Rabbi Meyer H. Simon of Glendale sounds the shofar to begin services at Mt. Sinai Memorial-Park in honor of Jewish dead.

"The word ‘cemetery’ may be translated as ‘House of Life,’ " Magnin said, noting that Home of Peace was the oldest Jewish cemetery in Southern California. "Here the living contact the dead and can come to appreciate how fleeting life is.

"Here they can learn that what the world too often thinks of value has no real value. Here they discover that the things of real worth are love, honor, family, decency, the wisdom of great books — if you have not these, you have nothing of eternal meaning.

"The thought of death should make us grateful for life. Contemplation of death makes us all think about our own lives, our obligations, moral duties and responsibilities. It should challenge us to use well the remaining years allotted us."