Jewish communities welcome New Year

Deepa Bharath

The aroma of apples and honey filled the air in homes and temples on

Wednesday at sundown as hundreds of Jewish families rang in the new

year -- Rosh Hashanah.

It marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, a week of prayer and

introspection, which culminates in Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashanah literally means “head of the year,” said Rabbi

Reuven Mintz of the Chabad Jewish Center in Newport Beach.

“The head of the human body has control over much of the rest of

the body,” he said.

Similarly, the first few days of the new year set the tone for the

rest of the year, Mintz explained.

Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity for every Jew to celebrate his or

her relationship with God, Mintz said.

“For us, it’s an audit day,” he said. “God checks our books to see

how well we took care of his investments. But it’s not a day of

judgment, but one of compassion, when we face him and report our

spiritual progress.”

A Jew’s divine mission is to fill the world with light through his

or her goodness and kindness and expel all darkness that permeates

the world, Mintz said.

“This is more of a spiritual holiday for us, when we look inward

and connect into our source of energy,” he said.

At the end of the service, there is an apple and honey ceremony,

when people pray that their new year turns out to be as sweet as the

honey they consume. One hundred sounds are also blown from the shofar

or the ram’s horn, as a wake-up call to evaluate one’s own actions.

The Chabad Center also lighted a memorial lamp in honor of those

who lost their lives tragically over the last year across the globe.

For Newport Beach resident Flory Van Beek, Rosh Hashanah signifies

hope and a renewal of her relationship with God.

“On this day, we always pray for good deeds, love and peace on

earth and good health,” she said.

The Chabad Jewish Center held its service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday,

while the Temple Bat Yahm and Temple Isaiah, both in Newport, held

their services at 8 p.m.

* DEEPA BHARATH is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at

deepa.bharath@latimes.com.