All posts by admin

Celebrating a significant milestone in community safety and wildfire prevention

Ondulando Board of Directors and City support staff. Photos by Patricia Schallert

On August 25th, the Ventura Fire Department invited the community of Ondulando, located in East Ventura to join Fire Chief David Endaya, Fire Marshal Brett Reed and the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council in celebrating a significant milestone in community safety and wildfire prevention. The Ventura Fire Department and the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council are thrilled to announce Ondulando as the City of Ventura’s inaugural nationally recognized Firewise USA community.

Maya De Leon Communication Outreach specialist for Ventura Regional Fire safe Council and Andrew Ortega Board President for Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council presenting the certificate.

In celebration of this achievement, a special certificate presentation ceremony took place at the restored Ondulando Clubhouse and was able to capture the spirit of unity and resiliency that defines the Ondulando community.

Firewise USA, is a program by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that acknowledges communities that take proactive measures to minimize wildfire risks through organized collaboration and action. Ondulando’s achievement reflects a united effort among its 640 property owners to enhance safety for all residents in Ventura County.

The journey to becoming Firewise-recognized demanded rigorous efforts by Ondulando’s residents, including:

  • Conducting a comprehensive community wildfire risk assessment
  • Creating a three-year action plan, outlining strategies to reduce ignition risk for homes
  • Facilitating a community gathering to foster awareness and collaboration
  • Committing to the maintenance of defensible space around structures
  • Pledging 640 volunteer hours annually for wildfire risk reduction activities

“The efforts of the residents of Ondulando are extremely commendable and deserving of this recognition,” said Ventura Fire Chief David Endaya. “By taking proactive steps to reduce their risk from wildfire, these 640 property owners are the largest community in Ventura County to make a commitment to creating a safer community for every resident.”

“Wildfires can impact dozens or hundreds of homes simultaneously, and if my neighbors’ homes aren’t prepared, mine will be vulnerable, too,” said Ben Rode, Ondulando resident of 21 years. “By embracing the Firewise USA program, we can fortify our homes and collectively enhance our community’s resiliency.”

There will be several more opportunities for the hillside Ventura Communities to participate in learning more about the Firewise program.

Ondulando Firewise Community website: http://sites.google.com/view/ondulandocommunities

Fire Safe Council Annual Fundraiser will take place at Topa Topa Brewing Co. at

4880 Colt St., Ventura on November 9th -5:30 pm – 8:00 pm. RSVP to VenturaFireSafe.org

Growing Works Nursery’s 5th Anniversary Fall Festival Fundraiser

Growing Works now enjoys a reputation of high quality 4” and 1 gallon and larger plants.

by Carol Leish, MA

Josh Carsman, Marketing/Fund Development Manager for Turning Point Foundation, says, “Come celebrate on October 28, 2023 from 10am-2pm the Gowing Works Nursery’s 5th Anniversary Fall Festival. There will be free admission! There will be music, plant sales, local artisan craft and food vendor and much more! It will be located at 1736 S. Lewis Rd. Event booth spaces are available and sponsorships are welcome. Please visit www.turningpointfoundation.org and click on ‘Growing Works Fall Festival’ and/or contact Jenn Rodriguez (nursery manager & event director) at: (805) 586-9900 for more information.”

Turning Point Foundation provides mental health recovery services, job training and supportive employment to adults with severe mental health diagnoses. Carsman said, “Growing Works is a wholesale nursery growing California Native plants, succulents, and other water wise plants for folks to purchase and enjoy. The nursery is open to the public for retail days on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month from 10am-2pm. Fun and educational gardening and horticulture workshops are also held throughout the year!

“The nursery helps to fulfill the ever-present local need for high quality, drought-tolerant California Native plants, Mediterranean Plants, and succulents. Growing Works is based on a thriving and sustainable business model where plant ales, job training services and donations from supporter contribute to its success.”

Established in 2018, Growing Works now enjoys a reputation of high quality 4” and 1 gallon and larger plants with customers from Solvang to Los Angeles County. They grow 60% California Native, 30% succulents and 10% fun plants that they love and think you will, too(https://turningpointfoundation.org/gwfallfestival/).

The Growing Works Nursery’s 5th Anniversary Fall Festival Fundraiser on October 28th, 2023, will help to provide: hope, a haven, and healing to improve the quality of lives for those in need of help that Turning Point Foundation provides. They will continue to provide these services in order to improve the quality of life for adults experiencing serious mental illness, addiction, lack of housing and inadequate physical health care. Thus, come to enjoy the beauty of nature and buy to improve your own gardens while helping an important cause.

