O.C. RELIGION : ORANGE COUNTY FILE : Jewish Community Prepares to Observe High Holy Days

Southern California Jews next week usher in the 10-day season of moral contemplation, penitence and forgiveness as they observe the start of the Jewish new year and the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashana begins Friday at sundown with the blowing of the ram’s horn, known as a shofar. The horn is meant to awaken people to their hurtful actions of the past year and call them to penitence.

Righting relations with other people is the focus of the season’s first nine days, building up to Yom Kippur. On this day of solemn penitence, “we ask God to forgive us for the sins that only God knows,” said Rabbi Lawrence Goldmark, acting director of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California.

“The Jewish philosophy is to start the new year off by making amends with our fellow human beings and God, and the rest of the year you’re in with a clean slate instead of carrying these burdens on your shoulders constantly,” Goldmark said.

Some High Holy Days services around Orange County:

* The Jewish Community Center of Orange County will serve a traditional Rosh Hashana meal at a luncheon to celebrate the Jewish new year at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. Tickets are $7.50 each. The center is at 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 755-0340.

* Temple Beth Sholom in Santa Ana will hold two special events prior to the holidays: the Changing of the Mantles Dinner and family service, which will begin at 5:45 p.m. on Friday; and the Selichot Service at 4 p.m. on Saturday. New residents of the area are invited to attend High Holy Days services, which are scheduled for 9 and 11 a.m. on Sept. 11, as guests of the temple. A second day service will take place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 12, and be followed by a Tashlich service and picnic at Eisenhower Park in Orange. The temple is at 2625 N. Tustin Ave. Information: (714) 771-9229.

* In Irvine, Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot is providing a special children’s service in addition to a Rosh Hashana service. The children’s service will take place at 2 p.m. Sept. 11 and be followed by Tashlich service at Woodbrige Lake. The synagogue is at 3652 Michelson Drive. Information: (949) 857-2226.

* At Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach, a special 30-person High Holy Day Choir will perform at Erev Rosh Hashana at 8 p.m. on Friday and Rosh Hashana services at 10:45 a.m. on Sept. 11. The group is directed by Tom Macfarlane and features cantor Jonathan Grant. Temple Bat Yahm is at 1011 Camelback St. Information: (949) 644-1999.

* The Pacific Community of Secular Humanistic Jews invites Jews who “seek to keep their Jewish heritage vibrant and relevant to today’s world” to join them at its Rosh Hashana program on Sept. 12 at the Marriott Suites Hotel in Costa Mesa from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will explore the principles and practices of humanistic Judaism and enjoy a buffet brunch. Information: (949) 644-2712.

* At Conservative Temple Isaiah, which serves Newport Beach, Irvine and Corona del Mar, an ensemble of eight vocalists will participate in Rosh Hashana service by chanting the holy prayers. Services begin at 8 p.m. on Sept. 10 and are followed by morning services on the weekend. Anyone in the military may attend services for free. The temple is at 2401 Irvine Ave. Information: (949) 548-6900.