80,000 in O.C. Mark Rosh Hashanah, Beginning of Jewish High Holy Days

More than 80,000 Orange County Jews heralded Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, on Sunday evening with services marked by blasts on the traditional shofar, a wind instrument made from a ram’s horn.

One of the largest gatherings was at the Red Lion restaurant in Costa Mesa, where more than 500 attended.

Rabbi Arnold Rachlis, who led that service, urged worshipers to “connect with what it means to celebrate the birthday of the whole world” and to “remember and experience the awe and majesty.” Rosh Hashanah, which officially began at sundown, marked the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, 10 days of repentance ending with Yom Kippur, a day of fasting from sunset Oct. 6 to sunset Oct. 7.

According to Jewish theology, Rosh Hashanah is the day when all Jews are required to give an accounting of their lives during the past year. Based on that accounting and on their conduct during the Holy Days, the fate of each Jew for the coming year is then recorded on Yom Kippur.

The shofar symbolizes an awakening during the time of judgment. There are three different shofar sounds: t e kiah , one solid blast; shevarim, three short notes; and teruah , nine rapid notes. According to tradition, shevarim sounds like a broken heart, and teruah a weeping one.