Talk show host Prager to celebrate Jewish ceremonies

Conservative radio personality and Jewish figurehead Dennis Prager recently relocated to the foothills to be closer to his Glendale studio, but radio isn’t the only thing he plans on bringing to La Cañada.

“I will be conducting the High Holy Day ceremonies of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur in La Cañada because no synagogue exists here right now,” Prager said. “I don’t want to promise to start a new synagogue, but if people are up in numbers and are committed, I don’t see why we shouldn’t consider it.”

Prager has long been affiliated with the Jewish faith, having been raised in a Jewish home in Brooklyn, New York.

In 1986, he co-authored a best-selling book, “The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism,” that has become an essential go-to resource and introduction to the faith.

Prager has been working on bringing the holy day ceremonies to the foothills since his move two months ago.

He was “totally aware of the lack of a formal Jewish community in La Cañada.”

“We are in truly unknown territory,” said Prager, who has previous experience conducting Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur ceremonies. “This is like going to Mongolia from a Jewish point of view.”

Prager met with Glendale Rabbi Simcha Backman before moving to La Cañada but was unable to come to conclusive numbers as to how many Jews reside in La Cañada or the surrounding communities.

“La Cañada is such a wonderful place,” Prager said, “and how many wonderful places don’t have synagogues?”

Though he emphasized that he is not promising to found or create a synagogue, Prager is motivated to create a Jewish community in his new home town.

“The immediate goal is to have a meaningful Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur,” Prager said, including that the ceremonies will be non-denominational and all-denominational.

Several possible locations have been discussed, but the time and place for the celebrations have yet to be set in stone.

Prager encourages all interested parties to email him for details at dennisprager@dennisprager.com or by calling (800) 225-8584.