Now in its 33rd year, JFest will feature Jewish-themed concerts, theater, an eco-fest and Women of Valor honors
The Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival Founder Todd Salovey, left, with comedian/actor Alex Edelman, who will open the 2026 festival with a solo show on May 12. returns for its 33rd year in May, with a lineup of 10 events taking place through mid-July in San Diego, La Jolla, Encinitas and Carlsbad.
This year marks a milestone for JFest’s producers because it’s the first time they’ve produced the festival as an independent arts organization. Becca Myers, JFest’s producing director, said celebrating the organization’s first year of independence brings her “a deep sense of home and possibility.” “JFest has always felt like an artistic home for me. A place where the joy of being Jewish is celebrated unapologetically through Jewish creativity, stories, and music. JFest creates programming that people can attend with their friends, siblings, parents, grandparents, children and with people who have never been exposed to Jewish culture before,” she said. “I imagine a JFest that grows to be even more woven into the fabric of San Diego’s Jewish community — a place where everyone feels just as at home as I do.” This year’s lineup of events includes concerts, live theater and comedy, as well an eco-fest performance festival. While some new artists, including Broadway star Patrick Page, are joining the festival this year, many fest favorites are returning, including comedian Alex Edelman, singer Perla Batalla and klezmer musicians Yale Strom and Hot Pstromi. This year’s fest also includes the 17th-annual Women of Valor theatrical event. Fesitval founder and artistic director Todd Salovey said he’s proud to have achieved independence for the festival, which operated for its first 29 years under the auspices of San Diego Repertory Theatre, which closed in 2022. “It’s such a thrill after 33 years to be our own independent nonprofit. We look forward to offering more programs and creating an even larger ‘sukkah’ for audiences to join us in,” he said, in a statemetn. “JFest entertains and inspires. We ask big questions. We invite audiences across communities. And we celebrate art, artists, and the power of art to uplift.”The award-winning writer, actor and comedian returns to the festival for the second year with an all-new show. Now a cast member on the TV series “The Paper,” Edelman received a 2025 Tony Award for his solo show “Just for Us,” where he talked about his experience as a Jewish man attending a white supremacist meeting.The Regenerate! Eco-Performance Fest takes place May 17 at Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas as part of The Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival. . The nine-month incubator program supports the development of new artistic works at the intersection of Judaism and the ecological crisis. Program includes: “At Rise,” a play about Jewish mysticism with live music by Dan Schifrin; “Back to the Garden,” a dance piece about Eden and exile choreographed by Livya Howard- Yashar; an ecological ritual “happening” crated by Michelle Shofet; and an improvised set of songs for and about earth by mountain bard Heavy Meadow. Tickets include dinner and drinks.Teatro Punto y Coma will present “Samuel, His Widow and the Whispering Flowers” at the 33rd annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival. David Chait wrote and directs this new play that blends music, dance and storytelling in the show about a woman named Sorele, whose husband mysteriously disappears from their shtetl. The community comes together to help her search for her husband. Although their efforts are fruitless, Sorele never gives up hope. Guided by love, faith, and stubborn hope, she keeps alive the whisper of possibility. For ages 10 and older.Ali Viterbi, with Sarah Price Keating, Rebecca Myers and Todd Salovey, will write and present the 17th celebration of San Diego Jewish women. Short plays with stories, songs and images are written about each honoree and they’re performed by local actors. The program will be presented in two different locations in June. Here are this year’s honorees: Ruth Broudy, principal of Torah High School for Jewish Girls and longtime educator; Rhona Fink, a family medical physician and volunteer; Kira Finkenberg, founder of Kira Co. concert marketing and event company; Sharyn Goodson, senior vice president of philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation San Diego; Karen Parry, executive director of Hillel San Diego, who will be honored alongside several of her students; and Holocaust survivor Debby Stauber, a former Rebbetzin and longtime Judaics teacher at Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista. 7:30 p.m. June 3 at Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. 