Come Together: A Night of Nefesh Joy
May 7 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Details
Come Together: A Night of Nefesh Joy will be a celebration of music and community that reflects the heart of Nefesh through song, connection, and kavod (honor) to those who represent our deepest values.
Where: Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
When: Thursday, May 7
- 5:30pm: Honoree Reception (Invite Only)
- 6:30pm: Doors
- 7:00pm: Concert
Parking: Barnsdall is a public park, so there is free parking, but it’s very limited and available to anyone. We strongly recommend that you take a rideshare (Uber or Lyft) if at all possible. If you drive, you can park in the following locations:
- – The park’s lower lot just inside the entrance on Hollywood Blvd.
- – The public lot on Vermont between Hollywood and Barnsdall Ave.
- – On the street
- – There is (very little) parking up the hill on the Upper Road – we ask that unless you have accessibility needs, you prioritize the lower lot.
There will be a shuttle at the base of the hill in the lower lot to take folks up from the street level to the park.
What to Wear: Dress to feel fabulous! This is a night of celebration and we encourage you to wear something that illuminates your inner sparkle.
Our Honorees
Zackary Drucker — Nefesh Board member, acclaimed filmmaker, and powerful advocate for trans rights, whose creative and moral vision continues to expand what justice and belonging can look like.
David Meltzer — Psychiatrist and philanthropist, whose quiet generosity and commitment to healing strengthen the Nefesh community in profound ways.
Guillermo Torres — Immigration Program Director of Clergy and Laity United, a steadfast and inspiring advocate for immigrants in our city, and a long-time partner in Nefesh’s interfaith justice work, whose deep solidarity and leadership anchor our values in action.
Featured Artists
Featured performers include Duvid Swirsky, Sally Dworsky, the Nefesh Band, special guests Alexandra Grey and Charlie Hickey, and our emcee Cassandra James. We know that a big part of Nefesh is that profound musical encounter every time you come to services. This concert is going to be an expansion on that experience, and undeniably special.
Here’s what you can expect:
— an acoustic set featuring new songs from Duvid and Sally, as well as songs from their other projects.
— a guest appearance from singer-songwriter Charlie Hickey and Philip Krohnengold.
— a stunning, soulful set from Alexandra Gray, who you will know from Empire and Transparent.
— we’ll close the night with a set from The Nefesh Band, playing Nefesh classics as well as special songs from other musicians in the band, including Ari Herstand and Leah Zeger.
— all emceed by the fabulous Cassandra James (General Hospital), guiding us through the night with grace.
Host Committee and Sponsors
(in formation)
Anonymous
Yuval Bar-Zemer
Elissa Barrett* & Josh Gershick
Patricia & Jeffrey Baum
Nancy Berman & Alan Bloch
Loren Bloch & Ping Ho
Stephanie Davis & Will Slocombe
Josh & Meredyth Deighton
Michele DeRosa & Mark Strunin
The Feingold Eaton Family
Steve Fraider
Jaime Gesundheit, Connector
Pam & Evan Kaizer
Joshua Joy Kamensky & Heather Joy Rosenberg
Bernard & Susan Kamins
Piper Kamins
Alex Kargher & Danielle Sebring, Community Builder
Rebecca Lehrer & Neil Alger
Paula & Barry Litt
Annie & Bill Macomber
Paula Manzanedo* & Dan Schmit
Marie Mazzone & David Israeli
Julia Meltzer & David Thorne
Joseph Meltzer & Michele Asselin
The Miller Family
Sylvia* & Benjamin Paz
Tali Pressman* & Phillip Holmes
Elsa Ramo
Dan Raz & Christopher Lamm
Lisa & Len Rosenfeld
Tannaz Sassooni*
*Come Together Working Group
Special Guest Bios
Alexandra Grey known musically as Alëxandra is a versatile actress, singer, and songwriter known for her breakout role as Melody Barnes, a pop singer, on season six of the hit FOX music drama series Empire. She also released several singles for the show’s soundtrack under Hollywood Records. A talented performer, Grey has opened for artists like Jordin Sparks, Zara Larsson, and Kesha. She made history as the first transgender performer to headline the Encores production of The Life at New York City Center, a Broadway musical directed by Billy Porter, marking a groundbreaking moment in its 28-year history. Alongside her acting career in Transparent, The Resident, and How to Get Away with Murder, she continues to break boundaries in the entertainment industry. Her work has earned her the cover of Gaytimes, Out Magazine, and features in Variety, Deadline, and Forbes, celebrating her advocacy and accomplishments as a proud trans woman of color.
Cassandra James is an artist and healer, a survivor and pioneer. A third culture kid, Cassandra is proudly Asian-American and was raised in Canada. She returned to her birthplace of California in 2017 where she began her film and TV career. She is most known as the first trans woman to recur on daytime television, portraying Dr. Terry Randolph on the long-running soap “General Hospital”. She also recurred in the critically acclaimed HBO series “Sort Of”. She also co-wrote, executive produced and starred in her deeply personal short film “Claude” which screened at 8 festivals, including the Female Filmmakers Festival Berlin where “Claude” was awarded the Unique Female Voice Award. In 2023 the Human Rights Campaign gave Cassandra their Visibility Award for her contribution to representation in media. Cassandra James is a champion of Liberation. Her deepest desire is to reflect Light and Love into a world in pain, to be the change we are so desperately seeking. Cassandra believes in Mother Nature and the power of the Divine Feminine as the pathway to our collective, collaborative Liberation.