Los Angeles’ Jewish community began the High Holy Days Wednesday by celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. 

But as the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli neighborhoods approaches, security will be heightened around temples and Jewish gatherings. 

Sinai Temple in Westwood also stepped up security as thousands of people were expected to gather for a Rosh Hashanah celebration.

“This is the story of the Jewish people,” Rabbi Nicole Guzik from Sinai Temple said. “Whenever there is destruction, whenever there is suffering, what we have learned through time is resilience. There’s strength. There’s hope.”

Wednesday’s Rosh Hashanah celebration at Sinai Temple was expected to be the most secure ever, according to temple officials, in the midst of a rise in antisemitic attacks. 

“Security is our prime importance with our children in our school, with our families here,” Rabbi Erez Sherman said.

Chief Dominic Choi of the Los Angeles Police Department said law enforcement is talking with community leaders to create plans if anything happens.

The Beverly Hills Police Department is also partnering with private security to increase patrols during the High Holy Days.

On Friday, Sinai Temple is also set to host a survivor of the Nova Festival where many of the Oct. 7 victims were killed or taken hostage a year ago. 

The Southern California skies will showcase the Pacific Air Show, the largest attended airshow in the U.S., this weekend.

The event takes place right on the water’s edge of Huntington Beach from Friday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 6. 

Sky’s the limit when it comes to the performances featuring the distinguished U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Para-Commandos, an aerial parachute demonstration team, several civilian aviators, and dozens more performers. 

The world’s most advanced fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor, will also take flight.

The event will hit the sky at 10:00 a.m. And the gates to the event will open at 9 a.m., but spectators are encouraged to get to Show Center early as parking is limited.  

Tickets start at $30 for a single day and $60 for a three-day pass. See here to purchase tickets to the Pacific Air Show.

The airshow recommends general admission ticket holders to bring chairs, blankets, and an umbrella.

Dozens of physicians and medical students at UC Irvine School of Medicine took part in Latino Physician Day Tuesday, joining a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the lack of Latinos in medicine.

“Here in our state of California, approximately 40% of the population is Latino or identifies that way,” said Dr. Jose Mayorga, executive director for UCI Health Family Health Centers. “And only 6% of physicians identify as Latino.”

That disparity is expected to grow even bigger when California’s Latino population is projected to grow to 50% by the year 2050. That lack of representation contributes to significant health care barriers, inequalities and poorer outcomes in the Latino/Hispanic population, according to doctors.

“I find a lot of value in just being a student,” said Kevin Caceres, a second-year medical student. “Being the first in my family to go to college, first to go to medical school — I did it a lot for them but also my community.”

Trinidad Alcala-Arcos is also a medical student at UC Irvine. She is part of PRIME-LC, which stands for Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community, a 5-year MD/Master’s program at UCI committed to training physicians to meet the needs of under-resourced Latino communities.

“I’m proud to say I’m a DACA medical student,” said Alcala-Arcos. “We need more people who can look like our patients.”

For her, the goal of becoming a doctor is also deeply personal.

“My dad unfortunately passed away during the pandemic,” said Alcala-Arcos, “Every time I think of him, talk about him, it’s a reminder of why I’m here and what keeps me going.”

Her father’s death is also an important reminder of the bigger goal of National Latino Physician Day, which is to bring more Latinos into medicine so that the community has better access to health care.

“It’s important to be able to walk into a clinic or exam room and be seen by physician that looks like you, speaks your language, identifies with your cultural upbringing,” said Mayorga. “That makes a huge difference.”