With the sun reflecting off the Bennetts Park pond in Bethel on Thursday, children and parents from Danbury's United Jewish Center tossed bread crumbs into the water, symbolic of casting away sins in preparation for the Sept. 25 Day of Atonement.

Autumn Pinette Karen Steiner of New Fairfield reflects on the past year with other members of the United Jewish Center during tashlich services Thursday at Bennett Park in Bethel.

Before sunset on the first day of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, Jews gather for a ceremony called tashlich, the ancient practice of letting go of regrets so as to move ahead and change in the coming year.

The UJC's tashlich ceremony at the park has become a tradition, with a service of music and reflection followed by prayer and a picnic.

"Each of us explores quietly to ourselves what it is within each of us that we would most like to transform in the year to come: the hard things, behaviors, and perhaps memories we hope to leave behind or develop some distance from," Cantor Penny Kessler read aloud. "Tashlich is not only about how we have sinned or missed God's mark. It is a letting go of behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that block us from God, each other and ourselves."

Rosh Hashana is a two-day commemoration that begins what Jews refer to as the Days of Awe, a time of somber reflection and reverence. That leads into the most solemn holiday, Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown next Friday.

As Kessler and guitarists serenaded the crowd with sacred, uplifting music, babies romped in the grass, teenagers linked arms and adults closed their eyes.

Autumn Pinette Cantor Penny Kessler sings at the tashlich service.

Then it was time to cast bread upon the water. Kessler invited families to find a place by the water where they could stand privately as they reflected upon five things they did in the past year they regretted.

"You may also list things that you no longer want in your life and are happy to give away to the world," Kessler said.

As people started to toss bread crumbs, Kessler reminded them to do so "vigorously, as though you are throwing something away, something you really don't want any more, as far as you can."

The children complied.

For Karen Steiner, the late-summer beauty and communal spirit made for a holiday celebration that, for her family, began in the synagogue Thursday morning.

She said she likes the symbolism of throwing the bread because it teaches children about the importance of looking to the future rather than dwelling on past regrets.

"This is really cool and different," said Steiner's 9-year-old daughter, Rachel. Her son, Aaron, 6, also attended.

Autumn Pinette Audra Sarna, 10, left, and Julia Klucik, 11, both of Newtown listen to the service.

Rachel said she enjoys the holidays as a time to cherish her religious heritage and be proud that she is Jewish.

"This makes you renewed and refreshed, and ready for the New Year," her mother said.

For Bonnie and Alan Wunsch, this Rosh Hashana has a special meaning. They are about to become parents. On Yom Kippur, they expect to be in Belarus, formerly part of the Soviet Union, to adopt their 17-month-old son, whom they have named Ryan Harrison.

"This is the way to be starting a New Year," said an elated Bonnie Wunsch, UJC congregation president who will step down from her post at the end of the calendar year.

As for the congregation, Wunsch said the year has been a time of change and growth. The congregation hired Rabbi Clifford Librach as its permanent spiritual leader.

"We really are on a new path," Wunsch said. "There is a really good feeling that we are moving on."