Where Jewish Stories and Culture Thrive – The Braid has a New Home

2025 promises to be a year of excitement and innovation for The Braid, America’s largest independent Jewish theater in Los Angeles. Founded in 2008, The Braid is dedicated to creating, curating, producing, and preserving stories grounded in Jewish culture and experience. Just in time for the holidays, The Braid announced its new venue on Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica which has been carefully adapted to all of The Braid’s artistic sensibilities, including an art gallery and a flexible 75-seat theater space, The Braid initially partnered with other groups after the pandemic to offer its patrons a variety of activities and – most importantly – the opportunity to tell their stories. After a hectic several months, the Braid is finally ready to open its very own Santa Monica doors to its loyal followers on December 12 with a reprisal run of Monica Piper’s hit one-woman show NOT THAT JEWISH, which ran for 16 months in Los Angeles before becoming an off-Broadway smash hit at New World Stages.

Ceremony Honoring the Abbey Freeman Artists-in-Residence – Photo by David Chiu

The Braid’s founder and artistic director Ronda Spinak (ro***@th*******.org), designer Marilee Tolwin (ma********@ya***.com), and project manager/architect Jodie Mendelson Kay were eager to share the Braid’s history and latest artistic adventure. To quote Spinak, “I love stories…they entertain, educate, inspire, and move us to action. They’re a portal to human connection. And right now, we need Jewish stories more than ever.”

The Braid Actors Avalon Greenberg Call, Lillian Mimi McKenzie, Roxana Rastegar, and Michael Meir Saltzman – Photo by David Chiu

For 17 years, The Braid has carefully innovated a new theatrical art form, turning true contemporary Jewish stories into captivating performances at the intersection of storytelling and theater. With this new physical venue located in Santa Monica, the pioneering company will house America’s largest independent Jewish theater and cultivate artists and audiences alike to explore identity and community in a safe, creative environment designed as a hub for all things Jewish. The Braid selects true stories in both play and story form. When it first began, The Braid was a series of salons in members’ homes, a quiet and intimate setting just waiting to invite chuckles, tears, and – above all – a sense of community. As time went on, the audience for this popular art form grew by leaps and bounds – so that it was finally necessary to perform in a larger space. Thus, L.A.’s Jewish theater was born. With first-of-its-kind shows dedicated to Jews of Color, Persian Jews, Latin Jews, Sephardic Jews, queer Jews, Israeli-Americans, Asian Jews, Soviet Jews, Southern Jews – you get the idea – The Braid’s shows incorporate everything from Jewish food to Jewish values, Jewish history to Jewish identity, Jewish goals to Jewish pride.

Attendees at a Mental Health and Resiliency Retreat for Young Professionals from The Braid – Photo by David Chiu

With the past year’s sharp rise in antisemitism, The Braid aims to shatter harmful stereotypes and foster unity among all people. With that in mind, the Perenchio Foundation gave The Braid a generous grant to refurbish the theater space. And that they did, transforming the 2,000 square feet with state-of-the-art theatrical lighting and sound, a rehearsal space, and even an intimate gallery. The Braid is planning a full program in 2025. They will present theatrical productions on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays (with matinee and evening performances). The Braid also will continue its long history of salons which will open at the main venue in Santa Monica and move around to different venues, in addition to offering live on Zoom and live streaming experiences.  

Daphna Shull and Haideh Herbert Aynehchi – Photo by David Chiu

In January 2025, The Braid launches its newest season with three original theater shows, all true stories drawn from diverse contemporary Jewish life. It will feature the show’s Traveler’s Prayer (Jewish travel stories), Two Faiths, One love (interfaith families), and For the Love of Animals (Jewish connections with animals). To top off their fascinating 2025 line-up will be thematically connected art exhibitions, culinary arts experiences, immersive storytelling experiences for young professionals, and classes for middle and high school students. The Braid is also planning to debut new one-person shows by an observant Uruguayan Jewish musician and a Black Jewish comedian exploring fatherhood. To learn more about The Braid and its many upcoming offerings, go online.