December happenings
GATHERINGS
& EVENTS
EREV YALDA:
REIMAGINING THE
ANCIENT PERSIAN
WINTER SOLSTICE
CELEBRATION
THURSDAY 12.5
MELROSE HILL
Join Reboot, Rachel Sumekh, and Tannaz Sassooni for a party blending Iranian and Jewish traditions with music, festive ritual, and delicious food.
KABBALAT SHABBAT
& DINNER
FRIDAY 12.6
MID CITY
Join Base L.A. in their backyard for a monthly musical Shabbat with Tori Greene, followed by a tasty vegetarian dinner.
KABBALAT SHABBAT
& DINNER
FRIDAY 12.6
MID CITY
Join Ikar for a sweet, spirited service and kosher vegetarian dinner.
GOT GUYS?
FRIDAY 12.6
ECHO PARK
Gather with JQ and other queer Jewish men for a delicious Shabbat dinner with drinks and new friends.
SHABBAT IN THE
PARK
FRIDAY 12.6 & 12.20
ECHO PARK
Join Nefesh early or later in the month for an outdoor musical service.
TASTES OF
TRADITION
SATURDAY 12.7
SANTA MONICA
Five short films, five recipes, and five diverse Jewish families — join The Braid, Jewtina, and Lunar Collective for a film and food celebration at The Braid's new home.
HANUKKAH
CANDLE MAKING
SUNDAY 12.8
MID CITY
Join Base L.A. for tea, donuts, and creative candle making as the holidays get closer.
TAKE A BREATH AND
EAT A TACO
TUESDAY 12.10
WEST L.A.
Join Atid and Sinai Temple's mental health center to decompress with deep breathing and sound baths led by Amy Schmidt, followed by delicious Mexican food from Lenny's Casita.
YACHAD
SHABBAT DINNER
FRIDAY 12.13
EAST L.A.
Temple Israel of Hollywood’s Yachad group invites you to a cozy, tasty vegetarian dinner to be in community and meet someone new.
GOOD SHABBOS
HANUKKAH PARTY
FRIDAY 12.13
ECHO PARK
Kick off the holiday season with Good Shabbos in an evening of wine tasting dinner, latkes, and live music.
HANUKKAH
NIGHT MARKET
SATURDAY 12.14
EAST L.A.
Join Mazal Market to support incredible businesses while you schmooze and dance the night away.
INFINITE LIGHT
DEC 18–JAN 1
Discover the festival
OPENING NIGHT
In a season of holiday parties, this one’s for you
WEDNESDAY 12.18
SANTA MONICA
The legendary NuRoots Hanukkah party. Capture the season in a radiant night of community and possibility. New faces. Old friends. The gift of connection. Holiday drinks and twists and treats, all culminating in brilliant music and dancing, indoors and outdoors, under the stars. Get on this guest list and dress to dazzle — festive chic best, the brighter the better, looking good, feeling good, making good.
SHABBANUKKAH
EXTRAVAGANZA
FRIDAY 12.20
FRIDAY 12.27
Sign up to superhost on OneTable and get double resources and gift cards to cover your costs and elevate your night. Go for the good wine. Get flowers. Welcome more guests. We’ve got you.
NIGHTLY
CANDLE LIGHTING
WEDNESDAY 12.25
TO WEDNESDAY 1.1
Glowtime. Drop in for virtual Hanukkah candle lighting all week long with NuRoots and special guest hosts across L.A. — brighter and brighter, every night a new adventure.
GELTY PLEASURES
THURSDAY 12.19
WEST HOLLYWOOD
Now in its eleventh year, JQ's annual celebration is the biggest LGBTQ+ Hanukkah party on the west coast. Dance the night away with drinks, sufganiyot, and performances from drag and burlesque royalty.
CANDLES FOR A
CAUSE
THURSDAY 12.19
BEVERLY HILLS
Join Jewish Graduate Organization and Gift of Life for a night of celebration and giving back — with a latke bar, festive cocktails, and an optional quick swab to see if we can find potential life saving bone marrow matches for fellow community.
