. Free. RSVP required. Kehillat Israel, 16019 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 459-2328. https://www.ourki.org/event/processing-change-with-rabbi-bernstein.html

“BETWEEN THE STONE & THE FLOWER”

The film “Between the Stone and the Flower: The Duality of the Conversos” follows Genie Milgrom, a Cuban-born, Miami-raised woman who grew up Catholic and later embraced Judaism. Her decades-long search for her family’s hidden Jewish ancestry takes her through medieval archives and across Europe as she uncovers the secrets of ancestors who concealed their Jewish identity. The film explores faith, family and the search for belonging. A live Q&A follows the screening. Presented by Sephardic Educational Center. 7 p.m. $36 ($60 for two tickets). Lumiere Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 274-6860. For tickets and event information, visit secfilmfest.com/btsf.

TALMUD STUDY

Every Shabbat morning, the rabbi recites the week’s parsha, and the words – not to mention deeper meanings – fly by faster than a rocket to the moon. What is this week’s parsha? What does it really mean? Every Thursday afternoon at Temple Ramat Zion, Rav Ahud Sela quietly and clearly conducts an hourlong journey through the week’s parsha at 2 p.m. An hour later, he leads a Talmud study. Temple Ramat Zion, 17655 Devonshire St., Northridge. (818) 360-1881. https://www.trz.org/calendar

“INTRO TO JUDAISM”

American Jewish University’s 18-week “Introduction to Judaism” course starts tonight and concludes March 25. No matter your age or background, everyone is welcome for a class that will prepare you for the Beit Din. Each cohort explores Judaism’s past, present, and future with guidance from a rabbi. Couples are encouraged to take the class together, especially if one partner is converting to Judaism. Classes held on Zoom on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. $530 (plus processing fees). https://aju.edu/event/november-2026-cycle-miller-intro-to-judaism/2026-11-05/