October Happenings
From NuRoots, our partners & friends.
In October, we really begin a new Jewish year of connection, creativity, and community. This month, there are opportunities for all of the above all across L.A., with partners offering everything from theater to music to trivia to watch parties.
Keep reading for more info on upcoming dinners, concerts, ritual moments, parties (and after parties), volunteer and travel opportunities, and more ways to build, imagine, and create Jewish community in L.A.
More Events Around L.A.
Sukkot Social Melrose
NELLYSLIST Social Club LA
Oct. 1 | 8:00pm | Melrose
Celebrate Sukkot under the stars with community, food, and connection, then join us for an afterparty at a hotspot just steps away.
Candlelight Storytelling: Begin Again | The Braid
Oct. 1 | 7:00pm | Santa Monica
Start 5787 surrounded by community, connection, and possibility at an encore performance of Begin Again, followed by a candlelit sound bath, dessert, and plenty of schmoozing.
Sukkot Parlor Night | JSL x Bubbela
Oct. 1 | 7:30pm | Silver Lake
Join JSL x Bubbela for a night of good vibes, great people, and community. Enjoy jazz, drinks, parlor games, and connection as we celebrate Sukkot together.
Ecclesiastes, Stoicism, & Leonard Cohen | Der Nister + Hadar West
Oct. 1 | 7:00pm | Downtown LA
Kohelet (aka Ecclesiastes) is considered the most philosophical book in Tanakh. Come for a night of questions, philosophy, and Jewish learning to find out why.
Simchat Torah Celebration | Jewish Silver Lake
Oct. 3 | 6:00pm Kids, 7:00pm Young Adults | Silver Lake
Eat, drink (mocktails plus an open bar!), dance, and celebrate the special energy of Simchat Torah with community members of all ages.
Sukkot in the Garden | Skirball Cultural Center + Adamah
Oct. 4 | 12:00pm | Bel Air
Practice “Welcoming the Stranger” by creating herb bouquets and sharing them with someone new, and see how simple acts of generosity can help build community and connection.
Simchat Torah: Brunch & Bereishit | Base LA
Oct. 4 | 10:00am | Faircrest Heights
Join Base Los Angeles for brunch, mimosas, Torah reading and celebration as we start the Torah all over again.
Trivia Night | Moishe House Panorama City
Oct. 6 | 7:30pm | Sherman Oaks
Put your most useless knowledge to work and join Moishe House Panorama City for an evening of drinks, trivia, and a little friendly competition.
The Hidden Women of Genesis: A Four-Part Class
Oct. 6, 13, 20, and 27 | 7:30pm | Faircrest Heights
Join Rabbi Sofia for dinner and learning as we explore the stories of four "hidden women" from the book of Genesis throughout the month of October.
Shabbat Morning Services and Lunch: Bereishit | The Six 11 Project + Base LA
Oct. 10 | 10:00am | Faircrest Heights
Celebrate the return to the beginning of the Torah and our yearly reading of Parashat Bereishit for a Shabbat morning service, followed by a kiddush lunch and learning in the backyard.
XOXO, Yenta: A Staged Reading of a New Play
Oct. 10 | 6:30pm AND Oct. 11 | 2:00pm | Hollywood
JCC drama meets Gossip Girl in XOXO, Yenta, a coming-of-age dramedy about best friends Ellie and Noa whose summer gossip game at the Jewish Community Center spirals into a scandal. Use code YENTA5 for $5 off!
Jewbilee Silly Debate Night | Moishe House North Hollywood
Oct. 15 | 7:30pm | North Hollywood
Do you have a hot take hill you’re willing to die on? Come debate it in the style of Jubilee YouTube videos at MohoNoho!
Kabbalat Shabbat and Taco Dinner | Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock
Oct. 16 AND 30 | 6:30pm Highland Park
Join the TBI community for a joyful, spirited, and musical Kabbalat Shabbat celebration, followed by a delicious dinner. No registration required!
