May happenings
From our partners & friends.
A month of transition, summer on the horizon, a moment of holding our breath. Lag Ba'Omer and Shavuot bring us together – a celebration of receiving the Torah and the first fruits of the season.
Sun., May 3 in Bel Air and Livestreamed
Celebrate leaders in the LGBTQ+ Jewish community with JQ – honoring Lindsey Horvath, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, and Nate Looney.
Mon., May 4 in Mid City
Join Hadar West and R. Deborah Sacks Mintz for an uplifting gathering of song and story celebrating Lag Ba'Omer, a mystical holiday marking the transition from mourning to joy.
Mon., May 4 in Silver Lake
Jewish Silver Lake's Lag Ba'Omer, with bonfires, music, drinks and bites, and a beautiful art studio setting.
Thurs., May 7 in West L.A.
Jews of Color Initiative invites all to a multiracial space for connection, powerful storytelling, and network weaving, celebrating the richness of Jewish diversity and the many stories that shape and strengthen our shared community.
Observant Community Happy Hour
Thurs., May 7 in Pico Robertson
Connect in observant and formerly observant queer community, with JQ.
Fri., May 8 in West Hollywood
JQ and NuRoots' queer Jews of Color/Sephardim/Mizrahim community celebrates one of the Jewish calendar's most joyful moments with smoky BBQ, candlelit tables, and a learning experience with JQommunity Ambassador Ziggy Valdez.
Sat., May 9 in Mid City
A spirited Saturday morning service with Base L.A. and the Six11 Project.
Sat., May 9 in Fairfax
A classic dance party with Ikar's TRIBE at Canter’s Deli.
Tues., May 12 in Pico Robertson
Ikar's monthly take on the beit midrash (house of study, in Hebrew) for young adults, diving into texts over dinner and talking about navigating life in our 20s and 30s.
Los Angeles Jewish Playwriting Contest
Wed., May 13 in Mid Wilshire
The second annual competition explores essential questions about 21st century Jewish identity, with The Braid, The Road, and The Last Acting Studio.
Wed., May 13 in Beverlywood
Women and nonbinary friends are invited to join At The Well and NuRoots for a Rosh Chodesh Sivan gathering at the threshold of revelation. After the steady inner work of Iyar, the month of Sivan invites us into a new kind of awareness – rooted in openness, connection, and the courage to receive.
Wed., May 13 in Westwood
With Sinai Temple's Atid and Trybal Gatherings.
Kintsugi: The Art of Broken Pieces
Thurs., May 14 in Silver Lake
Join Jewish Silver Lake's JSL Girls for an uplifting evening exploring how every part of ourselves can come together to create something truly beautiful.
Modern Fertility Through a Jewish Lens
Thurs., May 14 in West Los Angeles
Join JFEDLA for a conversation at the intersection of contemporary reproductive health and Jewish tradition.
Thurs., May 14 online
Women and nonbinary friends are invited to join At The Well and Ammud Jews of Color Torah Academy for a nourishing evening of presence and shared growth.
Sat., May 16 in Mid City
Trybal Gatherings celebrates the new moon with music, light, glow in the dark paint, games, and sparkling company under the stars.
"They Called Us Trujillo's Jews"
Mon., May 18 in Encino
Jewtina y Co.'s Latin-Jewish Film Festival returns with a special screening of an extraordinary true story of refuge in the Dominican Republic at a moment when few countries would open their doors.
Tues., May 19 in Pico Robertson
Sing your heart out with Ikar.
Wed., May 20 in Sherman Oaks
A legendary night of games and friendly competition with Trybal Gatherings and Next Dor.
Fri., May 22 in Mid City
Celebrate the second night of Shavuot and Shabbat with Base L.A.
Fri., May 29 in Mid City
Join Base L.A. in the backyard for soulful music and a hearty vegetarian dinner.
"La Pequeña Torá Tatuada" (The Tattooed Torah)
and "Mazel Tov"
Sun., May 31 in Studio City
Jewtina y Co.'s Latin-Jewish Film Festival closes with an unforgettable double feature at the iconic Radford Studios. First up, an animated short tracing a Torah scroll through Holocaust memory, narrated by a renowned Mexican artist and followed by a discussion with Rabbi Brett Kopin, who co-created the film. Then, a comedic drama about a Latin-Jewish family navigating grief, humor, and long-buried tensions, followed by a discussion with special guests.
MAY VOLUNTEERING
Sundays in Silver Lake
With Friends of Ballona Wetlands and JFEDLA
Sun., May 17 in Playa Del Ray
With Shemesh Farms, a working farm for adults with diverse abilities, and JFEDLA
Sun., May 17 in Malibu
LEADERSHIP & FELLOWSHIPS
Summer 2026 in Venice Beach
Starting with four beautiful, intentionally crafted dinners in Venice Beach, join NuRoots to explore how to gather, host, and bring Shabbat to life, building confidence and community along the way with a cohort of peers and inspiring facilitators. Every detail from food to flow will offer inspiration you can take home with you, culminating with your hosting debut in September.
Together, we'll dive into the art and heart of gathering – setting the table, shaping rituals, and creating a vibe that's meaningful, personal, and actually doable. Come find your seat at the table and learn how to create your own.
Muslim-Jewish Bridge Building Service Corps
May 12–July 21
A ten-session cohort experience with Repair the World bringing together Muslim and Jewish young adults 18–29 to explore Los Angeles as a living classroom for service, solidarity, and social change.
A volunteer security training program for young professionals to help protect Jewish communities.
Yahel Social Change Fellowship
Apply by July 2026
A nine-month immersive service and learning experience in Israel.
ON THE HORIZON
Fri., June 5 in Ojai
Adamah invites Jewish Communal professionals to a spiritual, meaningful, and relaxing Shabbat full of rest, movement, and renewed passion.
Sun., June 14
Enter a season of heightened awareness and reflection with At The Well and a community of women and nonbinary friends.
September 24–27 in Ojai
Spanning 450 acres in the rolling hills of Ojai Valley, Camp Ramah in California's landscaped grounds and magnificent views are a perfect setting for Trybal Gatherings' adult Jewish summer camp. Spend a blissful weekend connecting with new friends while disconnecting from the real world – the experience is yours to make what you want of it.