The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-09-27
THE JEWISH New YEaR.-on Sun

THE JEWISH NEW YEAR.-0n Sun
day at shutdown the feast which cele-
brates the opening of the Jewish civil
year began in the various synagogues
and temples or houses Of worship Of
the reformed jews. Theservices contin-
ued during the whole Of yesterday, end
ing at shutdown but in the synagogues
or places OF worship Of the old strict
Jewish sect, where every form and cere-
mony is rigidly observed, the services
will be held for two days, as was the
former general custom, ending at sun
down to-day. But only the continuous
services end at this time, not the general
observance Of the season, for a number
of Jewish religious festivals cluster
about this point in the year The festi-
val OF the New Year, which is generally
and strictly observed, begins what is
known as the ten penitential days,
which are Immediately succeeded by
the Day of Atonement, on which the
high priest formerly entered into the
holy OF holes. After an interval of
five days from the Day of Atonement
comes the Feast of Tabernacles with
its observances.
This New Years festival of the Jew.
ish civil year, as opposed to the festival
Of the ecclesiastical year which comes
at about the time of our Easter and the
Jewish Passover, is very generally oh
served by both sects Of Jews All jew,
ish places Of business are closed, and
the owners will be present at the ser.
vices. Yesterday was more generally
kept sacred in this respect 10y that class
than the Sunday previous, their regular
Sunday The Jewish name Of the fes-
tival is Rosh Ha Shona, signifying the
"hcad OF the year" The new year is
numbered 1851 from the beginning OF
the world, aud the New Years day is
by tradition the anniversary of the crea
ton. The first month Of the civil year
is Tishri, Persian for first, while the first
month of the church year is Nissan, the
seventh month in the civil year
The day is one OF solemnity and re
pentance, but after the services are over
mutual expressions of good will and
wishes Of happy new year are ex
chaged, as with us. 1t is one of the
traditions of the Talmud that on the
first day of the year the Creator in
scribes the names Of the confirmed
: righteous in the Book of Life, and the
names of the confirmed wicked in the
Book of Death, while the fate of such
as are neither good nor bad is left I'm
decided until the Day OF Atonement
when, if by that time they have moi
expiated for their shortcomings 10y &
strict compliance with all the require
ments of the law, their names are also
entered upon the Book Of Death This
writing down is not intended merely Il
typify eventual damnation or reward
but that those who are so written in thu
Book of Death are the ones who are Il
die during the year. In some syna
gogues the services have especial refer
ence to this belief The former custom
. was for the men to wear shrouds
| The festival is also called the Fras
of Trumpets from the command to the
Jews to blow the trumpet, or Shophor
/ on that day. This trumpet is Away:
made Of rams horn, according to tho
directions given in the book OF Num-
bers, and the sounding of it is followeC
by prayers and confessions. The ma
tcrial of the trumpet has reference tc
the sacrifice offered in place Of Isaac
which event il celebrated in The services
of the second day are a continuation
Of those OF the first, to which they are
similar. 1t was appointed by the rab
bis and is named Youra Arichta, Oh
prolonged day The first day is com
monty known as the day memorial
and Hebrew, lukewarm or otherwise,
unites in celebrating the day and season
wherein his fate for the coming year
. according to general belief, il immova,
bly, fixed.