Kayleen Sidisky

Each May, we proudly celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which honors the vibrancy, resilience, and enduring contributions of Jewish Americans through community-building citywide programming that spotlights the cultural, civic, and artistic legacy our national community has built.  Here are ways you can celebrate JAHM with us:  COMMUNITY EVENTS   Playing it Forward — Championing Jewish Values…

In recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) Jewish Federation Los Angeles is pleased to share a new set of classroom-ready resources for schools across our region highlighting prominent Jewish Americans, whose contributions have shaped U.S. history, culture, and civic life. Each poster features a QR code linking to educator resources and lesson plans designed…

The Jewish California Governor 2026 Candidate Forum is a statewide event where leading candidates for governor will share their views on the issues that matter most to Jewish Californians. Candidates will speak directly about antisemitism prevention, Jewish community safety, K-12 education and Ethnic Studies, the California-Israel relationship, and critical social safety net programs grounded in…

As leadership changes, our commitment to putting your Jewish values in action remains the same. I’m proud to announce that Daniel Gryczman began a three-year term as JFEDLA’s Chair of the Board on January 1st. Daniel succeeds Orna Wolens, who leaves a legacy of transformational growth and capable crisis leadership. A lifelong Angeleno and Jewish…

It’s been one year since the wildfires upended life across Los Angeles. In the face of historic loss, you took decisive action, alongside Jews from across the country, revealing the resilience of our entire Jewish community. Because of your generosity, JFEDLA did what we were built to do in moments of crisis: put your values…

As Jewish communities come together for Hanukkah events around the world, we’re here to help our Los Angeles community stay informed and prepared. Here you’ll find news coverage, resources, and updates to help you enjoy Hanukkah safely. See the latest information below. The Jewish community must take action to ensure its own security – opinion…

The recent events at Bondi Beach have touched all of us. We mourn the senseless loss of life that has left our entire Jewish community shaken. At JFEDLA, our focus — especially during a season meant for light and joy — is on caring for Jewish Los Angeles and looking out for one another. Jewish…

Read this article from CNN, quoting our President & CEO Rabbi Noah Farkas, that captures the grief and fear so many Jews across the country are feeling this Hanukkah in light of the tragedy in Australia.

Dear Community, We share your outrage at the protest and disruption of an event that took place on Wednesday at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles. It is another painful reminder of the antisemitism our community continues to experience. The event, led by the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles,…

Protecting our community is foundational to Jews feeling safe enough to express our First Amendment rights, like everybody else in America. After yet another incident, this time at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, our community is left reeling. Once again, when Jews gather in our sacred places, we are infiltrated by haters. Once again, when we want to develop solidarity with our neighbors, protesters arrive to drive our communities apart. Once…

Today begins a new era of hope for the Jewish people. We are elated that the hostages are finally home. For the past two years, their absence has been a visceral reminder of our community’s collective agony. Fittingly, Simchat Torah starts tomorrow. On Simchat Torah, as we celebrate the completion and renewal of the reading…

The holiday of Sukkot, a time of celebration with family and friends, is known as, in the words of our rabbis, Zman Simchateinu “A Time of Our Happiness.” For the last two years, however, that happiness felt hollow. How could we celebrate fully while members of our global Jewish family suffered in the aftermath of…

Welcoming is a core Jewish value. It’s also a matter of language.  That was one of the key takeaways Rabbi Paul Kipnes of Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas had after hearing a presentation on follow-up research to our groundbreaking 2021 Study of Jewish LA (SJLA), a recently-released report titled “Parenting when Jewish and Something Else.”…

A commitment to inclusion is a common refrain in contemporary Jewish life. Our values call us to move beyond words. To be genuinely inclusive to LGBTQIA+ community members, Jewish Los Angeles must take action.  JFEDLA recently released a follow-up report to our landmark Study of Jewish LA: Community Among Jewish LGBTQIA+ Young Adults. This research…

Teenagers guided by our shared Jewish values can make the extraordinary happen. With support from JFEDLA’s Julie Beren Platt Teen Innovation Grant (TIG), Santa Monica High School students Sadie Gryczman and Rana Kurt created Brighter Together, a children’s book that shows how the values of friendship and compassion can bring people of different backgrounds closer…

When our children walk into school each morning — whether it’s an early childhood center or a college lecture hall — they share the same blend of curiosity, challenge, and even nervousness. What will learning be like? Maybe they’ll make new friends? How will school make them better people?  After all, schools and education are…

Jewish Federation Los Angeles (JFEDLA) recently received a historic $20 million endowment gift from the estate of Geri Brawerman, the largest single gift in JFEDLA history, this transformative investment will expand the Geri & Richard Brawerman Leadership Institute, a cornerstone Federation initiative supporting exemplary Jewish college students with financial need as they prepare to lead…