As Yom Kippur begins, Jews will fast and seek forgiveness at services across Southern California
By STEVEN HERBERT
Yom Kippur begins at sundown Friday with observant Jews fasting and seeking forgiveness for their sins, with free services conducted in Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
Meanwhile, with tensions high in the Middle East amid the Gaza war, the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that all appropriate security measures were being taken.
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is closely monitoring the Jewish High Holy Days for any potential threats,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement Friday.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of our diverse communities and encourage everyone to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity, especially during this holy time.”
According to Jewish tradition, Yom Kippur is the day Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the second set of commandment tablets — he had smashed the first — and announced God’s pardon to the people for worshipping a golden calf.
Observant Jews believe that God inscribes the names of the righteous in the Book of Life on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and seals the book on Yom Kippur, 10 days later. For that reason, the traditional greeting among Jews on Yom Kippur is Gemar Chatima Tova, which means “good final sealing” and conveys the wish: “May your name be sealed in the book of life.”
Yom Kippur services begin with the Kol Nidre, an ancient prayer that literally means “all vows” or “all promises.” The last service of the day ends with the sounding of a ram’s horn called a shofar.
Yom Kippur concludes at sundown Saturday, ending the 10-day period on the Jewish calendar known as Days of Teshuvah, which is variously translated as repentance, return and change, and the Days of Awe. Many Jews fast on Yom Kippur and spend much of the time in synagogues.
“On the holiest day for our people, we recite one of our holiest prayers, Yizkor, a ritual that happens only three other times throughout the entire year,” Rabbi Noah Farkas, President & CEO Jewish Federation Los Angeles, told City News Service.
“Yizkor is a public commemoration of those who have passed. This year, Yizkor will take on a deeper meaning because of the pain of the past year. Honoring the memory of those we have lost is an act of lovingkindness, one that has the power to reconnect us to our pure selves.”
While most congregations require membership and tickets for High Holy Days services, there are organizations that will conduct free services.
A Kol Nidre service will be conducted at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, a morning service at 11 a.m. Saturday and a Neilah service at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Lox, cream cheese and bagels will be provided following the Neilah service to break the fast.
People planning to attend are advised to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to guarantee a seat.
The services will be streamed on the club’s YouTube page, youtube.com/@TheLaughFactory.
“We do not accept contributions for these services, but if you wish to make a donation, please make a gift to your favorite charity,” Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada said.
This will be the 45th consecutive year the Laugh Factory has conducted free High Holy Days services.
The JEM Community Center in Beverly Hills will host a Yom Kippur Eve service at 6:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, a traditional service will be at 10 a.m., a Yizkor memorial service at approximately 1 p.m., an afternoon service at 4:45 p.m. and a concluding service at 5:30 p.m.
Registration can be made at jemcommunitycenter.com/events/yom-kippur-services. Additional information is available by calling 310-772-0000.