WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JEWISH LA
To submit an event organized by a Los Angeles organization, please email calendar@jewishjournal.com
May 29-June 4, 2026
Friday, May 29

SKIRBALL LATE NIGHT
Get loud, get weird and get wild in the streets as the Skirball Cultural Center celebrates the exhibition opening of “Outsiders, Outcasts, Rebels + Weirdos: Punk Culture 1976–86.” There will be a special appearance by Keith Morris, legendary frontman of Black Flag, Circle Jerks and Off! Enjoy food, music, drinks and dancing! 6-10 p.m. Cult classic film “Repo Man” screens at 8:30 p.m. $20 general, $15 for seniors, students and children 2-17. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 440-4500. https://www.skirball.org/programs/late-night-outsiders-outcasts-rebels-weirdos
KESHER CIRCLE SHABBAT
Leo Baeck Temple holds a special Kesher Circle Celebration Shabbat, during which it will honor and uplift the small-group connections that more than 150 community members have experienced this year. Following a Shabbat service, attendees enjoy a bring-your-own Shabbat dinner – with dessert provided by the temple – and a small-group learning and connection program featuring a never-before-seen edition of “Here All Along” specially crafted for this evening. 6:15 p.m. Free. Leo Baeck Temple, 1300 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 476-2861. https://leobaecktemple.org/#calendar?sapurl=

“WHAT IS JEWISH MUSIC?”
Following Temple Judea’s Friday night Shabbat services, all are invited to stay for dinner and a presentation by Cantor Elizabeth Shammash and pianist David Sparr. They will take the crowd on a journey around the Jewish world in the form of lullabies and bedtime songs in Yiddish, Hebrew and Ladino. Inspired by the bedtime songs of Cantor Shammash’s Nana Sara, who emigrated from Riga, the program explores the love that is shared between parent and child. 7:30-9:30 p.m. $40 members, $45 general. Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. (818) 758-3800. https://portal.templejudea.com/event/jewish-lullabies-concert.html
Saturday, May 30

FRIENDSHIP IN CULVER CITY
Temple Akiba invites you to celebrate Rabbi Zachary Shapiro and Cantor Lonee Frailich’s two decades of leadership, partnership and community at its Friendship Celebration Gala. Billed as an unforgettable evening of joy, gratitude and connection, Temple Akiba recognizes 20 years of inspiring service, meaningful collaboration and lasting impact. Dinner, open bar, Havdalah, DJ and dancing, prizes and activities. 7-10:30 p.m. $180 members, $190 for general. Temple Akiba, 5249 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City. (310) 398-5783. https://www.templeakiba.net/friendshipcelebration
Sunday, May 31
SHABBES PROJECT
Temple Ramat Zion has been sponsoring a six part program – “Shabbes Project” – examining perhaps underappreciated Shabbat traditions. At today’s final session, there will be a blind spice smelling contest of various herbs and spices plus silk painting of challah covers. 12:30 p.m. $18 per household. Temple Ramat Zion, 17655 Devonshire St., Northridge. (818) 360-1881. https://www.trz.org/event/shabbes-project-5786

LATIN JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
You can make your Sunday unforgettable, closing out Jewtina y Co.’s second annual Latin-Jewish Film Festival with a full afternoon double feature at the iconic Radford Studios in Studio City. The two extraordinary films—animated short “La Pequeña Torá Tatuada” (“The Tattooed Torah”) screening at 1:30 p.m., and “Mazel Tov,” screening at 3:10 p.m. — are followed by dynamic post-screening discussions. Enjoy refreshments all afternoon and a closing reception to celebrate Latin-Jewish culture on screen and beyond. $25. Radford Studios, 4024 Radford Ave., Studio City. https://givebutter.com/LJFF3