A FESTIVAL OF
FLAVORS
THURSDAY 12.19
VENICE
Join Honeymoon Israel to celebrate the holidays with an exclusive invitation to L.A. Foodshop, a private supper club from an Israeli Korean duo creating expansive community through food.
EREV XMAS EVE
FRIDAY 12.20
WEST HOLLYWOOD
Well, almost. Trybal Gatherings hosts its annual holiday celebration the Friday night prior at Genghis Cohen, with Chinese food, festive sweaters, and more.
GLOBAL HANUKKAH
BAZAAR
SUNDAY 12.22
SILVER LAKE
Dive into a world market of treasures, stories, and handmade crafts with JDC Entwine and SIJCC, exploring Jewish traditions from Rwanda, India, Greece, Brazil, and the former Soviet Union.
HANUKKAH
& HORA
MONDAY 12.23
TARZANA
Ring in the holiday season with Moishe House's Israeli MoPod and a night of Israeli music and dance.
ILUMINA
THURSDAY 12.26
HIGHLAND PARK
Join Jewtina y Co. to bring Hanukkah to life through the vibrant stories and traditions of Latin Jews — blending foods, rituals, and diverse cultural expressions to explore the holiday’s themes of resilience, freedom, reflection, and joy.
LANTERNS
& LATKES
FRIDAY 12.27
SANTA MONICA
Lunar Collective's fourth Asian Jewish Hanukkah is all about light outshining darkness. Gather to light candles and enjoy live jazz while decorating a paper lantern with elements that speak to your unique identity. Placing a light inside each lantern, we'll bask in the beautiful glow of community, creating the perfect moment to close out the year.
HANUKKAH
SHABBAT DINNERS
FRIDAY 12.27
EAST SIDE
Join Nefesh for a night of community dinners across the East Side.
EIGHT CRAZY
TALENTS
SATURDAY 12.28
CULVER CITY
Join Beit T'Shuvah for an outrageous and uplifting open mic night and an evening of festive sober fun.
HANUKKAH
CASINO NIGHT
SATURDAY 12.28
WESTWOOD
Join JLIC and Yavneh for a festive night of luck — with blackjack, craps, poker and roulette tables to keep your dreidel spinning.
STORYTELLING
GAME NIGHT
SUNDAY 12.29
SANTA MONICA
Gather with The Braid at their newly opened performance and arts space for a brilliant night of games and candlelight storytelling about the risks we take in life.
MORE THIS
MONTH
HANUKKAH
HOT ONES
SATURDAY 12.21
WEST L.A.
Join Temple Isaiah Young Professionals to celebrate the festival of lights with serious spice and lots of laughs.
CHRISTMAS
VOLUNTEERING
WEDNESDAY 12.25
HOLLYWOOD
Each year, Temple Israel of Hollywood hosts Christmas dinner with Hollywood United Methodist Church for neighbors who need a place to enjoy a holiday meal. Join a group of incredible volunteers to bring the event to life and make the holiday special for all.
COMING SOON
OPENING THE HEART
RETREAT
1.5–1.12
SIMI VALLEY
Join Or HaLev for a sanctuary of connection with ourselves, our traditions, and each other.
SLOAN FELLOWSHIP
BEGINS FEBRUARY
Join the Jewish Graduate Organization for a two month exploration of Jewish ethics and leadership with top executives and attorneys.
HONEYMOON ISRAEL
6.19–6.29
APPLY THROUGH 12.9
Deepen your relationship with your partner on an expansive ten day trip and come home with a whole new circle of friends.
RESOURCES
& SUPPORT
If you or someone you know needs support, NuRoots and JFedLA are here to help. The Ezra Network and our community resource guide offer personal advising and every kind of resource for mental health and more
Our community call line, at 855-JFED-HLP, is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and on Fridays from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. And our longtime friends at Jewish Family Service L.A. are also here. Whether you need someone to listen or resources, reach out to them at 877-275-4537 or services@jfsla.org
