Nearly 80 temples and synagogues throughout Southern California will observe a spiritual day of communal introspection called “Yom Kippur Sheni” (a second Yom Kippur), Nov. 4, to mourn those who have fallen in the latest Middle East war and to reaffirm the profound bonds of solidarity which exist between the local community and Israel. Proposed as an extraordinary response of the human spirit to the bloodshed and devastation of the Yom Kippur War, the special memorial will be a day of fasting and prayer beginning at dawn and continuing until dusk. Prayers will be recited to the sounding of the shofar in every participating temple and synagogue between 10 a.m. and noon.
Every worshipper is being asked to bring an offering of money equal to or greater than the cost of the meals that he or she would have eaten. Those funds will be designated for such emergency purposes within Israel as each congregation shall determine. Children in congregations will participate in the worship service and then write letters in Hebrew to wounded Israeli soldiers during class which they will bring to the altar for mailing. All congregations are being called upon to cancel or rearrange previously planned communal functions in keeping with the spirit of the day. This monumental action was proposed by Rabbi Jacob Pressman at a specially convened plenary session of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California held several days ago and accepted unanimously by the more than 160 rabbis affiliated with the Board.
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