𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗛 𝗛𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗛 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗙𝗔𝗥: Chabad Rabbis Sound the Call for Jewish New Year on the Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — September 23, 2025 — Members of Chabad in Simcha Monica gathered at the Santa Monica Pier on Tuesday to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. More than a dozen participants joined Rabbi Isaac and Eli Levitansky for a ceremony that began with the sounding of the shofar, a ram’s horn traditionally blown to mark the start of the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The piercing notes of the shofar carried across the pier and ocean, signaling a time of reflection and renewal.

The service included the Tashlich ritual, in which attendees cast pieces of bread into the ocean as a symbolic act of leaving past misdeeds behind. Rabbi Levitansky explained that the custom is rooted in a prophetic verse describing sins being “cast into the depths of the sea,” underscoring the opportunity to begin the new year with a clean slate.

Addressing the group, Levitansky reflected on the tradition of performing Tashlich near bodies of water where fish are present. He noted that fish, which never close their eyes, are seen as a reminder of divine watchfulness, while their ability to multiply symbolizes the hope for abundant blessings in the coming year. Their hidden presence beneath the surface, he added, serves as a metaphor for protection from harm.

As the ceremony concluded with prayers for peace, the community shared a quiet moment of unity and optimism. The gathering marked the arrival of the year 5786 on the Hebrew calendar, blending ancient tradition with the scenic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.