In anticipation of the Jewish New Year...

In anticipation of the Jewish New Year 5755, which begins at sundown Monday, the Washington-based Israel Policy Forum has mailed a booklet, “For the Sake of Peace: A Resource Guide for the High Holidays,” to rabbis in the United States.

Compiled by Los Angeles rabbinical student Mona Alfi, the 48-page guide is accompanied by a letter from Israeli Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin urging the 4,000 Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist members of the rabbinate to use it in preparing sermons that strongly support his government’s peace initiative.

A similar letter from 11 rabbis who participated in the booklet’s preparation--including Harvey Fields of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles and Arnold Rachlis of University Synagogue in Irvine--was included. None of the letter’s signers represents the Orthodox movement, which accounts for about 7% of the Jewish population in the United States.

Rabbinical sermons reach their largest audiences during the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of self-reflection, reconciliation and renewal, during which many of Los Angeles’ nearly 500,000 Jews will go to synagogues to hear the ritual blasts of the ram’s horn, said Alfi, a second-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles.

She said she did not know how many rabbis would be using the guide, but said that most rabbis customarily devote at least one sermon to Israel during this period. The topic will be even more prominent in rabbinate minds this year, Alfi said, because the first anniversary of the historic handshake between Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and their signing of the Declaration of Principles of Peace falls during the holiday period, which culminates after sundown on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) on Sept. 15.

Jonathan Jacoby, executive vice president of the policy institute and a Los Angeles native, said: “The guide is based on prayer, Torah and other religious sources. We’ve even included the original Hebrew texts, so that rabbis who have a problem with the translations can use their own.”

In addition to excerpts from the Bible, quotes from sermons and articles promoting peace and addresses of Jewish organizations, the guide includes opinion polls conducted among Jews in Israel and the United States showing that about three-fourths of their populations support the peace process.

Rachlis, who was placing the finishing touches on his own sermons, noted that “although the vast majority of American Jews and Israelis support Rabin and the peace process, many American Jewish organizations have remained silent and overly cautious, creating a vacuum for anti-peace factions to fill.”

“The purpose of preparing the booklet,” he said, “was to help rabbis inspire their congregations to not only bask in the pleasure of peace but also to work proactively through Jewish organizations, synagogues and charities to make sure that the fledgling peace is sustained and built upon.”

He noted that the past year brought not only a peace agreement but also “a number of terrorist incidents that can sometimes dishearten even those most optimistic about an eventual peace.” But, he hastened to add, “Prime Minister Rabin and Foreign Minister (Shimon) Peres have both said that . . . we dare not let the terrorists win by giving up the peace process in the face of these tragedies.”

Alfi, who was a policy analyst for the America Israel Public Affairs Committee before deciding on a career change, said: “Many of us who work for peace are acting not from humanist beliefs, but directly from our religious tradition, which enjoins us to seek peace. Jews may disagree on the particulars,” she added, “but love for Israel is universal throughout our community.”

CELEBRATION

St. Cross by the Sea Episcopal Church, Hermosa Beach’s oldest church, will celebrate its 85th year of service to the South Bay on Sunday, Sept. 11. The Rt. Rev. Chester Talton, Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, will celebrate Holy Eucharist at the 9 a.m. service. A free lunch and exhibits follow. The Dixieland band South Bay Stompers will perform. 1818 Monterey Blvd., Hermosa Beach. (310) 376-8989.

DATES

* “The Ingenuity of the Cuban People” is the subject of a talk by Toni Flood at 10:30 a.m. Sunday for Emerson Unitarian Church. The service will be at the Canoga Park Senior Citizens Center, 7326 Jordan Ave. A social hour follows. (818) 887-6101.

* The ethical dilemma of a medical director will be discussed by Daniel Fink, director of Health Source Management Group (formerly Cedars-Sinai Physicians Assn.) at a free Clergy Network luncheon at Sharon Care Center in Los Angeles from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. For reservations, (213) 655-2023.

HONORED

The Rev. Malcolm Boyd, the Episcopal priest who has written 23 books, including the best-selling “Are You Running With Me, Jesus?” will be roasted at a fund-raising dinner Friday to benefit the Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese’s AIDS ministry and Project New Hope. Actress Jean Stapleton is the honorary chairwoman of the event. For ticket information, (213) 250-5588.

HIGH HOLY DAYS

* Free high holy day services for young children and their parents will be offered by Temple Israel of Hollywood at 9 a.m. Tuesday, the first day of Rosh Hashanah, and at the same time for Yom Kippur, Thursday, Sept. 15. The public is welcome to the service, which will include prayers, songs and stories. 7300 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 876-8330.

* Temple Judea, a Reform congregation in Tarzana, will hold free services at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the second day of Rosh Hashanah. No reservations or tickets are needed. 5429 Lindley Ave. (818) 987-2616.

* Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills offers free services for single people and others who do not belong to a synagogue. No reservations are required. Rosh Hashanah services will begin at 7 p.m. Monday and at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Yom Kippur services will be held on Wednesday, Sept.14, at 6:45 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 15, at 9 a.m. 9020 W. Olympic Blvd. (310) 278-1911.