The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-09-29
"ROSH HASHONAH." "
September 80 is the Jewish New
Years Day.

With the setting Of the sun on
September 80 the Jewish year 5o6o
will be welcomed by the faithful Jews
the world over, and a cycle of solemn
festivity will be begun, which will
last with slight interruption, for a
whoie month The month ofTishri
is gwen over by the Jews almost COM
pletely to ceremonies connected with
the synagogue. The first day Of the
month is the new year, and there is
scarcely a spot OH the civilized globe
where ten adults can be found at
which prayers will not be held.
New Years Day is looked upon
by ne Jews with peculiar vcaeTatlon,
and the method Of observance is very
unlike that OF their Christian neigh
bors. It is day given Up to prayer
and the ritual OF the synagogue
and this occasion is Of the most
solemn character. This festival is
known by several names: First, as
the Day OF Memorial, day, that is to
say. in which the Jew is eNhorted
to call to memory his deeds during
the past year, with view of amend
men- in the days that are to come.
l. is also known as the Day of Judg-
4nen:. Jewish allegory picture God
on that day as sitting in Judgment
on al His human creatures The
books are opened. in which are re-
corded all the signatures of all the
children of men, and all human souls
PASS by in review before the Creator
as sheep before the shepherd. God
then passes judgment on each accord
ing to his merits, waiting, however
until the Day of Atonement, ten days
later, before passing His final ver-
dict
This thought is we'll expressed in
a we'll known passage of the liturgy,
which runs as follows:
"On the New Years Day il is writ
ten, and on the day Of Atonement
it is sealed. who are to pass away
and who are TO be created; who is
to live and who is to die: who by
heat and who by cold; who by tire
and who by water; who by the
swor;; and who by famine; who by
tempest and who by the plague; who
are 70 be at rest and who are to be
Derturbed: who are to become poor
and who are to become rich; who
arc 20 be humbled and who exalted;
but repentance, prayer and charity
avert the evil Decree.
The last name by which the Jew
ish New Year is known is The Day
Of tl= Blowing OF the Trumphet,"
corrs. made OF rams horn beng
blown in the synagogue during the
service. The symbolism OF the cor
net is, OF course, the trumpet call
to the Israelite to repentance.
Following the New Year come the
ten days OF penitence. In the
sO-rhodox synagogue service is held
every morning, propitiary prayers
are said and the ''shofar' is hike
w;se blown. As climax to the
Ten DAYS of Penitence" comes the
great Day OF Atonement-in marked
contrast to the ten days which have
preceded it. Then follow the joyous
Feast OF Tabernacles, many pious
Israeli1es going so far as to erect
their own booths in literal fulfllment
OF the Biblical precept.
The New Year is the signal tor
homecoming OF Jews, many OF whom
have been spending the summer IN
various resorts at the seashore or
in the country. Children away
from home. il possible, likewise re-
turn 20 the parental rooi. and the
members OF families scattered abroad
during the rest of the year, when
ever possible, take this opportunity
OF bringing their New Years greet
ings II person.