Synagogues Orange County

Sometime during Saturday's Passover service at Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot in Irvine, Cantor Arie Shikler will look over at Rabbi Bernard P. King, his friend and boss of 31 years, and remember. "It's an end of an era," Shikler said recently as tears welled in his eyes. "I'll treasure the moment. I'll have a touch of sadness for myself and a touch of happiness for Bernie."

Sometime during Saturday's Passover service at Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot in Irvine, Cantor Arie Shikler will look over at Rabbi Bernard P. King, his friend and boss of 31 years, and remember. "It's an end of an era," Shikler said recently as tears welled in his eyes. "I'll treasure the moment. I'll have a touch of sadness for myself and a touch of happiness for Bernie."

As if wandering in search of the Promised Land, they spent a decade worshiping in place after place--in a school room, an office, a home and, for the past four years, a garage. But this month, a small group of Orthodox Hasidic Jews finally opened this city's first chabad, a religious center they say is drawing worshipers from throughout South County.

Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot, a Reform Jewish synagogue in Irvine, will offer a number of special services for the High Holy Days, which begin at sundown Friday and usher in the Hebrew calendar year of 5761. To prepare for the Days of Awe during the Hebrew month of Elul, penitential prayers will be offered during the outdoor Selichot Service at 11 p.m. today. The 10-day period of self-examination begins with Rosh Hashanah service at 8 p.m. Friday.

For those with an intellectual craving, there's a spirited discussion on the meaning of God. For aching joints--a slow Tai Chi session off the synagogue community room. Come noon, a kosher spread awaits, followed by a film on Jewish humor and plenty of poker. So unfolds a typical Monday at the Ezra Center, a Jewish adult activities facility operating from the halls and classrooms of Anaheim's Temple Beth Emet.

Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot, a Reform Jewish synagogue in Irvine, will offer a number of special services for the High Holy Days, which begin at sundown Friday and usher in the Hebrew calendar year of 5761. To prepare for the Days of Awe during the Hebrew month of Elul, penitential prayers will be offered during the outdoor Selichot Service at 11 p.m. today. The 10-day period of self-examination begins with Rosh Hashanah service at 8 p.m. Friday.

For the first time in a decade, a new synagogue will be built in Orange County, an indicator of the rapid growth in the county's Jewish population. The $3.2-million synagogue will also be the first house of worship in the Tustin Ranch development, said Congregation B'Nai Israel's Rabbi Elie Spitz. Members of B'Nai Israel will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 4 p.m. Sunday to begin construction of the new Temple Sharon. The site is near the intersection of Bryan and Browning avenues.

A Jewish congregation's attempt to buy the failing Irvine Ice Arena and transform it into a synagogue has escalated into an emotional battle, with protesters picketing before Friday night services and accusations of anti-Semitism. "Religion and kids recreation--those are probably the most sensitive things you can think about," said Steve Coonan, who with his wife, Linda, operates the ice rink at Michelson Drive and Harvard Avenue near UC Irvine.

At a Jewish ritual bath in Long Beach, Michele Boldt of Irvine took off her clothes and removed her nail polish, jewelry and makeup. She walked down the seven pale steps and immersed herself--not only in the warm waters of the mikvah, but in centuries of Jewish tradition and her connection to God. Boldt, an Orthodox Jew, has spent years schlepping to Los Angeles County for her monthly ritual bath.

Before the beginning of Rosh Hashana services tonight, some members of Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot will welcome the Jewish New Year at home by dipping apples in honey. It is a simple but profound act, as Rabbi Bernard King explains it, an entreaty to God that the coming year be infused with sweetness.

A Jewish congregation's attempt to buy the failing Irvine Ice Arena and transform it into a synagogue has escalated into an emotional battle, with protesters picketing before Friday night services and accusations of anti-Semitism. "Religion and kids recreation--those are probably the most sensitive things you can think about," said Steve Coonan, who with his wife, Linda, operates the ice rink at Michelson Drive and Harvard Avenue near UC Irvine.

At a Jewish ritual bath in Long Beach, Michele Boldt of Irvine took off her clothes and removed her nail polish, jewelry and makeup. She walked down the seven pale steps and immersed herself--not only in the warm waters of the mikvah, but in centuries of Jewish tradition and her connection to God. Boldt, an Orthodox Jew, has spent years schlepping to Los Angeles County for her monthly ritual bath.

For those with an intellectual craving, there's a spirited discussion on the meaning of God. For aching joints--a slow Tai Chi session off the synagogue community room. Come noon, a kosher spread awaits, followed by a film on Jewish humor and plenty of poker. So unfolds a typical Monday at the Ezra Center, a Jewish adult activities facility operating from the halls and classrooms of Anaheim's Temple Beth Emet.

Before the beginning of Rosh Hashana services tonight, some members of Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot will welcome the Jewish New Year at home by dipping apples in honey. It is a simple but profound act, as Rabbi Bernard King explains it, an entreaty to God that the coming year be infused with sweetness.

As if wandering in search of the Promised Land, they spent a decade worshiping in place after place--in a school room, an office, a home and, for the past four years, a garage. But this month, a small group of Orthodox Hasidic Jews finally opened this city's first chabad, a religious center they say is drawing worshipers from throughout South County.

For the first time in a decade, a new synagogue will be built in Orange County, an indicator of the rapid growth in the county's Jewish population. The $3.2-million synagogue will also be the first house of worship in the Tustin Ranch development, said Congregation B'Nai Israel's Rabbi Elie Spitz. Members of B'Nai Israel will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 4 p.m. Sunday to begin construction of the new Temple Sharon. The site is near the intersection of Bryan and Browning avenues.

The Anti-Defamation League will honor longtime resident Sam Smotrich and the Rev. Robert Schuller at its annual brunch Sunday. Smotrich, a Laguna Hills resident, will be honored for his philanthropic efforts in creating libraries and several leading synagogues in Orange County, and in creating scholarships for Jewish teenagers. He will receive the ADL's Distinguished Service Award. Schuller, of the Crystal Cathedral, will receive the Distinguished Interfaith Award.

Your front-page article "Hebrew Lesson Gives Prayers New Meaning" (Dec. 14) was an accurate description of the renaissance of Hebrew studies and will serve as a well-deserved incentive for those who want to learn their Hebrew Prayers, regardless of the age of the learner. There is no doubt that the Hebrew language, the language of the Bible and the synagogue throughout the ages has been making an incredible comeback for the last decade or two. However, you neglected mentioning that there is also an incredible renaissance of "Hebrew as a modern language."