Mucha Cultura: Día de los Muertos - A Latin & Jewish Community Celebration | Jewtina y Co., NuRoots, Jonah Platt + the Pico Union Project
Oct. 18 | 2:00pm | Pico Union
Honor Latin and Jewish traditions of remembrance through community ofrenda-building, mariachi and folklórico performances, original Latin-Jewish music, a community marketplace, family crafts, and traditional food and drinks. All ages and backgrounds are welcome; bring photos of loved ones to honor.
Letters, Light, and Love | JFEDLA
Oct. 19 | 7:30pm | Westwood
Join JFEDLA for an unforgettable one-night-only theatrical experience that tells the story of the Jewish people and their connection to each other and their homeland through authentic letters spanning more than 2,000 years,
Nobody Wants This Season 3 Watch Party | Moishe House Venice
Oct. 22 | 6:30pm | Venice
The time has come! Nobody Wants This Season 3 hits our screens this fall, so join MoHo Venice for a fun night of schmoozing, snacking, and watching!
Kabbalat Shabbat & Philosophy | Der Nister
Oct. 23 | 6:30pm | Downtown LA
Join Rabbi Zach Golden and Rabbi Ye'ela Rosenfeld for musical Friday night services, followed by philosophical teachings about this weeks parshah and a wholesome Shabbat dinner. Sliding scale pricing available!
Registration by Wednesday afternoon helps us make sure we will have the required number of people.
Lakers vs Deni Avdija NBA Watch Party | Moishe House Panorama City
Oct. 27 | 8:00pm | Panorama City
Lakers vs. Portland at the house. Come watch Deni Avdija take on Los Angeles with a full BBQ, drinks, and the game on the big screen.
The Guardians Halloween Costume Party | The Guardians of Los Angeles Jewish Health
Oct. 29 | 7:00pm | Santa Monica
Get dressed up, bring your friends, and get ready to party all night at one of Santa Monica’s hottest spots. Costumes required. Regrets optional.
Ghosts & Games | Moishe House Venice
Oct. 29 | 6:30pm | Venice
Come listen to three thrilling Jewish ghost stories to get you in the spooky spirit, then stay for a classic MoHo Venice game night. Spooky season snacks and drinks provided!
Kabbalat Shabbat & Dinner - Celebrating 20 Years of Mem Global | Base LA
Friday, October 30th, 6:30pm in Faircrest Heights
Join Base LA for our flagship program: soulful Kabbalat Shabbat Services followed by dinner. This month we will celebrate 20 years of Mem Global.
Oct. 31 | 9:30pm | West Hollywood
Celebrate Halloween with Moishe House in WeHo! Join us for DJ sets, good people, and hopefully some great costumes.
Young Locals Shabbat
Biweekly Fridays | Details upon registration | Silver Lake
With Jewish Silver Lake
Join regular Shabbat dinners at the Silver Lake Garden.
TRAVEL
Jew-ish, L.A. Couples: Your Five-Day Escape to Baja
Dec 2–6 | Baja, Mexico
With Togethering
Adventure, relax, and explore Jewish life on your own terms during a five-day getaway for L.A. couples ages 25–40 with at least one Jewish partner. The subsidized cost of $360 per person includes airfare, accommodations, meals, activities, and programming. Applications close August 10.
Join Us:
JFEDLA Volunteer Trip to Israel
December 29, 2026–January 6, 2027
Ages 25-45
Only $900
Space is limited!
LEARNING
JEWL: Jewish Executive Women’s Leadership Fellowship
Beginning Oct 2026 | Los Angeles
With the Jewish Grad Organization
Women ages 22–35 are invited to join an eight-week leadership and mentorship program connecting emerging leaders with accomplished executives, attorneys, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit professionals.
Host a Creativity Circle
Applications close Aug 4
With Jewish Studio Project
Creativity Circles are small, peer-led groups that meet monthly in home-based community to practice the Jewish Studio Process—a unique methodology that combines Jewish text study, hands-on artmaking, and reflective writing. As a host, you'll receive tools and staff support to lead JSP sessions with your community.
Mishmar is back! Join TBI’s Open Beit Midrash
Join scholar-in-residence Rabbi David Kasher at TBI for weekly adult learning sessions. Classes begin Thursday, October 8 at 6:00pm.
