Jewish High Holy Days

September 10, 1999

Source: Los Angeles Times

On September 10, 1999, the Los Angeles Times published an article on how some rabbis in California are planning to deal with the recent acts of violence against Jews when they address their congregations for the High Holy Days. Many synagogues will tighten security in order to make people feel more comfortable. Rabbi Neal Weinberg of Temple Judea in Laguna Hills, CA had begun to write a sermon addressing ant-Semitism, but decided to change it: "People are coming to synagogue because they're in pain in their own lives...They need guidance on how to mend their relationships. That's what people are coming for." Rabbi Bernard King of Congregation Shir Ha Ma'alot in Irvine, CA stated: "I think we need to be on guard, to defend ourselves...But we also need to use this as a wake-up call to deepen ourselves Jewishly so that we don't give our enemies the control of whether we live healthy, happy, Jewish lives."