Pasadena Temples Mark Holiest Day of Jewish Calendar

Whether at a synagogue, at home with family or online, members of Pasadena’s Jewish community are preparing to mark the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, on Sunday.

The holiday is one reserved for reflection, repentance and forgiveness, according to the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center.

“Yom Kippur is the Jewish religion’s Day of Atonement — reparation for a wrong or injury. Jews traditionally ask for forgiveness for their wrongdoings over the past year, believing that on this day, God places a seal on the Book of Life, in which he has inscribed our names for the year to come,” the temple said in a written statement. “This one day of observation falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), beginning at sundown and ending at sundown the following day.”

Much like Rosh Hashanah, the PJTC is planning a series of online-only events to observe the holiday, while the Chabad of Pasadena is hosting both online and socially-distanced, outdoor in-person services by reservation only due to the pandemic.

The PJTC will host virtual services including an Erev Yom Kippur Service, a Torah service, Ne’ilah prayers and more.

A complete listing of services, as well as a link to register for them, is available on the PJTC’s High Holy Days website at www.pjtc.net/highholydays2020#.

The Chabad of Pasadena will be hosting services including Kol Nidre, a Yom Kippur morning service, a  Yizkor memorial service and Ne’ilah prayers, the temple said in a written statement.

A listing of events and more information, including a guide for observing Yom Kippur at home, is available on the Chabad of Pasadena’s website at https://www.chabadpasadena.com. Reservations for in-person services can also be made online.

“Pandemic or not, Jews will reconnect this holiday season,” according to the website.