L.A. Jewish Symphony Concert, Open Temple Seder Crawl Celebrate Community

Wilshire Boulevard Temple and the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony host an evening of opera favorites, while Open Temple leads an interactive Passover seder through the streets of Venice.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:12pm

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The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS) held a concert of 'Opera Favorites with a Jewish Twist' at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, featuring renowned soloists and local talent. Additionally, Open Temple Rabbi Lori Shapiro led an interactive 'Seder Synesthesia' crawl through the Venice neighborhood, blending Passover traditions with the sights and sounds of the artsy community.

Why it matters

These events highlight the vibrant Jewish cultural scene in Los Angeles, bringing together diverse elements of the community through music, ritual, and creative programming. The symphony concert celebrated the Jewish influences in classical opera, while the seder crawl offered a unique, immersive Passover experience.

The details

The LAJS concert featured opera singer Tracy Cox, singer Elizabeth Kerstein from Temple Ahavat Shalom, Valley Outreach Synagogue Senior Rabbi Ron Li-Paz, WBT Senior Cantor Lisa Peicott, and Grammy-nominated tenor Brian Vu. The Open Temple seder crawl took participants through the Venice Canals and other neighborhood landmarks, with attendees wearing headphones to hear a Passover playlist and Shapiro's commentary connecting the sights and sounds to the Exodus story.

  • The LAJS concert was held on March 22, 2026.
  • The Open Temple seder crawl took place on the second night of Passover, April 2, 2026.

The players

Noreen Green

Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony.

Rabbi Susan Nanus

Wilshire Boulevard Temple rabbi who presented the L.A. Jewish Symphony with the Acquisition International Business Excellence Award for Leading Cultural Symphony Orchestra, 2026 – USA.

Rabbi Lori Shapiro

Open Temple rabbi who led the interactive 'Seder Synesthesia' crawl through the Venice neighborhood.

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What they’re saying

“This recognition reflects the symphony's artistic vision, community and educational outreach, and growth.”

— Event organizers

“a twist to seder for twisted times, with Venice as our playground.”

— Event organizers

The takeaway

These events showcase the diverse ways the Jewish community in Los Angeles is celebrating its cultural heritage and bringing people together through music, ritual, and community engagement. The symphony concert and seder crawl highlight the creativity and vibrancy of Jewish life in the city.