The annual religious observance of the Jewish new year, which begins Friday night, is a time of great celebration and spiritual renewal.The 10-day period that begins with Rosh Hashana and concludes Sept. 21 with the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, is marked by introspection and prayers for better times ahead. Tradition dictates that as the new year begins Jews consume sweet foods such as apples and honey to signify their hopes for the coming year. Especially in trying times — and the Jewish people have had many of them over the generations — this practice is a powerful affirmation of...