As Yom Kippur begins, Jews will fast and seek forgiveness at services across Southern California – Daily News

By STEVEN HERBERT

Yom Kippur begins at sunset on Friday as observant Jews fast and seek forgiveness for their sins, with free services being held in Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

According to Jewish tradition, Yom Kippur is the day on which Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the second commandment tablet – he had broken the first – and announced forgiveness to God's people for worshiping a golden calf.

Devout Jews believe that God writes the names of the righteous in the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and seals the book on Yom Kippur, ten days later. For this reason, the traditional greeting among Jews on Yom Kippur is Gemar Chatima Tova, which means “good final sealing” and expresses 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 ends at sunset on Saturday, ending the 10-day period in the Jewish calendar known as the “Days of Teshuvah,” which is variously translated as repentance, return and change, and “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 pray one of our most sacred prayers, Yizkor, a ritual that occurs only three times throughout the year,” Rabbi Noah Farkas, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, told City News Service.

“Yizkor is a public remembrance of the deceased. 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 loving kindness that has the power to reconnect us with our pure selves.”

While most congregations require membership and tickets for High Holiday services, there are organizations that offer free services.

A Kol Nidre service will be held at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood on Friday at 5:30 p.m., a morning service on Saturday at 11 a.m. and a Neilah service on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

After the Neilah service to break the fast, salmon, cream cheese and bagels are served.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to guarantee a seat.

Services will be streamed on the club's YouTube page: youtube.com/@TheLaughFactory.

“We do not accept donations for these services, but if you would like to make a donation, please make a donation to your favorite charity,” said Jamie Masada, owner of Laugh Factory.

This is the 45th consecutive year that the Laugh Factory has conducted free High Holiday services.

The JEM Community Center in Beverly Hills will host a Yom Kippur service on Friday at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday there will be a traditional service at 10 a.m., a Yizkor memorial service at approximately 1 p.m., an afternoon service at 4:45 p.m. and a closing service at 5:30 p.m

Registration can be done at jemcommunitycenter.com/events/yom-kippur-services. For more information, call 310-772-0000.