Around Town: Weekend marks Jewish new year

By Anita S. Brenner

Sept. 29, 2016 1:14 PM PT

It’s that time of year again. Rosh Hashanah, the holiday that celebrates the beginning of the new Jewish year of 5777, begins at sundown on the evening of Sunday, Oct. 2, and concludes after sundown, when the first three stars appear in the sky, on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

There are no synagogues in the city of La Cañada Flintridge, but there are a number of nearby options. Due to recent security concerns, reservations (and tickets) are required for services.

There are several denominations of Judaism. The Reform Movement celebrates the first day of Rosh Hashanah. Conservatives and Orthodox celebrate both days.

Temple Sinai of Glendale is a Reform congregation that was founded more than 80 years ago. They are located at 1212 N. Pacific Ave., just half a mile north of the 134 Freeway in Glendale. Temple Sinai offers services at 8 p.m. on Sunday, and again on Monday. For more information visit www.temple-sinai.net. Services will be led by Rabbi Rick Schecter and Cantor Steve Hummel.

The Pico Union Project, established in 2013 by the influential Jewish singer/composer Craig Taubman, as an interdenominational, transformative religious and community center, will conduct services this year. Pico Union Project has a focus on the arts, and the site is used by other faith and community groups. It is located in the site of the original Sinai Temple, at 1153 Valencia St., Los Angeles. The phone number is (818) 760-1077. See www.picounionproject.org/sanctuary. Craig has arranged a first day “multicultural” Rosh Hashanah service on Monday, Oct. 3, at 10 a.m. Expect to see a variety of religious denominations and experience lots of music.

For the traditional, our Chabad friends, Rabbi Chaim Hanoka, and his wonderful wife, Rebbetzin Chana, offer daily services, schnapps and good food. Chabad of Pasadena is located at 1090 E. Walnut St., Pasadena. There’s no charge for services, but a small fee and reservations required for the Community Dinner, which begins after the 6:20 p.m., evening service on Sunday, Oct. 2. The Oct. 3 and 4 daytime services begin at 10 a.m. The schedule is on their website at www.chabadpasadena.com.

Once again, Dennis Prager offers high holiday services which “are nondenominational and people of every background are welcome.” Call call (818) 790-7006. Erev Rosh Hashanah begins on Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. There are daytime services on Oct. 4 and 5. The location is disclosed to registrants. This will be the seventh year that Prager, a La Cañada resident, has led services. Expect great discussions and intellectual stimulation.

This just in! Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center has an awesome new rabbi! His name is Rabbi Noam Raucher and he’s a graduate of the Ziegler School of Religious Studies. I met his wife, Tamar, at a retreat several years ago. She reminds me of our daughter — in other words, she is wonderful! PJTC describes itself as “an open minded, inclusive, and intergenerational Jewish community working together to share and promote Jewish tradition and values in our lives, in our homes, in our community and in the world.” It warmly welcomes “interfaith, LGBTQ and nontraditional families.” More information at www.pjtc.net or (626) 798-1161. PJTC is located at 1434 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena.

Last, but not least, a disclaimer: I am a member of the following synagogue. Adat Ari El is affiliated with the Conservative Movement. AAE has been nicknamed “the singing shul” and “the village in Valley Village.” For the High Holidays, there’s a wide range of services, from traditional to musical, from young adult to teen and tots. We have three rabbis, a cantor, lay cantors, and the sanctuary service has a choir. Always inspirational, AAE is about 15 minutes from the 91011, at 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. The phone number is (818) 766-9426 and the website is www.adatariel.org.

A sweet year to everyone in La Cañada Flintridge!

ANITA SUSAN BRENNER is a longtime La Cañada Flintridge resident and an attorney with Law Offices of Torres and Brenner in Pasadena. Contact her at anitasusan.brenner@yahoo.com. Follow her on Instagram @realanitabrenner, Facebook and on Twitter @anitabrenner.