Congregation Marks Day of Atonement

The holy day Yom Kippur began Friday night for the Jewish community in Manhattan Beach, and around the world, concluding a 10-day period that begins with the Jewish new year Rosh Hashanah.

This holiday, which dates back six millennia, is observed by fasting for 25 hours while submitting to intensive prayer, reflecting on atonement and repentance — Los Angeles Dodgers' Sandy Koufax would not even pitch the first game of the 1965 World Series because it fell on the holy day.

In the Torah, Yom Kippur is noted in the Book of Leviticus as "the Day of Atonement."

"We break the word down to 'At One Ment, to be at your true self,'" said Rabbi Toba August at Temple Shalom of the South Bay before services Friday night. "It is a time to ask forgiveness of our deep sins."

Congregation Tikvat Jacob of Manhattan Beach is holding Yom Kippur services at American Martyrs Catholic Community Church this weekend. After today's 5:15 p.m. service, CTJ will gather for mincha, n'eelah, shofar and to break their fast.

As observers pray to God for forgiveness, the "Book of Life" is sealed and each individual's fate has already been decided for the following year, according to tradition. 

For example, the Hebrew greeting, "Gemar chatimah tovah," translates as "May you be inscribed for good in the Book of Life." Yom Kippur ends at nightfall on Saturday.