Jewish Congregations, Groups Prepare for New Year’s Services

The Jewish New Year begins at sundown Friday, as Jews celebrate Rosh Hashana and the 10-day sacred season known as the High Holy Days.

Several organizations supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles will sponsor services:

* The SOVA Kosher Food Pantry of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los Angeles will sponsor a food drive between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Last year, about 100,000 pounds of food was collected. (310) 828-0469.

* The Hirsch Family Kosher Kitchen, which serves 320,000 kosher meals to senior citizens each year, will serve a special Rosh Hashana meal Friday at 11:30 a.m. A holiday meal before the start of the Yom Kippur fast is set for Oct. 6 at 11:30 a.m. (323) 937-5843.

* Hillel will hold free Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services for students at six locations: Cal State Northridge, Claremont College, Pierce Valley College, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and USC. (310) 208-6639.

* Pacific Coast Region of B’Nai B’rith Youth Organization will hold High Holy Days services geared to teenagers at the Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus in West Hills. (818) 464-3366.

* The Bureau of Jewish Education will host holiday programs for Russian-speaking Jews at the Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd. in Los Angeles. Tickets are $5, but free tickets are available for newly arrived immigrants. (323) 761-8618.

* Gateways Beit T’Shuvah, a residential therapeutic community, will host holiday services. No one will be turned away for lack of a donation. (310) 204-5200.

Other High Holy Day events include:

* Chabad of the Conejo will sponsor a weekend retreat for those who wish to celebrate the holidays with all traditions. The retreat, at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel, will feature services, social events and children’s activities. (818) 991-0991.

* Workman’s Circle/Arbeter Ring will feature poetry, song and secular Yiddish traditions to ring in the Jewish New Year on Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. at the Workman’s Circle Center, 1525 S. Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles. A $5 donation is requested. (310) 552-2007.

* The Movable Minyan will hold its High Holy Day services at the Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd. in Los Angeles, on Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. Children’s services are at 11 a.m. Minyan services are conducted by lay members experienced in leading prayers, singing and Torah discussions. (310) 285-3317.

* The congregations of Temple Ner Tamid and Adat Chaverim will prepare for the holidays at a Selichot service, dessert potluck and concert tonight at 10 at Temple Beth Shalom, 14564 E. Hawes St. in Whittier. A Tashlich walk will be held Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. Everyone is asked to bring their own picnic. (562) 861-9276.

* Kehillat Israel will sponsor a Selichot service tonight at 10 p.m., beginning in candle-lit silence and ending with the blowing of the shofar. After that, the group will gather at the foot of Temescal Canyon to walk to the ocean and symbolically cast their sins upon the waters. (310) 459-2328.

* B’nai David-Judea Congregation will offer Selichot services tonight at 10, featuring special prayers for forgiveness and study of biblical texts on repentance. The congregation is at 8906 W. Pico Blvd. (310) 276-9269 or Bnai David@aol.com.

* Congregation Kol Ami will hold Rosh Hashana services at Temple Akiba, 5249 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City. Child care is provided, along with an educational program for children 6 and older. (310) 248-6320.

* The Skirball Cultural Center will hold a “Greet the New Year” holiday art workshop for children 4 and older on Sunday at 2 p.m. Marsha Plafkin of Art as Responsa will help children create handmade Rosh Hashana greeting cards. The center is at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles. Admission is $5 per child. (310) 440-4636.

* Yeshiva of Los Angeles will hold a repentance seminar in preparation for Yom Kippur on Sunday. (310) 772-2487.

EVENTS

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Convocation 2000, sponsored by the United Methodist Church’s Commission on Religion and Race, will be held Saturday at the Orangethorpe United Methodist Church, 2351 W. Orangethorpe Ave. in Fullerton. The conference will focus on racial justice. (310) 838-6100.

* The Church of Hope Lutheran, 6720 Melrose Ave. in Hollywood, will hold a Blessing of the Animals service Sunday at 10:30 a.m. After the service refreshments for owners and animals will be provided, including dog bones, cat treats and birdseed. (323) 938-9135.

* The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Verdugo Hills, 4451 Dunsmore Ave. in La Crescenta, will offer a children’s play Sunday at 10:30 a.m. “Mother Nature in the Garden of Eden” will suggest the roles that Sky God and Earth Goddess might have played in the famous Bible story. (818) 247-4332.

* Hieromonk Damascene of St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood will speak on “Genesis, Creation and Early Man” Friday at 8 p.m. at the Archangel Michael Orthodox Bookstore, 12550 W. Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles. (310) 390-8065.

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