2 p.m. June 14 at The Hive at Leichtag Common, 441 Saxony Road, Encinitas. $25-$54. Ohad Moskowitz will perform in concert June 8 as part of the 33rd annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival. Raised in Belgium and now residing in Israel, Ohad is a world-renowned leader in the contemporary Jewish religious music scene. His repertorie includes original, Chassidic and traditional Jewish music. The concert will also feature baritone Colin Schachat. 7:30 p.m. June 8. Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego. $36-$54 Southern California has the largest population of South African Jews in America. This event will feature a full-course catered kosher meal of South African Jewish specialties and a concert by South African-born baritone Colin Schachat.Patrick Page, foreground, in the Broadway musical “Hadestown.” He’ll perform with singer Perla Batalla on June 11 in La Jolla as part of the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival. Broadway star Patrick Page and Grammy-nominated singer Perla Batalla will present an evening dedicated to the life and music of Leonard Cohen, the late Canadian Jewish singer-songwriter. Batalla was a backup singer in Cohen’s band and toured with the show “In the House of Cohen.” Bass singer Page, who plays the devious Richard Clay on HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” is a Grammy-winner and Tony nominee who played Hades in the Broadway musical “Hadestown.” Page and Batalla will share stories and perform some of Cohen’s most-beloved songs, including “Hallelujah,” “Bird on a Wire” and “I’m Your Man.”Rabbi/cantor Jeremy Gimbel will present a program exploring the unique Jewish music of San Diego. He’ll survey the historical progression of Jewish sacred music to the sounds of the local landscape, including Kumeyaay bird songs, Baja California beats and surfer grooves.“And the Angels Swing: From Berlin to Bacharach”: Southern California vocalists Mara Kaye, Elizabeth Schwartz and Whitney Shay will perform music by the most influential Jewish composers of jazz and swing in American history. They’ll be accompanied by the jazz quartet of Irving Flors, Joe McNalley, Duncan Moore and Tripp Sprague. Also featured on the program be festival veterans Yale Strom and Hot Pstromi, whi will perform klezmer music by Strom as well as melodies he uncovered in his ethnographic fieldwork in Eastern Europe. 7:30 p.m. June 22. First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, 298 West Arbor Dr, San Diego. $36.This new musical by playwright/lyricist Ali Viterbi and composer/lyricist Toby Singer tells the true stories of two Hungarian Jews in Budapest during World War II. Resistance operative Hannah Senesh was a poet and member of the Jewish Parachutists of Mandate Palestine, who was captured by the Germans at age 23 and executed. Rudolph Kastner was a political fixer who helped 1,684 Jews escape during the Holocaust. While Senesh was hailed as a hero, Kastner was reviled and assassinated by his own countrymen for negotiating with the Nazis. The musical explores guilt, accountability and the impossible choices of war.San Diego loses population as immigration nosedives. What are the consequences? Its schools are falling apart, and voters won’t pass a bond. Could a little-used tactic help this district?Crews battle brush fire in Santee that prompted evacuation of shoppersWeak Pacific storm expected to largely bypass San Diego County this week
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Weak Pacific storm expected to largely bypass San Diego County this weekTemperatures will cool off a bit this week across San Diego County but they’ll still be higher than normal.
Read more »
Thousands in San Diego to lose CalFresh benefits under new lawThousands in San Diego will lose CalFresh benefits as federal rules change, impacting families, businesses and food banks.
Read more »
Thousands demonstrated in San Diego as part of nationwide No Kings protestsFirst, peaceful protests were held across San Diego County in solidarity with nationwide protests. Then, the median rent in San Diego has gone down, we explore why. Also, state leaders respond to federal cuts to public broadcasting. And, we’ll tell you the impact that Helix Water District's new high-speed charging depot could have.
Read more »
Ways to save money at live sports events in San DiegoRooting for the Padres, catching a hometown soccer game or even cheering on the local hockey team can get expensive, fast. Here are a few ways tips to go to the games and save money.
Read more »
The Streamline: Security lines still long for travelers at San Diego International AirportJermaine Ong is a Digital Content Producer at ABC 10News/KGTV in San Diego.
Read more »
3 biggest transfer portal needs for San Diego State this offseasonThe NCAA transfer portal opens on April 7 and San Diego State Aztecs basketball coach Brian Dutcher has already had two weeks to sharpen his focus on what his t
Read more »