SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – The San Diego Jewish Arts Festival (JFest) announces its 2026 season, marking a major milestone as the festival presents its first year as an independent arts organization. (It previously was produced in association with the Lyceum Theatre.)
Building on years of celebrated programming, JFest enters this new chapter with an ambitious lineup of performances, concerts, theatrical premieres, and community gatherings that showcase the vibrancy and diversity of Jewish culture.
Taking place across multiple venues throughout San Diego, from La Jolla to Carlsbad and Encinitas, May through July, audiences can expect an eclectic mix of comedy, theater, music, storytelling, and immersive cultural experiences designed to spark conversation, celebrate creativity, and connect communities.
This year’s festival features an exceptional roster of internationally recognized performers alongside acclaimed local and emerging artists. Headlining the season is the return of Emmy and Tony Award–winning comedian Alex Edelman, whose critically acclaimed storytelling comedy has captivated audiences worldwide. The festival also welcomes back Grammy-nominated singer Perla Batalla, appearing with Broadway star Patrick Page in a powerful evening celebrating the music and legacy of Leonard Cohen. Other featured artists include internationally renowned vocalist Ohad Moskowitz; acclaimed chazzan and baritone Colin Schachat; regional theater creator Ali Viterbi; celebrated vocalists Mara Kaye, Elizabeth Schwartz, and Whitney Shay; and composer/musician Yale Strom.
The festival will also present the 17th annual Women of Valor, JFest’s signature theatrical celebration honoring extraordinary Jewish women in the San Diego community through music, storytelling, and performance.
Becca Myers, JFest Producing Director, commented: “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. As we celebrate our first year of independence, I feel a deep sense of hope and possibility. 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.”-
Todd Salovey, founding artistic director of JFEST, stated: “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. 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.”
JFest’s inaugural independent season reflects the organization’s mission to present bold, inspiring work that explores Jewish stories, ideas, and cultural expression while welcoming audiences of all backgrounds.
Tickets range from $15 to $100 and can be purchased online at www.sdjfest.org.
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Here is the full festival lineup:
THE 33RD LIPINSKY FAMILY SAN DIEGO JEWISH ARTS FESTIVAL JFEST SCHEDULE
An Evening with Alex Edelman
Tuesday, May 12 @ 7:30pm | Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD
One of the most critically hailed comedians of his generation takes the stage for a night of comedy and conversation. Emmy and Tony Award-winning Alex Edelman is best known for solo shows blurring the line between his stand-up comedy roots and narrative-driven storytelling. His Tony Award-winning Just for Us played more than 500 performances worldwide before premiering as an HBO original comedy special, earning him a place on the Time 100 list and an Emmy award. Alex plays Adam Cooper on the comedy series The Paper and has appeared on TV with Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel.
VIP $100 (includes pre-show Reception with Alex Edelman), $80, $55, Student $15.
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Regenerate!
Sunday, May 17 @ 3:30pm | Coastal Roots Farm, Encinitas
The third, and newly expanded, Regenerate! Eco-Performance Fest —co-produced with Coastal Roots Farm. Immersive outdoor Jewish-climate art performances on a beautiful farm. Food, drink, music, community, and four original performances by Jewish Climate Artists for CA Incubator.
Experience the premieres of a new play At Rise, with live music by Dan Schifrin unpacking Jewish mysticism; an earthy, vibrant dance piece about Eden and exile, Back to the Garden, by choreographer Livya Howard-Yashar, a communal, ecological ritual happening in our food forest created by Michelle Shofet, and a fully improvised set of songs for and from the earth by mountain bard Heavy Meadow.
- Performance Stream 1: 3:30–5:00 pm
- Intermission Party with food and music: 5:00–5:45 pm
- Performance Stream 2: 6:00–7:30 pm
$58 (Both Streams + Dinner), $36 (1 Stream + Dinner).