Vol. 16, No. 25 – Sept 6 – Sept 19, 2023 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner VenturaRocks.com

I’d like to start off with cooler than cool news that Oxnard College announced that they are set to receive a $100k grant from Metallica who picked their school here in Ventura County as one out of eleven colleges across the country targeting the Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene, and Fire Academy programs. The All Within My Hands Metallica Scholars Initiative states it “Provides support of relevant job skill training for community college students.” Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but why not music/arts programs? I can only surmise they know earning a living in the music industry these days is like winning the lottery, so they want to help guarantee a future career…prudent, but still totally rad.

The 6th Annual Oxnard Jazz Festival will be held at Oxnard State Beach with Lakeside, Spyro Gyra, and Eric Benet among the artists performing on Saturday, September 9; then it’s a celebration of the music of Latin American on Sunday with Ricardo Lemvo, La Marcha Sound, Kleber Jorge and more. Get tickets at OxnardJazzFestival.com.

Rincon Brewery in Ventura will be hosting an Endless Summer Concert Series with the CocoKnots on September 8, Raging Arb and the Redheads on September 15, and the return of Bloody Mary Morning on September 29.

Dogstar, featuring actor Keanu Reeves on bass, played the Ventura Music Hall on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

A classic car show and motorcycle poker run supporting Echo Group Band of Brothers to support veterans will be held on Sunday, September 10 at Harbor Cove Café in the Ventura Harbor. There will be live music from Raised on Vinyl, Fallen Saints, The Alex Jolly Project and Wyred.

A quick head’s up: Boots and Brews at Surfer’s Point Live (Fairgrounds parking lot) will feature Jon Pardi with Niko Moon on October 15 and tickets are on sale for Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton at Ventura Music Hall on Saturday, December 23.

Quick Notes: Kings of Queen Rock the Collection on Wednesday, September 6; Nowhere Fast, a tribute to the Smiths & Morrissey play Copper Blues on Friday, September 8; (HED) PE plays Mrs. Olson’s on Sunday night, September 10; remaining original member, Mickey Dolenz, celebrates the Monkees at the Libbey Bowl on Friday, September 15; Cadillac Zack presents Popa Chubby on Friday, September 15 at Cantara Cellars; Poseidon Brewing Co. is celebrating Oktoberfest a bit early on Saturday, September 16 with Linda’s Polka Band; Don McClean’s 50th anniversary of American Pie at Libbey Bowl on Saturday, September 16; and Daughty plays the Libbey Bowl on Sunday, September 17.

I am sorry to report that friend to the Ventura music scene and comedy improv scene, Gary Best, died of Pancreatic cancer on September 1, 2023. I will forever miss Gary’s sharp sense of humor, our discussions about music, his genuine regard and respect for others but mostly those bear hugs.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Downtown Lions Club presents $5,000 donation to Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation

Ventura Downtown Lions Club President Maya Zumaya and immediate past president Pat Pothier at their Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser on August 20th.  The Ventura Downtown Lions Club has committees that support both first responders and canines. It was a unanimous board vote to make the donation towards the Ventura County Sheriff’s plans for a joint training facility that will house both their mounted unit and canines. 

Museum of Ventura County completes grant project

Plan and Profile of Hobson Heights No. 5, City of Ventura

The Museum of Ventura County announces the successful completion of a grant project dedicated to cataloging and digitizing the Martin & Associates Civil Engineering Collection. With assistance from a $95,000 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, a part of the National Archives, the Museum has cataloged 413 cubic feet of materials, including maps, drawings, and other valuable documents. The project also resulted in the digitization of 1,000 pages of maps and drawings, making them easily accessible to the public. This collection is now accessible on the Online Archive of California. For more information and to explore the digitized materials from the collection, please visit the Museum’s website at https://photographs.venturamuseum.org/exhibits/show/engineering-the-past/introduction.

“This reflects our dedication to preserving and promoting local history. By making these materials freely accessible through various online platforms, we can facilitate research, inspire curiosity, and provide valuable resources to the community,” said the Museum of Ventura County’s Research Library and Archives Director, Deya Terrafranca.

The Martin & Associates Civil Engineering Collection is a significant addition to the Museum of Ventura County’s collection of artifacts, documents, and ephemera representing the cultural and historical heritage of the Ventura County region. The collection includes records created by six civil engineers and their staff over nearly a century. These include well-known names like T. William “Bill” Hale and Ed Campbell. Bill Hale purchased the firm from Robert Martin in 1991.

After his passing, his widow sold the company to Ventura resident Ed Campbell, who

renamed the firm U.S.A. Architects. In 2013, Mr. Campbell donated the firm’s records to the Museum. TThis effort ensures historical materials are easily accessible to a wide audience, including students, educators, and researchers worldwide.

In addition to the completion of cataloging and digitizing, the Museum staff engaged with the local community by providing valuable educational opportunities as part of its commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage. In May, the Museum organized a Collections Care Workshop specifically tailored for county cultural organizations in which participants from twelve organizations, including museums, libraries and cities were given insights on best practices for preserving historical materials, ensuring the long-term preservation of their own collections. Museum staff will also be offering a training for staff of the Ventura County Library system, instructing librarians in navigating the historical resources available at the Museum.

Vol. 16, No. 25 – Sept 6 – Sept 19, 2023 – Music Calendar

For more listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com

Angry Ferret
11990 Hertz St., Moorpark
Fri 9/15: Mood Swing

Bellringer Brewing Company
472 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 9/8: Katie Leigh
Sat 9/9: Jayden Secor Band

Boatyard Pub
1583 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Music 6-9; except Sundays 4-7
Mondays: Jason Ho
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; Bluegrass Jam
Fri 9/7: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Sat 9/8: Guy and Dave
Sun 9/9: Ken Devoe
Tues 9/11: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples
Fri 9/14: Finnhead Dave
Sat 9/15: Déjà vu Three
Sun 9/16: Epitome of Dreams
Tues 9/18: Noah Thoresen

Café Fiore
66 California St., Ventura
Tuesdays: Open Mic and Jam
Wed 9/6: Bryan McCann
Fri 9/8: Instone
Wed 9/13: Donna Butler
Fri 9/15: Little Alice

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Rd., Camarillo
Fri 9/8: What the Funk
Sat 9/9: Britain’s Finest
Fri 9/15: Popa Chubby
Sat 9/16: Caliente 805

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Wed & Thurs: Bobby Apostol
Fri & Sat: Warren Takahashi

Copper Blues
591 Collection Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 9/8: Nowhere Fast
Sat 9/9: The Brandon Ragan Project
Sun 9/10: Los Amigos

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Mondays: Glenn Bennett
Tuesdays: Blues Tuesdays
Sun 9/10: The Brandon Ragan Project
Sun 9/17: The House Arrest Band

Deer Lodge
2261 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai
Fri 9/8: Ojai Dept of Rhythm
Sat 9/9: Rusty Tinder Band
Sat 9/16: House of Vibe w/ Chali 2NA

Feros Ferio
310 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sun 9/17: Jerry Breiner & Frank Barajas

Four Brix
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
(Fridays 6-8:30; Sundays 1-3:30)
Fri 9/8: On Tap
Sun 9/17: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Fri 9/22: Mid Life Crisis

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Sat 9/9: How to Live with Robots

The Grape
2733 E. Main St., Ventura
Tues: The Gratitude Jazz Jam
Wed 9/6: Ilya Dynov featuring Bill Cunliffe & Will Lyle
Thurs 9/7: SicNarf
Fri 9/8: Don Randi & Quest
Sat 9/9: Art Farmers (1 pm); Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band (8 pm)
Wed 9/13: Bobby Pierce
Thurs 9/14: LA6
Fri 9/15: Kait Dunton Quartet
Sat 9/16: Lenny LaCroix (2 pm); One Shot Deal Plays Zappa (8 pm
Sun 9/17: 2nd annual Harp Fest

Harbor Cove Café
1867 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Saturdays 10 am: The Cool Hand Ukes
Fri 9/8: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 9/9: Jill Martini & the Shrunken Heads
Sun 9/10: Raised on Vinyl, Fallen Saints, The Alex Jolly Project, Wyred

Institution Ale
3841 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo
Thurs 9/7: Solomon King

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Rd., Ventura
Thursdays: Open Mic
Sat 9/9: Crosscut 805
Fri 9/16: The Balance
Sat 9/17: Ventu Park Band

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 9/7: Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Night
Fri 9/8: Moondawgs
Sat 9/9: Blues Bullet (2 pm); Brion Shearer (7 pm)
Sun 9/10: In Ivy
Fri 9/15: Urban Dread
Sat 9/16: Vinny Berry
Sun 9/17: Mestizo Beat

Libbey Bowl
210 S. Signal St., Ojai
Fri 9/15: The Monkees (Mickey Dolenz)
Sat 9/16: Don McClean
Sun 9/17: Daughtry