“LULLABIES AROUND JEWISH WORLD”
During UCLA Hillel’s “Lullabies Around the Jewish World,” Cantor Elizabeth Shamash and pianist David Sparr take their audience on a journey around the Jewish world in the form of lullabies and bedtime songs in Yiddish, Hebrew and Ladino. Apart from “Rozhinkes mit Mandlen” and “Numi Numi,” Shammash and Sparr explore new territory. Come to listen in community and learn more about the spirituality of bedtime in various Jewish cultures. 4-6 p.m. Free. Hillel at UCLA, 574 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 208-3081. https://uclahillel.org/dortortevents/

“AN EVENING WITH LESLIE ODOM JR.”
It’s de Toledo High School’s biggest fundraiser, starring actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr., performing at The Soroya at Cal State Northridge. Annette Lichtenstein and the founding class of 2006 will be saluted, and Ellen Howard will be presented with the Nita Hirsch Award. Live auction and show. 5 p.m. Cocktails and roving dinner, 6:15 p.m. Program, live auction. Free. The Soraya at Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. https://www.dths.org/giving/an-evening-with-leslie-odom-jr

“PARTY WITH A PURPOSE”
At a time when connection matters, IKAR presents its 22nd annual Party with a Purpose, an evening of joy, purpose and collective impact, honoring board member Liz Hirsh Naftaki at the Wende Museum in Culver City. The evening celebrates heart and humanity as it salutes this humanitarian ambassador, author, speaker, podcast host and hostage advocate. The program includes art installations, an auction, dancing, cocktails, kosher cuisine. 6-10 p.m. Wende Museum, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. https://ikar.org/events/22nd-annual-party-with-a-purpose/
Monday, June 1

EVENING WITH JACOB SOBOROFF
Kehillat Israel, which just reopened its temple damaged in the Palisades fire, hosts an evening with Jacob Soboroff, author of “Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster,” a New York Times bestseller about the tragedy. Not incidentally, Soboroff, a Los Angeles native and MS-Now correspondent, also lost his home in the Palisades fire. KI has reserved copies of the book from Diesel, A Bookstore in Brentwood. 7-8:30 p.m. Sanctuary. Kehillat Israel, 16019 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. (310) 459-2328. https://www.ourki.org/event/firestorm.html
Tuesday, June 2
GRIEF SUPPORT CIRCLE
Congregation Kol Ami invites all to an ongoing Grief Support Circle for those grieving the death of a family member or special person in your life. Led by Larry Levi, a temple member and trained bereavement counselor. Note: This is a support group, not therapy. You need not be a Kol Ami member to attend. 6 p.m. $20 per session for members. $30 for general. Additional sessions June 9, 16. Congregation Kol Ami, 1200 N. LaBrea Ave., West Hollywood. (323) 606-0996. https://www.kol-ami.org/event/grief-support-circle.html
YOGA CLASS
Regardless of your yoga ability or experience, Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills offers a range of classes and times to accommodate you. “Restorative yoga” is the theme for Tuesdays’ class at 9:30 a.m. Free. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, 300 N. Clark Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 288-3737. https://tebh.org/events/
Wednesday, June 3

“L’CHAIM AMERICA”
The Braid’s production of “L’Chaim America!” comes to Valley Beth Shalom. Poignant and humorous contemporary stories illuminate inspiring, diverse Jewish experiences and speak to the America we know. Happy 250th Birthday, America! 7:30 p.m. $60 Angel single ticket, $49 single ticket, $23 student. Additional performances and locations throughout the month. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. (818) 788-6000. Details and additional performances and locations at https://the-braid.org/.
Thursday, June 4
“LISTEN” FILM
The community is invited to Temple Beth Am for a special screening of “Listen,” a tense fictional portrayal of the IDF’s internal struggle over hostage negotiations. The film follows Dara Nevo, a young soldier in Israel’s elite intelligence unit, as she races against time to rescue a captured Israeli being held deep in Gaza. Afterward, filmmaker Omri Bezalel participates in a live Q&A moderated by Michael Berlin. 6 p.m. Temple Beth Am, Beth Am Ballroom, 1039 S. LaCienega Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 652-7353. RSVP at https://www.tbala.org/events/film-discussion-group-in-person-screening/.