The Paducah weekly sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1902-19??, 1906-09-19
JEWISH NEW YEAR
BEGINS TOMORROW
Origin of Observance When Israel
Occupied Palestine and Season
OF Work Commenced.
WHAT CELEBRATION MEANS

The Jewish New Year, which be-
gins Wednesday eve and whose OBJ
servance is continued until sunset
Thursday, is, next to the Day of
Atonement. the most solemn day in
Israel's calendar of holidays. Its OBJ
servance dates back several centuries
prior to the present era. When Is
rael dweit in Palestine, and was en-
gagged in filling the soil, and ali of
its principal festivals were deter
minedeDd characterized by some par
ticular phase in agricultural life, as
blowing, seeding, growth and reaping
of the grain and harvesting.
The New Year marked the begin
ming of agricultural activities in Pal
estine, and hence the opening OF the
economic year. After the Jews were
deprived of their fatherland and
we're scattered Throughout the world,
the observance of this day was, new
ertheless, continued, though its char
acter and significance were some
what changed. Since the Jews were
usually governed in civil and eco
nomic matters by the laws and GUS
toms that prevailed in the lad where
in they dwelt, this day came to be
regarded by the Jews as the New
Year less in a civil, and more in a
religious sense, as 1t marks the be-
ginning of Israel's season
Based upon the passage Lev. xxi,
"a; Speak unto the children of
Israel, saying. in the seventh month,
on the first day of the month. shall
be a solemn rest unto you, a mem
orial of blowing of trumpets a holy
convention" it came to be regarded
primarily as day of memorial, "
and as the Judgment day." when all
the inhabitants of the world. accord
ing to an old rabbinical interpreta-
tons, pass before the Creator for
Judgment. Hence the day became
one of most solemn significance, and
was largely given over to reflection
and self-examination, and the days
intervening between its commence
ment and the close of the "day of
atonement," were designated as the
days of penitence. or the season of
repentance Not that man could not,
or would not repent on any other
day, for it was a common saying.
repent one day before thy death
q. e. every day, for no man knoweth
the day of his DEATH, by the rabbi
of old, understanding well that there
is a time for everything. and know
ing that in the strain and stress of
every day life, most men find but
little time for reflection and self
scrutiny and repentance, thought It
desirable that man should have a
special season of self-communion and
repentance, during which he might
live on a higher and loftler spiritual
and moral pane.
1t is the beginning of this season,
that the holiday, which falls on
Thursday next marks, and so deeply
has it entered into the consciousness
of the jewish people, and so great is
the tradition and the age and the
convention attached to IL, that al
most every one who calls himself
Jew will observe this day and the
Day of Atonement. even though he
observes nothing Else that is Jewish.
Nearly every Jewish house through
out the country is closed on the day,
and all work and labor suspended.
The New Year day has its own
joyful and joyous aspect, too, even
as the civil New Year has. New
Year cards are sent from one to the
other and New Years greetings and
visits are commonly exchanged. Thus
IL becomes a day OF serious con
temptation and self-communlon on
the one hand, and day of hope and
cheer and good fellowship on the