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September 15, 2005

War Hero’s Medal Wait Finally Ends

Tom Tugend September 15, 2005

Next Friday, as Tibor Rubin enters the White House, generals will stand at rigid attention. The president of the United States also will rise and then drape the Medal of Honor, the nation\’s highest award for gallantry in combat, around the neck of the 76-year-old Holocaust survivor and Korean War veteran.\n\nRubin and a legion of supporters have waited almost 55 years for this triumph of camaraderie and persistence over both bureaucratic lethargy and the prejudice endured by so many old-time Jewish GIs.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the High Holidays

Amy Klein September 15, 2005

Goodbye summer; hello High Holidays. While Rosh Hashanah falls later in the calendar than normal this year (Oct. 3-5), it\’s never too early to get ready for the Jewish New Year. Besides, preparations traditionally begin in the Hebrew month of Elul, which started Sept. 4.

If you didn\’t know that — and were too afraid, too preoccupied or too unknowing to ask — then we have just the thing for you: this handy guide to get your mind, body and soul in the spirit, so to speak, for the Days of Awe.

We\’ve included Frequently Asked Questions about the High Holidays; a how-to on finding a synagogue (no, it\’s not too late); a music and book list for inspiration and explanation; and a primer for those new to the faith.

We also have prepared our special Congregation Directory (pages 40-47), a comprehensive listing of Los Angeles congregations sorted by neighborhoods.

Many Factors Enter Into Temple Choice

Gaby Friedman September 15, 2005

When Mark Firestone was searching for a shul to join, he didn\’t look for a shul that had a nursery school or Hebrew school attached. Nor did he fret about the services he\’d be getting for his membership fee. Instead, he wanted a shul that was quiet.

\”I wanted it to be very quiet, so you can hear yourself daven, and hopefully Hashem can hear it,\” said Firestone, a Pico-Robertson life insurance salesman who belongs to Aish HaTorah. \”I have been to other shuls where you can barely hear the Torah reading, because people are talking so much. Aish has zero tolerance for people talking in shul.\”

For many Jews, the High Holidays is a time when they consider joining or renewing their synagogue memberships. However, what attracts them to synagogues, and what rabbis feel is important when choosing a synagogue, is not always the vast array of services that synagogues and temples provide.

Many members and rabbis feel that it is the intangibles — the atmosphere in the shul or the feeling of community that really attracts people, not the Hebrew school, youth program or adult education that is offered.

Between the Pages for Young, Young-at-Heart

Gaby Friedman September 15, 2005

Let\’s face it. Many people go to synagogue on the High Holidays because they have to. A feeling of poorly understood and unappreciated obligation can pervade this time of year. But it doesn\’t have to. You can put yourself or your children in the spirit and in the know with help from this by-no-means-comprehensive list of titles that elucidate the prayers and customs of the holiday.

Four Ways to Hear the Days of Awe

George Robinson September 15, 2005

The Days of Awe evoke many feelings, but my first thoughts invariably turn to the special music of these days. From the solemn, almost brooding melody of Kol Nidre to the lilting \”High Holiday\” tune that unifies the music of both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, there is much in which to delight.

Perhaps because this is the only synagogue music that many Jews hear all year, there are fewer alternative versions of the High Holiday liturgy than of, say, \”Lecha Dodi\” or \”Adon Olam.\” Still, these albums should help put you in a proper frame of mind.

The Lowdown on Ritual and Worship

Rabbi Jonathan Kraus September 15, 2005

\”Why are Rosh Hashanah and especially Yom Kippur so important to my Jewish partner? He almost never attends services the rest of the year, isn\’t observant and doesn\’t even know what he believes about God. Yet, at this time of year, he insists on attending services. What\’s the big deal with these holidays?\”

There are both \”official\” and \”unofficial\” answers to these questions. Perhaps not surprisingly, the unofficial explanations are often the more significant ones. The official answers (to which I\’ll return shortly) speak in terms like judgment, sin, repentance, life and death. The unofficial answers have something to do with the complicated puzzle of American Jewish identity.

Your Basic High Holiday FAQ

Jewish Journal September 15, 2005

Every year they roll around, and every year you\’re not quite sure what to do. Go ahead, ask us. After years of answering readers\’ questions, we\’ve compiled the most frequently asked ones below:

Nation and World Briefs

Jewish Journal September 15, 2005

Israel Exits Gaza Strip\n\nA blazing orange sun set over the Mediterranean as Israeli soldiers lowered the country\’s flag at the army\’s Gaza headquarters, signifying the end of an era in this sandy strip of land.\n\nSettlement Building to Continue\n\nAriel Sharon said Israel will continue to build in West Bank settlement blocs despite any U.S. objections.\nEgypt Takes Over Gaza Border\n\nEgyptian troops began deploying along the Gaza Strip\’s southern border. Around 200 border police fanned out along the Egyptian side of the frontier last Friday, with another 550 expected to be posted there this week.\n\nNew Orleans Synagogue OK\n\nA historic synagogue in New Orleans suffered internal damage due to Hurricane Katrina, but its exterior is unscathed.\n\nRabbi and Storm Shelter Nixed\n\nA synagogue in Louisiana is shutting down its shelter for victims of Hurricane Katrina and has put its rabbi on administrative leave, JTA has learned.\n\nRussian City Gets New JCC\n\nJews in St. Petersburg, Russia, marked the dedication of a new Jewish community center.\n\nGeneral in the Sights\n\nA retired Israeli army general narrowly avoided facing war-crimes charges in Britain.\n\nJewish Terrorist Suspect Dies\n\nAn alleged Jewish terrorist died after hanging himself in Israeli police custody.\n\nBrits May Change Holocaust Day\n\nBritain may reportedly change its Holocaust remembrance day to a broader event commemorating other genocides.\n\nArafat Death Mystery\n\nThe cause of Yasser Arafat\’s death is still unclear, despite the release of his hospital reports.\n\nGoogle to Open in Israel\n\nGoogle is planning to open up an office in Israel.\n\n\n

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