ON ROSH HASHANA, A 'NEW YEAR EVOLUTION'.

The Jewish community will observe Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, starting at sundown today.

Rosh Hashana, meaning ``head of the year,'' is the beginning of the annual 10-day period when Jews reflect on their sins and their relationship to others and resolve to take steps to change for the better.

``Rosh Hashana is our Jewish New Year, but it's different from the American secular New Year,'' said Rabbi Sheryl Nosan of Temple Beth Torah in Granada Hills.

``While it's a time of celebration, it's much more a time for introspection. It's not a time for New Year resolutions; it's more of New Year evolution. By that I mean we try to evolve toward being better human beings.''

Jews are reminded during the 10 Days of Awe, also known as the High Holy Days, that becoming better human beings can be achieved through a three-fold process.

``We're helped by the process of teshuvah, which is often translated as repentance. But it really means making amends for our wrongs and committing to changing our ways,'' said Nosan. ``The second part is tefilah or prayer and the third component is tzedakah or righteous, charitable acts.''

Rosh Hashana, marking the year 5762 on the Jewish calendar this year, will be observed at evening and morning services in synagogues. Orthodox and Conservative congregations schedule services for two days while many Reform congregations hold services for only one day.

The holiday is observed at home with holiday candle lighting, blessings thanking God for the holiday and eating symbolic foods. Apple slices are dipped in honey in the hope for a sweet year. Challah, or egg bread, is made often with raisins to emphasize sweetness and, for this holiday, is twisted into a round shape. The round shape is a reminder that one year has ended and a new year has begun.

``The point of Rosh Hashana is to look backward and redirect yourself in the future. We turn inward to see our shortcomings and decide to correct them,'' said Rabbi Len Muroff of Valley Beth Israel in Sun Valley. ``We're acknowledging our faults and also celebrating life.''

Both Muroff and Nosan will be mentioning the terrorist attacks in America in their services. Their Rosh Hashana messages, in the planning stage weeks ago, will now be interwoven with thoughts on making sense of the tragedy. Nosan vowed that the terrorist attacks should not override the focus of the coming holy days.

``It's going to be important to make sense of these events, but we can't let that overshadow the themes of Rosh Hashana,'' Nosan said. ``For us to abandon our soul-searching, our connection to God, gives way too much power to 'those' people. Whoever 'those' people are, they don't deserve it. We need to go on with our lives.''

``The world has changed,'' Muroff said. ``But we can't be incapacitated by fear. We can't let it overcome us. It's up to us to rise above our fear. We're God's messengers and so we need to focus on hope and life.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) At Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School in Northridge, 6-year-olds Ethan Galaif, above left, and Sam Lyons blow ram's horns, a call to forgive at Rosh Hashana. Other students, left, watch the scene.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer