L'Shana Tova: Rosh Hashanah 2013

The school year isn't the only new beginning happening this week. 
Wednesday evening is the beginning of  Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year which is always 143 days after Passover when calculated using the Gregorian calendar. 

The phrase "L’Shana Tova," which means "To a Sweet Year" is the traditional greeting uttered among believers who on the holiday enjoy the sweet treat of honey and apples and round challah bread, symbolizing the circle of life. 

The traditional blowing of theshofar, or ram’s horn, during services on Rosh Hashanah marks a time to contemplate past mistakes and find ways to make things right.
Read one Jewish Fairfax County resident's contemplation of the past here. 
After Rosh Hashanah, there is a 10-day period of self-reflection, which leads to Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and spiritual atonement. 

The closest synagogue to Manassas and Manassas Park is Temple Beth Torah in Chantilly. 

Patch editor Karen Goff and former Patch freelancer Mary Rosenthol contributed to this report.