EXHIBIT 23.1

                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS





The Board of Directors
FirstFed Financial Corp.:





We consent to  incorporation  by reference in the  registration  statements (No.
333-33463;033-63207) on Form S-8 of FirstFed Financial Corp. of our report dated
January 28, 2004, relating to the consolidated statements of financial condition
of FirstFed Financial Corp. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and
the related  consolidated  statements of operations and comprehensive  earnings,
stockholders'  equity  and cash  flows for each of the  years in the  three-year
period ended  December 31, 2003,  which report  appears in the December 31, 2003
annual report on Form 10-K of FirstFed Financial Corp.


                                 KPMG LLP





Los Angeles, California
March 5, 2004