About the Jewish Climate Artists for CA Incubator:
Regenerate! marks the culmination of the Farm’s nine-month pilot program, the Jewish Climate Artists for California Incubator, with support from the Covenant Foundation. This initiative has nurtured performing artists from across our great state as they create work at the intersection of Judaism and the ecological crisis. The Incubator is the first fellowship of its kind promoting bold new art at the intersection of Jewish and climate wisdom. https://coastalrootsfarm.org/jewish-climate-artists-for-california-incubator-program/
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Teatro Punto y Coma presents: Samuel, His Widow and the Whispering Flowers
Sunday, May 24 @ 1:00pm & 3:30pm | The Lawrence Family JCC
Created and directed by David Chait.
A captivating theatrical spectacle weaving together music, dance, and dramatic storytelling into a world filled with magic, wisdom, suspense, and vibrant color. Through movement, sound, and imagination, the performance invites audiences into a poetic journey where mystery and emotion unfold on stage, bringing to life a story that is both enchanting and thought-provoking. Set in a shtetl, the story follows Sorele, whose husband mysteriously disappears. The entire community comes together to help her, sharing her hope and determination. Neighbors and friends unite in compassion, believing that together they can sustain hope and uncover the truth.
But after an unsuccessful search, the shtetl slowly loses hope, everyone except Sorele. Guided by love, faith, and stubborn hope, she keeps alive the whisper of possibility. In this theatrical world, memory, faith, and resilience guide characters through a journey of love, perseverance, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Recommended for audiences ages 10 and over. $36.
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The 17th Women of Valor
Wednesday, June 3 @ 7:30pm | The Lawrence Family JCC
Sunday, June 14 @ 2:00pm | The Hive at Leichtag Common
Written by Ali Viterbi with Sarah Price Keating, Rebecca Myers, and Todd Salovey. Directed by Ali Viterbi and Todd Salovey
JFest’s signature performance honors 6 incredible San Diego Jewish women. An inspiring and uplifting celebration with stories, songs, images, and inspiration.
This year’s honorees are Ruth Broudy, Rhona Fink, Kira Finkenberg, Sharyn Goodson, Karen Parry, and Debby Stauber
Ruth Broudy is principal for San Diego’s Jewish Girls High School, Torah High School, former Manager of Docents Program at SD Museum of Art, and a longtime educator and administrator in San Diego schools.
Rhona Fink is a family medicine physician and an active member and volunteer in the San Diego Jewish community.
Kira Finkenberg is the owner and founder of The Kira Co, a concert marketing and event company. She is also active in the San Diego Jewish community, serving on the board of six different organizations.
Sharyn Goodson is the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation San Diego. She has held previous positions at the Leichtag Foundation, Impact Cubed, and Jewish Family Service of San Diego.
Karen Parry is the Executive Director of Hillel San Diego – a multi-campus Hillel that supports Jewish life at UCSD, SDSU, Cal State San Marcos, and USD. Several of the students she serves will also be honored as part of this year’s Woman of Valor.
Debby Stauber is a resident of Seacrest Village, a former Rebbetzin and longtime Judaics teacher at Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, and a Holocaust survivor.
$54, $36, $25
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Ohad Moskowitz HEADLINER
Monday, June 8 @ 7:30 pm | Congregation Beth Israel
Singer Ohad live in concert! World-renowned singer Ohad Moskowitz, raised in Belgium and now residing in Israel, has performed on the world’s most prestigious stages. A heartfelt and electrifying singer with an extraordinary range, he is known internationally as “Ohad.” With a repertoire of original, Chassidic, and traditional Jewish music, he has released seven albums, and his performances have garnered millions of views.
The program also features acclaimed vocalist Colin Schachat, celebrated for his wide-ranging repertoire and performances with the most iconic orchestras and singers.
$100 (including post-show reception), $54, $36.
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From Joburg to La Jolla: The South African Jewish Community. Featuring Colin Schachat
Wednesday, June 10 @ 6:00pm | Congregation Adat Yeshurun
Southern California has the largest population of South African Jews in America. This program features a full-course catered kosher meal of South African Jewish specialties and a special performance by South African-born Chazzan and Baritone Singer, Colin Schachat.