Apply to ADL Los Angeles’ Glass Leadership Institute
Young professionals can build advocacy skills, meet emerging LA leaders, and deepen their understanding of ADL’s work addressing antisemitism, extremism, hate, and bias. Apply by October; questions can be sent to edoner@adl.org.
Apply to Embark Los Angeles
Mixed-heritage couples in their 20s and 30s can explore Jewish life through conversation, hands-on experiences, a retreat, and Shabbat dinner. Led by Rabbi Moe Howard, the cohort runs November 3–December 18; apply by October 30. Questions? Email embark@memglobal.org.
ON THE HORIZON
Apply for JSFLA Community Impact Network Plus
Jewish Family Service LA is partnering with Coro California to offer Community Impact Network Plus (CIN Plus), a six-month leadership development experience designed for individuals who are ready to develop the knowledge, networks, and confidence to make a meaningful impact as community leaders, advocates and engaged volunteers, including those interested in future committee and board service. Email CIN@jfsla.org for more information.
The Best Day Ever: Tour de Summer Camp
Sunday, Nov 8
With Jewish Federation Los Angeles
Ride, play pickleball, compete for the JFEDLA Camp Cup, and help more children experience the magic of Jewish summer camp.
JFEDLA Volunteer Trip to Israel
Dec. 29, 2026-Jan. 6, 2027
Join the JFEDLA Volunteer Trip to Israel to make a lasting difference! Space is limited. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this unforgettable experience! Apply here! This trip is in partnership with IGT and Volunteer in Israel, a joint initiative of JFNA and Birthright Israel. For questions, email volunteer@jewishla.org.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Become a Big
Ongoing | Across Los Angeles
With Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles
Jewish adults ages 21 and older can make a lasting difference by mentoring a Jewish young person ages 6–17. Attend an upcoming information session to learn more.
Join ROAM LA
Training dates TBA | Los Angeles
With Community Security Service
Build situational-awareness and event-security skills through free summer programs, then apply for professional-grade training to help protect Jewish community gatherings.
Volunteer with East Side Kitchen
Select Sundays | 12:30 PM | Silver Lake
With Jewish Silver Lake
Help East Side Kitchen prepare food for the community once or twice a month.
Community Service Day: L’Dough v’Dough | JFEDLA
Oct. 11 | Session 1 at 10:00am, Session 2 at 1:30pm | Fairfax
L’Dough V’Dough invites you to braid and bake challah, actively fulfilling the commandment of L’Dor V’Dor (from generation to generation). As your challah bakes, you will be joined by a survivor, child of survivors, or grandchild of survivors who will share their own or their family’s story of survival and perseverance.
Community Service Day: Pico-Robertson Neighborhood Cleanup
Oct. 11 | 1:00pm | Pico-Robertson
Join dozens of local synagogues, schools, businesses, neighborhood councils, youth programs, and interfaith partners, as we come together to beautify our community. This annual event was created by Boaz Hepner, in partnership with JFEDLA and the Office of Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky.
Animal Shelter Volunteering | Moishe House Venice
Oct. 17 | 12:00pm | Westwood
Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles works collaboratively with animal rescue groups, city shelters and passionate individuals who are all dedicated to saving the lives of cats and dogs in Los Angeles shelters. Come volunteer with Moishe House at the shelter to help with anything they might need. Space is limited; make a volunteer profile by October 10.
Beach Clean Up at West Coast Dash | Repair the World and Shemesh Farms
Oct. 25 | 10:00am | Playa Del Ray
Join Repair the World, Shemesh Farms, and JFedLA for a beach clean up right after Sharsheret's 5th Annual West Coast Dash, which raises money in support of their breast and ovarian cancer work.
Join Repair the World’s Service Corps | Repair the World
Rolling Applications | Schedule Varies | Los Angeles
Tackle urgent needs with local nonprofit organizations, engage in meaningful Jewish learning alongside a community of peers, and deepen your sense of purpose, belonging, and connection to the Jewish community—all while earning a volunteer stipend. Apply today