JPLA’s third Movement Seder at the Wende Museum of the Cold War included more than a hundred people – community leaders, Jews, and allies – joining together to reflect on the lessons of Passover’s liberation story.

Rabbi Heather Miller, Founding Rabbi of Keeping It Sacred (KITS), led our seder as we heard from a range of speakers sharing stories of solidarity, humanity, and freedom. We thank partners from CLUE, LA Voice, Manzanar Committee, Unite Here Local 11, and others. 

We had our cups filled literally and spiritually.

Fifty people gathered at SIJCC for a conversation on the complex terrain of antisemitism at this time in the United States and the importance of ensuring a pluralistic democracy for Jewish safety and thriving.

We heard a panel discussion featuring Rabbi Susan Goldberg of Nefesh, writer and activist Elad Nehorai, and Jonathan Jacoby of the Nexus Project.

This event was hosted in partnership with Nefesh, Bend the Arc, and SIJCC.

On Purim, we remember how the Jewish community in ancient Persia confronted an authoritarian threat to their survival. Each year, Jews retell the story through costume, satire, and celebration—transforming fear into collective strength and joy.

Over fifty people filled the many rooms of Fu’s Palace in the heart of Pico-Robetson as we transformed the historic restaurant into Club Vashti. The night kicked off with a shiur from Rabbi Zach Golden of Der Nister on “The Purim Spiel: The Music of Political Criticism,” followed by themed ice cream from Rav Brett Kopin’s Holy Schtick, Kosher snacks, and DJ Baby Eden spinning hits all night.

The evening was made possible by IKAR, B'Yachad LA: Jewish Young Adults Collaborative, Der Nister, SoCal Arbeter Ring, and Kulture Mercado.

Jewish Partnership for Los Angeles and the Forward hosted a virtual conversation about the impact of the first year of the second Trump Administration on Los Angeles: the social safety net, immigration enforcement, civil rights, antisemitism, and more.

The panel featured Pastor Eddie Anderson, Rudy Espinoza, Ami Fields-Meyer, and Marjorie Gilberg, and was moderated by Louis Keene of the Forward.

Each year, Hanukkah returns as a reminder of resilience and the enduring power of light in difficult times. More than 200 people gathered at Belle’s Deli and Bar for our first ever Hanukkah celebration.

After an extraordinarily challenging year for Los Angeles—and in the shadow of the recent tragedy in Bondi Beach—it felt especially important and meaningful to come together in joy and solidarity.

We were honored to be joined by leaders from synagogues and organizations, along with comedian Antonia Lassar and magician Josh of Diamonds.

The evening was made possible by JPLA supporters, with special thanks to the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, the Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center, Nefesh, Bend the Ark, IKAR, LA Voice, Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock, and Temple Israel of Hollywood.

More than thirty people gathered at the historic Workmen’s Circle in Pico-Robertson for an evening of Jewish text study.

Led by Liana Wertman of The Torah Studio, participants learned in havruta, exploring the plagues and the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart in Parshat Vayera and connecting these themes to the tragedies of our time. Together, we modeled how to bring ancient Jewish texts into conversation with the present. 

More than fifty people gathered under the sukkah at Leo Baeck Temple for Finding Shelter in the Wilderness: A Sukkot Gathering of Resilience and Renewal, co-sponsored by Leo Baeck Temple, LA Voice, and CLUE.

Our multigenerational, multifaith community came together from across Los Angeles to hear from two veteran social justice leaders, Cynthia Buiza and Kathy Finn. In an enormously difficult moment in our country, we found strength in sacred text study exploring the relationship between vulnerability, fragility, joy, and power—and in the wisdom, courage, and solidarity shared by our speakers and one another.

A multigenerational crowed gathered at Jewish Family Service for a roundtable conversation on the history, present, and future of Jewish activism in Los Angeles. Rabbi Laura Geller, Professor Caroline Luce, Dr. Max Baumgarten, and moderator Rob Eshman helped us explore the legacy we inherit—and the urgent work that lies ahead.

Together, we asked: What are the stories of Jews in Los Angeles organizing for dignity and change? And how might those stories guide us now? We traced a lineage of Jewish justice work in this city—grounded in memory, animated by hope—and reflected on what it asks of us today.

Passover tells the story of forced migration, exile, oppression, and ultimately, liberation. From this foundational narrative flows a central teaching in our tradition: to welcome and love the immigrant, the refugee, the asylum seeker.

At the Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center, we hosted over 180 people for an evening song and prayer, revisiting the Exodus story in light of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies. In a time of deep fear and division, the Seder became an island of light—offering hope, connection, and a renewed commitment to justice.

Led by Rabbi Susan Goldberg of Nefesh, we heard from faith and community leaders including Irv Hirshenbaum and Roman Pinal of UFW, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, Zahra Sakkejha of Standing Together, and Pedro Trujillo of CHIRLA. 

Sukkot invites us to dwell in temporary outdoor structures and reflect on the vulnerability of shelter. We marked the holiday under the sukkah at IKAR by turning our attention to the housing and homelessness crisis in Los Angeles County, where nearly 75,000 people are unhoused. Drawing on Jewish traditions that demand housing justice, we gathered for conversation and collective reflection.

Speakers included Rabbi Aryeh Cohen, Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Katy Yaroslavsky, Elda Mendez-Lemus of LA Family Housing, and Sam Prater of LA Room & Board.

In a time of profound grief, anger, and fracture, over 120 leaders from across Southern California gathered at the historic Pico Union Project. Through an ancient Jewish ritual meal, we built a space for connection, reflection, and the shared imagining of a more just and liberated world.

Led by Rabbi Jocee Hudson of LA Voice, we were joined by speakers including Reverend Eddie Anderson of McCarty Memorial Christian Church, Father Brendan Busse of Delores Mission Church, and Sumaya Abubaker of NewGround.