Lucky Fools Pub
75 E. High St., Moorpark
Sat 9/9: Mike Scully

Madewest Brewing
1744 Donlon St., Ventura
Sat 9/9: River Ripley

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura
Fri 9/8: Eyehategod, Goatwhore, Final Conflict, Cancer Christ

Manhattan
5800 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo
Wednesdays: Robert Van
Fri 9/8: Tour Support
Sat 9/9: Jeanne Tatum
Thurs 9/14: Tom McMorran
Fri 9/15: Lisa Ritner Duo
Sat 9/16: Wayne Boyer

Margarita Villa
1567 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Fri 9/8: Mark Masson & Phriends
Sat 9/9: Little Alice and the Cats
Sun 9/10: Déjà vu Too
Sun 9/17: Smokey & Friends

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 9/8: Brain Vat
Sat 9/9: Grizwalds
Sun 9/10: Teresa Russell; (HED) PE
Sat 9/16: Flying Gang

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak St., Ventura
Thus 9/7: Johnny Burgin, Delta by the Beach
Fri 9/15: Shawn Jones

Oceanview Pavilion
575 E. Surfside Dr., Port Hueneme
Sat 9/16: Welcome to the Jungle, Lose Your Illusion, Ride the Lightning LA

Ojai Valley Brewing
307 Bryant St., Ojai
Fri 9/8: VIP
Sat 9/9: Chaparral
Fri 9/15: Mark Masson

Ojai Underground Exchange
616 Pearl St., Ojai
Fri 9/8: Barrelhouse Wailers

Onyx Bistro
2390 Las Posas Road, Camarillo
Fri 9/8: George Krikes
Sat 9/9: Brenda Carsey
Fri 9/15: Jesse Davis
Sat 9/16: The Fabulous Hangovers

Ox and Ocean
2101 Mandalay Beach Rd., Oxnard
Sun 9/10: Jayden Secor

Oxnard Jazz Festival
1601 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sat 9/9: Lakeside, Spyro Gyra, DW3, Eric Benet, Deniece Williams, Kayla Waters, Kim Waters,
Sun 9/10: Ricardo Lemvo, La Marcha Sound, Kleber Jorge, Catina de Luna, Isaiah Venegas

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
800 Hobson Way, Oxnard
Sat 9/9: Yngwie Malmsteen & Glenn Hughes

Poseidon Brewing
5777 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura
Sat 9/16: Linda’s Polka Band

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Fri & Sat 8 pm; Sunday 2 pm
Fri 9/8: The Balance
Sat 9/9: Soul Machine
Sun 9/10: Doc Rogers
Fri 9/15: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 9/16: Teresa Russell
Sun 9/17: Unkle Monkey

Rincon Brewery
4100 Telegraph Rd., Ventura
Fri 9/8: CocoKnots

Rock the Collection
2751 Park View Ct., Oxnard
Wed 9/6: King of Queen

Sam’s Place
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Fri 9/8: Whole Hog

San Souci
21 S. Chestnut St., Ventura
Fri 9/8: The Robot Uprising Black Adidas, RAW

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 9/8: Jake McClelland (4 pm); Pull the Trigger (8 pm)
Sat 9/9: Blues Ramblers
Fri 9/15: Nuestro
Sat 9/16: Checkpoint

Strey Cellars
951 N. Rice Ave., Oxnard
Sun 9/10: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 9/16: Pull the Trigger
Sun 9/17: David Brookings & the Average Lookings

Taqueria Jalisco
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery

Tony’s Pizzeria
186 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Wed 8/23: Caught Red Handed
Thurs 8/24: Stoneflys
Sun 8/27: Heart & Soul

Topa Topa Brewing
2024 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo
Sat 9/8: Milo Sledge Trio
Fri 9/14: Teresa Russell
Sat 9/16: Katie Shorey

Topa Topa Brewing
4880 Colt St., Ventura
Sun 9/16: Katie Leigh

The Twist on Main
454 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 9/7: Brittney and the B Sides
Sat 9/8: Vinny Berry, Electrik Love, Mark Masson
Sun 9/9: Mandii Gomez, Dave Blanchard, Beau James Wilding
Thurs 9/13: Mark Masson Jam Session
Fri 9/14: Jesse James Harris
Sat 9/15: Anthony Kouglaz, Joe Delia, CRV
Sun 9/16: Matt Kelley, Morrison Drive, Keyth G

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sundays: Mariachi
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunter
Wednesdays: Tribal Me
Fridays: Conjunto Zacamandu
Thurs 9/13: Lowered Expectations

Ventura Harbor Village
1559 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Sat 9/9: Preston Smith
Sun 9/10: Tony Lee and Forbidden Fruit
Sat 9/16: Teka
Sun 9/17: Unkle Monkey

