Free High Holy Day services 2013

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FREE HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES

Erev Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 4
Rosh Hashanah first and second day: Sept. 5-Sept. 6
Kol Nidre: Sept. 13
Yom Kippur: Sept. 14

SAN FERNANDO AND CONEJO VALLEYS

ADAT ARI EL

A Conservative congregation in Valley Village, Adat Ari El holds a free Young Family Service (for preschoolers to second-graders and their parents) as well as a free Tekiah Family Service (for elementary school age children and their parents). Rosh Hashanah Day: 8:45 a.m.-9:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (Young Family Service); 11 a.m.-noon (Tekiah Family Service); Yom Kippur: 8:45-9:30 a.m., 9:45-10:30 a.m. (Young Family Service); 11 a.m.-noon (Tekiah Family Service). Reservations required. Adat Ari El, 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village. (818) 766-9426. adatariel.org.

SHOMREI TORAH SYNAGOGUE

For families with third- to seventh-graders! These free services feature a full band, interactive stories, high-energy music and inclusive participation. Led by Rabbi Erez Sherman. Babysitting available for children 2 to 5. Rosh Hashanah day: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Reservations required. Pomelo Elementary School, 7633 March Ave., West Hills. (818) 346-0811. stsonline.org.

TEMPLE ADAT ELOHIM

For parents who want to attend services with their young children (preschoolers to second-graders; older siblings permitted), these free 30-minute Reform services are for you. Rosh Hashanah day: 3:30-4 p.m. Yom Kippur: 3-3:30 p.m. No reservations necessary. Temple Adat Elohim, 2420 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. (805) 497-7101. adatelohim.org.

TEMPLE AHAVAT SHALOM

Geared toward families with young children (8 and under), these free hour-long services offer opportunities for children and adults alike to join in both traditional and contemporary song and prayer while sharing in stories and special Torah readings reflecting the mood of the season. Erev Rosh Hashanah: 6-7 p.m.; Rosh Hashanah day: 8:30- 9:30 a.m.; Kol Nidre: 6-7 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 8:30- 9:30 a.m. No reservations necessary. Temple Ahavat Shalom, 18200 Rinaldi Place, Northridge. (818) 360-2258. tasnorthridge.org.

TEMPLE ALIYAH

College students and military personnel are welcome to attend these Conservative services for free. Please contact synagogue for a list of service times and tickets. Student or military ID required. (818) 346-3545. templealiyah.org.

TEMPLE JUDEA

The Reform community opens its doors to children and their families for Tot High Holy Day services on both Rosh Hashanah day and on Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah day: 4 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 3:30 p.m. No reservations necessary. Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. (818) 758-3800. templejudea.com.

TEMPLE KOL TIKVAH

The Reform community holds free family services on Rosh Hashanah day and on Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah day: 2:30 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 2:30 p.m, 5:15 p.m. Temple Kol Tikvah, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 348-0670. koltikvah.org.

VENTURA TOWNEHOUSE AND CHABAD

For seniors. There will be an array of exciting High Holy Day programs for Jewish seniors including a Rosh Hashanah luncheon on Sept 9 at 11:30 a.m. Rosh Hashanah Day shofar blowing ceremony led by Cantor Rabbi Mendy Lubin: 2:30- 3 p.m.; Yom Kippur service: 2:30 p.m. Free. Please RSVP. Services: Venture Townehouse, 4900 Telegraph Rd., Ventura; Luncheon: The Chabad Jewish Center, 5040 Telegraph Road., Ventura. (805) 658-7441. chabadventura.com.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, HOLLYWOOD AND EASTSIDE

BETH SHIRAH CONGREGATION

These free and uplifting services for the unaffiliated feature music, poetry, reflection, memorial candle lighting services and more. Please bring canned food to donate. Led by Cantor Estherleon Schwartz. Erev Rosh Hashanah: 7:30 p.m.; Rosh Hashanah day: 10:30 a.m.; Kol Nidre: 7:30 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 10:30 a.m. No reservations necessary (limited seating). Plummer Park—Great Hall, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. (323) 653-7420. estherleon.com.

CONGREGATION KOL AMI

The LGBT Reform congregation welcomes the general public on Rosh Hashanah second day only. 10 a.m. No reservations necessary. Congregation Kol Ami, 1200 N. La Brea Ave., West Hollywood. (323) 606-0996. kol-ami.org.

JEWISH LEARING EXCHANGE

The education center holds an abridged, beginners Rosh Hashanah service, open to everyone. Rosh Hashanah day. 5 p.m.- 6 p.m. Reservations required. Jewish Learning Exchange, 512 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 857-0923. jlela.com.

LAUGH FACTORY

The venerable Sunset Strip comedy club holds services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, on Kol Nidre and on Yom Kippur. Everyone welcome. Rosh Hashanah day: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Refreshments follow. Kol Nidre: 5:30-7 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. A break-the-fast follows. Reservations recommended. Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 656-1336. laughfactory.com.

