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Jews Celebrate Rosh Hashanah Across Southern California

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Jewish residents will attend synagogues across Southern California on Monday to celebrate the mark of the first day of the Jewish new year.

The two-day holiday, Rosh Hashanah, marks the year 5776 on the Hebrew calendar.

Services began on Sunday evening and included the blowing of the shofar, which is a ram's horn.

Families and communities then joined together for festive meals featuring apples dipped in honey, which symbolizes wishes for a sweet year.

The holiday comes as a time for Jews to gather and reflect on the past year while also focusing on the new one that is beginning.

A 10-day period, which is referred to as the High Holy Days, begins a period of contemplation and repentance to Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur, a day of atonement, is the most solemn and somber day within the Jewish religion.

While most congregations require membership and tickets to attend the services, some organizations and synagogues are offering services free of charge.

At 10:30 a.m., a free service will be held at the Laugh Factory, located at 8001 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Donations will not be accepted, and seating will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

L'shanah tovah!

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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