Colin Schachat’s unique voice and rare artistic versatility have enabled him to perform and record a broad popular repertoire, including singing in Yiddish, Italian, and Spanish, Cantorial music, Opera, and musical theatre. Colin performs with the world’s leading orchestras, cantors, and iconic singers. He has performed at Buckingham Palace with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, alongside legendary tenor Jose Carreras, and in Italy and Israel with Andrea Bocelli. He has also performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of South Africa, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, and many more.
$80 Performance & gourmet dinner.
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Patrick Page and Perla Batalla: Looking for Leonard HEADLINER
Thursday, June 11 @ 7:30 pm | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Join Broadway star Patrick Page and Grammy-nominated singer Perla Batalla for Looking for Leonard, an evening dedicated to the music and life of Leonard Cohen. This isn’t just a tribute; it is a personal look at the songwriter’s legacy by two artists with world-class credentials and deep personal connections to the work.
Perla Batalla offers a rare, direct link to the legend. Once a backing singer in Cohen’s touring band, she has since built a global career with seven solo albums. Her previous show, In the House of Cohen, played to sold-out crowds worldwide, drawing on her time in Cohen’s inner circle. She returns to this repertoire with the authority of someone who shared the stage with the man himself.
Patrick Page is a titan of the American stage. A Grammy winner and Tony nominee, he is best known for his standout role as Hades in the hit musical Hadestown. With credits spanning 15 Broadway productions and numerous film roles, Page brings a theatrical gravity to the performance. His distinctive bass voice has frequently been compared to Cohen’s own, making him a natural interpreter of these songs.
Backed by a dynamic live band, Page and Batalla share personal stories and perform definitive versions of classics like “Hallelujah,” “Bird on a Wire,” “I’m Your Man,” and “So Long, Marianne.” Don’t miss this premiere event before it embarks on a global tour.
$80, $60, $40.
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Nusach San Diego with Jeremy Gimbel
Thursday, June 18 @ 7:30 pm | Congregation Beth Israel
Can San Diego have its own unique Jewish music? Nusach San Diego is a musical evening rooted in Rabbi/Cantor Jeremy Gimbel’s original research on the unique sound of prayer in San Diego. This evening traces the historical progression of Jewish sacred music from ancient melodies to modern chazzanut, and it will span the breadth of our local musical landscape—from Kumeyaay Bird Songs to rhythmic Baja Californian beats, to laid-back surfer grooves. This program will explore the music and sounds of this community, culminating in the performance of original compositions inspired by the evening’s themes.
Nusach San Diego offers old tunes and new prayers, all rooted in home.
$36
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And the Angels Swing: From Berlin to Bacharach
Monday, June 22 @ 7:30 | First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego
And the Angels Swing: From Berlin to Bacharach features three of Southern California’s most celebrated vocalists, Mara Kaye, Elizabeth Schwartz, and Whitney Shay, all of whom tour internationally, in a program celebrating the most influential Jewish composers of jazz and swing in American history. Expect sultry ballads, rousing anthems, and spectacular voices lifted in harmony.
The band: Irving Flores (keyboards), Joe McNalley (contrabass), Duncan Moore (percussion), and Tripp Sprague (saxes and flute).
Also Featuring: Yale Strom and Hot Pstromi
Violinist and ethnographer Yale Strom, joined by Fred Benedetti (guitar), Tripp Sprague (tenor saxophone), Luke Little (contrabass), and Elizabeth Schwartz (vocals), will present a concert of klezmer music including original compositions by Strom as well as melodies he documented during extensive ethnographic fieldwork in Eastern Europe. Several selections originate from Roma musicians who historically performed alongside Jewish instrumentalists before and after World War II, reflecting the region’s shared musical exchanges.
Strom’s ensemble, Hot Pstromi, has maintained an active performance history for over four decades. The group’s repertoire encompasses transcribed field recordings, traditional klezmer repertoire, classic Yiddish song, and new compositions.
$36.
