Jews in the Southland and elsewhere will flock to synagogues today to mark the first day of Rosh Hashana, the two-day holiday marking the Jewish New Year.
Services marking the year 5776 on the Hebrew calendar will feature the blowing of the shofar, a ram’s horn. Consistent with Judaism’s lunar calendar, ceremonies ushering in Rosh Hashana began Sunday night.
Rosh Hashana is a time when Jews gather with family members and members of their communities to reflect on the past year and the new one that is beginning. Celebrants also eat festive meals featuring apples dipped in honey, symbolic of the wishes for a sweet year.
Rosh Hashana begins a 10-day period of contemplation and repentance leading to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, Judaism’s most solemn and somber day.
During the High Holy Days, Jewish tradition holds that God records the fate of each person for the coming year in the Book of Life, which is closed at the end of Yom Kippur.
Although most congregations require membership and tickets for High Holy Days services, some synagogues and organizations have services and Rosh Hashana observances that are open to the public for no charge.
The Chai Center held a no-cost service from 6:45-8:45 p.m. Sunday at the Writers Guild Theater at 135 S. Doheny Drive in Beverly Hills. Donations are encouraged. The service was followed at 9 p.m. by what was billed as “The Largest Jewish New Year’s Eve Party” — from 9-11 p.m.
The Chai Center describes itself as “a very nonprofit organization” that conducts singles parties, Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, classes, lecturers and counseling “for Conservative, Reform, non-affiliates and any Jew that moves.”
A free service will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the Laugh Factory at 8001 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. The service will be conducted in the Reform Jewish tradition by Rabbi Bob Jacobs. No donations will be accepted, club owner Jamie Masada said. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
This is the 32nd consecutive year High Holy Days services will be held at the Laugh Factory.
“Two of the main reasons I love doing this is it gives so many actors, writers, comedians, and the entire Hollywood community who are away from their families a place to pray for the holidays,” Masada said.
“And, with the economic crisis this country has been experiencing now for over a decade, so many people cannot afford the high cost of tickets that most temples charge in order to attend services. At the Laugh Factory Temple, all are welcome to come and pray.”
