The year 5786 on the Jewish calendar begins at sundown on Monday, Sept. 22, with Rosh Hashanah 2025 services at San Diego-area congregations.

Congregation Beth Israel, the largest Jewish congregation in San Diego and oldest in Southern California, is holding services in its sanctuary and streaming them online for those who can’t attend in person or live outside of San Diego.

Rosh Hashanah means literally “head of the year” in Hebrew. It marks the beginning of a 10-day period of prayer, self-examination, and repentance ending with Yom Kippur, which is known as the Day of Atonement.

The year begins at sundown because the ancient Jewish calendar is based on phases of the moon.

Customs observed on Rosh Hashanah include sounding the shofar, a musical instrument made from a ram’s horn, and e

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