Rabbi Eli Levitansky blows the shofar during the Jewish  holiday of Rosh Hashana (literally "head of the year") at Santa Monica College on Thursday, September 29, 2011. Rosh Hashanah marks the start of a new year in the Hebrew calendar. The shofar blast marks the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur.

Harre Krishna's hand-pull three fully decorated, four-story chariots down Main Street during the 35th Annual Festival of Chariots on Sunday, July 31, 2011. The parade commenced at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and traveled south on Main St., west on Rose Ave., south on the Venice Boardwalk and ended at the Ocean Front Walk Plaza in Venice. The Festival of the Chariots featured free feast for thousands, free entertainment, exhibits and booths all bringing together the finest in Indian culture. The festival celebrates Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe, and is put on by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The Festival of the Chariots is now performed in every country across the world and dates back 5 thousand years to Jagannatha Puri, India.

National Day of Prayer - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

People  pray at Santa Monica City Hall  during the annual National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 5, 2011.

Rabbi Eli Levitansky leads Chabad House's Menorah Parade down the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, December 9, 2010.

(top) Rabbi Eli Levitansky, 30, from the Chabad House, lights the Menorah at the Third Street Promenade during the first night of Chanukah on Wednesday, December 1, 2010. (above) Rabbi Isaac Levitansky, 41, from the Chabad  House, lights the Menorah at the Santa Monica Pier during the first night of Chanukah on Wednesday, December 1, 2010.

Members of Temple Isaiah throw bread into the ocean symbolizing the "casting off" of sins during Rosh Hashanah Tashlich Service at Santa Monica Beach on Thursday, September 9, 2010. Rosh Hashana marks the Jewish New Year.

Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson places ashes onto the forehead of parishioner Dr. Rita Esquivel at St. Monica's Catholic Church during Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 17 2010. "Remember that you are dust and to onto dust you will return," recites Msgr Torgerson. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days before Easter. The priest or minister marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes, in the shape of a cross, which the worshipper traditionally retains until washing it off after sundown. Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence (from meat), and repentance—a day of contemplating one's transgressions.

Menachem Levitansky, a Rabbi Student from the Chabad House, lights the giant public Menorah at Palisades Park during the last night of Chanukah on Friday, December 18, 2009.  Chanukah, AKA the Festival of Lights, is a joyous celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for 8 days when there was only enough oil left in the temple for one day.