Ventura Music Hall
1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 9/7: Foy Vance
Sat 9/9: Vintage Trouble
Thurs 9/14: Shordie Shordie
Sat 9/16: Struggle Jennings

Waterside
3500 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sun 9/9: Teresa Russell
Thurs 9/13: Jake McClelland
Fri 9/14: Michael Quest
Sat 9/15: Unkle Monkey
Sun 9/16: The CocoKnots

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sat 3 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 9/6: Jayden Secor
Fri 9/7: Medicine Hat (acoustic)
Sat 9/8: Mack & D
Sun 9/9: CRV
Thurs 9/13: Brandon Ragan
Fri 9/14: The James Brothers Band
Sat 9/15: McGuire/Moffett Band
Sun 9/16: Colette Lovejoy

1901 Speakeasy
740 S. B St., Oxnard
Sat 9/9: Steve and Sally Williams

Vol. 16, No. 25 – Sept 6 – Sept 19, 2023 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Wednes 8/16

9:20am, received report of petroleum sheen near VIM E/F docks. Officers searched all vessels in the area, unable to locate a source for the spill.

8:00pm, dispatched to a fall in the Village. Officers responded with VFD and assisted an intoxicated male who was transported to hospital by AMR.

Thursday 8/17

6:01pm, dispatched to a traffic collision on Spinnaker. Officers responded, found no accident occurred, a transient stating she was robbed of 20k by passing car.

7:36pm, received report of an inflatable raft sinking in the keys. Officers responded in Fireboat, transported the pair back to the Marina Park dock.

Friday 8/18

8:35pm, dispatched to an unoccupied kayak 1 mile offshore of Little Rincon. Officers responded in Fireboat with multiple agencies to the Search/Rescue.

After searching area found a 55-gallon drum with a flag, likely mistaken identity

9:33pm, escorting a 100ft yacht to find its berth at VHV C-dock after it was evacuated from Avalon Harbor due to foul weather from hurricane Hilary.

Saturday 8/19

7:33am, observed the Santa Clara Rivermouth breech while on patrol.

4:15pm, dispatched to multiple persons caught in a rip current near South Jetty. Officers responded in Fireboat helped State Parks with returning victims to shore

5:30pm, dispatched to multiple person rescue at Surfers Knoll groin. Officers responded in Fireboat and assisted state parks with the ocean rescue.

Sunday 8/20

2:47pm, observed a 5.0 earthquake near Ojai. Officers checking all areas of responsibility for damage or injuries. Nothing found initially.

4:18pm, dispatched to a sick person in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to assist the patient.

7:33pm, observed a jetski trailer at the launch ramp. Due to Hilary storm, officers responded in Fireboat to search for the personal watercraft. While searching, the PWC had returned to the launch ramp and hauled out.

Monday 8/21

7:10am, observed a lot of debris from the river and barranca throughout harbor.

1:40pm, while on patrol in Fireboat, officers removed hazards to navigation from the storm throughout harbor. Large branches and all other sorts of debris.

Tuesday 8/22

4:39am, observed a 3.9 earthquake aftershock from Sunday’s earthquake.

12:30pm, removing all types of debris from the harbor from the storm.

Wednes 8/23

7:30pm, received report of a female transient attempting to board vessels in village. Officers contacted subject and warned of trespassing, she moved on.

Thursday 8/24

3:53am, dispatched to a sick person in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded, patient disclosed they were Covid 19 positive. Fire captain released most responders stating, “There is no need for us all to get Covid!”

5:52pm, dispatched to a behavioral emergency at VWM A-dock. Once on scene the patient was distraught a romantic interest met online was no longer communicating with the patient. Offered condolences, advised unable to assist.

Friday 8/25

8:01pm, received missing person report from daughter of a mother last seen in her wedding dress. She was married on a vessel in the harbor. Advised we would “B-O-L-O” for missing mother. Did not locate the missing during shift.

 

The celebration of Jewish New Year

Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. Jewish Year 5783 begins at sunset on Sept. 15. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, “head of the year” or “first of the year.” Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. This name is somewhat deceptive, because there is little similarity between Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year, and the American New Year.

There is, however, one important similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American one. Many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making “resolutions.” Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

The shofar is a ram’s horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue.

No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in temple, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. There is a special prayer book called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays.

The common greeting at this time is L’shanah tovah (“for a good year”). This is a shortening of “L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem” which means “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.”

On September 24, Yom Kippur also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Some Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services.

Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora’im (“Days of Awe”) that commences with Rosh Hashanah.