NASHUVA

Rabbi Naomi Levy and the Nashuva Band’s spiritual community is back at its larger location, the historic Founder’s Church of Religious Science, for this year’s services, and everyone’s invited. A Rosh Hashanah second-day hike and service will be held in Temescal Park. Erev Rosh Hashanah: 6:45 p.m.; Rosh Hashanah day: 9:30 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah, second day: 9 a.m. (hike), 10 a.m. (service); Kol Nidre: 6:45 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 9:30 a.m. Reservations required (suggested donation $350 per person). Child care program available with reservation. Founder’s Church of Religious Science, 3281 W. Sixth St., Los Angeles. Temescal Park, 15601 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. nashuva.com.

TEMPLE ISRAEL OF HOLLYWOOD

The historic Reform congregation holds free family services (toddlers through second-graders) on Rosh Hashanah day and Yom Kippur, and opens its doors to the general public on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. No reservations necessary. Rosh Hashanah day: 8:30 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah, second day: 10 a.m.; Yom Kippur: 8:30 a.m. No reservations necessary. Temple Israel of Hollywood, 7300 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 876-8330. tioh.org.

WESTSIDE

BETH CHAYIM CHADASHIM

Rabbi Heather Miller leads the LGBT Reform congregation’s free family services on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in Temple Isaiah’s Social Hall. The services are for families with children ages 1-12. Rabbi Lisa Edwards & Cantor Juval Porathe lead a service on the second day of Rosh Hashanah at the BCC’S Pico Boulevard synagogue. Rosh Hashanah day: 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah, second day: 10 a.m.; Yom Kippur: 11 a.m- 12 p.m. Temple Isaiah, 10345 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Beth Chayim Chadashim, 6090 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 931-7023. bcc-la.org.

BETH SHIR SHALOM

The progressive Reform synagogue in Santa Monica holds free afternoon children’s services for families with children up to age 7. Led by Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels and Cantor Diane Rose. Rosh Hashanah day: 1:30 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 2 p.m. No reservations necessary. Santa Monica High School, Barnum Hall, 601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. (310) 453-3361. bethshirshalom.org.

CHAI CENTER

Services are in English, with meaning, melody and humor by Rabbi Shlomo Schwartz (a.k.a. Schwartzie). All ages welcome. Erev Rosh Hashanah: 7-9 p.m. New Year’s Eve singles party follows (9-11 p.m.); Rosh Hashanah day: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Kol Nidre: 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 3-5:30 p.m. (“Stump the Rabbi” program). No reservations necessary. HI Point Studios, 5907 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 391-7995. chaicenter.org.

IKAR

Pray for free with the progressive egalitarian community on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah second day: 8:30 a.m. No reservations necessary. I.D. Required. Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 634-1870. ikar-la.org.

LEO BAECK TEMPLE

These free and lively family services feature music and storytelling for children (ages 7 and under) and their parents and grandparents. Rosh Hashanah day: 2 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 2 p.m. Reservations required. Leo Baeck Temple, 1300 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 476-2861. leobaecktemple.org.

OHR HATORAH

The independent community’s free services feature eclectic music performances reflecting on themes of the human condition and commentary by Rabbi Mordecai Finley. Second day Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur only. Rosh Hashanah, second day: 10 a.m.; Yom Kippur: 2 p.m. No reservations necessary. Rosh Hashanah service: Ohr HaTorah, 11827 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles. Yom Kippur: Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. Eighth St., Los Angeles. (310) 915-5200. ohrhatorah.org.

SHOLEM COMMUNITY

The secular humanistic community holds a free family picnic and celebration with readings and songs on the day of Rosh Hashanah, and a discussion about ethics in our daily lives on Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah day: 11 a.m., Yom Kippur: 11 a.m. No reservations necessary. Rancho Park-Cheviot Hills picnic area No. 1 (Rosh Hashanah), picnic area No.2 (Yom Kippur), 2551 Motor Ave., Los Angeles. (818) 760-6625. sholem.org.

SHTIBL MINYAN

The traditional egalitarian, lay-led minyan welcomes the general public to services. Erev Rosh Hashanah: 6:30 p.m.; Rosh Hashanah: 8:30 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah, second day: 8:30 a.m.; Kol Nidre: 6:15 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 8 a.m. RSVPs requested (donations encouraged). Workmen’s Circle, 1525 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. shtibl.com.

SINAI TEMPLE

Rabbi David Wolpe and musician Craig Taubman lead “Rosh Hashanah Live,” a free musical celebration on Erev Rosh Hashanah. 8 p.m. No reservations necessary (space is limited, arrive early). Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-1518. sinaitemple.org.

TEMPLE EMANUEL

The Reform congregation offers free half-hour services for toddlers and preschoolers and their families, include lots of singing, dancing, stories and activities during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. A combination of Hebrew and English readings, a sermon from one of Emanuel’s rabbis, an eclectic mix of classic High Holy Days choral music balanced with traditional and contemporary melodies highlight the congregation’s free service on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah: 11-11:30 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah, second day: 9 a.m.-noon; Yom Kippur: 11-11:30 a.m. No reservations necessary. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Corwin Family Sanctuary, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills. (310) 274-6388. tebh.org.

UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE

Music- and story-filled, these free, one-hour family services are a kid-friendly introduction to the High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah day: 1:30 p.m.; Yom Kippur: 1:30 p.m. Reservations required. University Synagogue, 11960 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles. (310) 472-1255. unisyn.org.