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Budapest, Budapest by Ali Viterbi and Toby Singer
Monday, July 13 & 14 @ 7:30 | New Village Arts
In 1940’s Budapest, two important Jewish historical figures rose to prominence. One was Hannah Senesh, a poet and member of the Jewish Parachutists of Mandate Palestine. At 23, she was captured by the Germans and killed. The second was Rudolf Kastner, a political fixer who helped 1,684 Jews escape during the Holocaust. Yet of the two, Senesh is the only to enter the Jewish people’s pantheon of heroes. While she became known as a modern Joan of Arc, Kastner was convicted of having “sold his soul to the devil.” While Senesh was buried among the heroes at Mount Herzl, Kastner was assassinated by his fellow countrymen. History remembers Kastner as a villain, while it lauds Senesh as one of its greatest heroes. But really: when we look back into the dark, what story will we tell?
So asks the opening lyric of the new musical Budapest Budapest, which tells the unknown story of Rudolf Kastner and asks: What is the cost of redemption? And what does it really mean to be a hero? With music & lyrics by Toby Singer and book & lyrics by Ali Viterbi, Budapest Budapest dives deep into our collective societal ideas about heroes, sacrifice, and legacy. In a time of increasing antisemitism and political turmoil, Budapest Budapest tells an important story about guilt, accountability, and the impossible choices of war.
$54, $25
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JFEST 2026 SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
| Date | Time | Event | Venue | |
| Tue, May 12 | 7:30 PM | ★ An Evening with Alex Edelman | Mandeville Auditorium, UC San Diego | |
| Sun, May 17 | 3:30 PM | Regenerate! | Coastal Roots Farm | |
| Sun, May 24 | 1:00 PM & 3:30 PM | Samuel, His Widow, and the Whispering Flowers | Lawrence Family JCC | |
| Wed, Jun 3 | 7:30 PM | ★ The 17th Women of Valor | Lawrence Family JCC | |
| Mon, Jun 8 | 7:30 PM | ★ Ohad Moskowitz in Concert | Congregation Beth Israel | |
| Wed, Jun 10 | 6:00 PM | From Joburg to La Jolla: The South African Jewish Community | Congregation Adat Yeshurun | |
| Thu, Jun 11 | 7:30 PM | ★ Patrick Page & Perla Batalla: Looking for Leonard | Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center | |
| Sun, Jun 14 | 2:00 PM | ★ The 17th Women of Valor | The Hive at Leichtag Common | |
| Thu, Jun 18 | 7:30 PM | Nusach San Diego with Jeremy Gimbel | Congregation Beth Israel | |
| Mon, Jun 22 | 7:30 PM | And the Angels Swing: From Berlin to Bacharach | First UU Church of San Diego | |
| Mon, Jul 13 | 7:30 PM | Budapest, Budapest by Ali Viterbi and Toby Singer | New Village Arts | |
| Tue, Jul 14 | 7:30 PM | Budapest, Budapest by Ali Viterbi and Toby Singer | New Village Arts | |
★ Headliner Events
JFEST 2026 FESTIVAL VENUES
| Venue | Address | Phone Number |
| Mandeville Theatre, UC San Diego | 9390 Mandeville Ln, La Jolla, CA 92093 | (858) 534-2230 |
| Coastal Roots Farm | 441 Saxony Rd, Encinitas, CA 92024 | (760) 479-6505 |
| Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center | 4126 Executive Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037 | (858) 457-3030 |
| The Hive at Leichtag Commons | 441 Saxony Rd, Encinitas, CA 92024 | (760) 929-1090 |
| Congregation Beth Israel | 9001 Towne Centre Dr, San Diego, CA 92122 | (858) 535-1111 |
| Congregation Adat Yeshurun | 8625 La Jolla Scenic Dr N, La Jolla, CA 92037 | (858) 535-1196 |
| The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center | 7600 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037 | (858) 459-3728 |
| First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego | 298 W Arbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92103 | (619) 298-9978 |
| New Village Arts Theatre | 2787 State St, Carlsbad, CA 92008 | (760) 433-3245 |
Tickets range from $15 to $100 and can be purchased online at www.sdjfest.org.
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Preceding provided by Jfest