Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-09-25
JEWISH NEW YEAR.

Side ana other sections OF the city
where Hebrews are congregated in
large numbers. there is an air OF
subdued excitement in anticipation
OF the ushering in OF Rosh Hosh-
anah, or the first day OF Jewish New
Year 1868. When the sun sinks be-
hind the horizon this evening, the
two million Jews i'm the United
States will begin their New Year
celebration. The more pious OF the
race will turn their faces toward
the synagogues, while the backslid-
ers and those who have become in
different 20 the faith OF their faith
ers will begin n period OF merr!-
ment. In this city, many Jewish
merchants will close their places of
business tonight and will indulge In
holiday period over tomorrow and
Sunday.
The Jewish calendar contains two
New Year days. Rosh Hashanah is
held by tradition to be the day on
which God created the earth. 1t
| falls either In September or October
OF the Christian year. being reckon
ed by the new moon OF the seventh
month, Tishri. Abb is the first
month in the religious year. and
corresponds with March orApril,
the year dating from the moon after
the vernal equinox. The prophets
l. nj m
those in secular employment reckon
1t by the civil.
1t seems to have been a general
custom among semitic peoples 10
count their year as beginning in the
fall synchronous with the harvest
festival, and, since all semitic peo-
pie arrange their calendar accord
Ing to the phases OF the moon IL can
be readily understood why, follow
ing the ancient custom. the Jewish
New Year occurs in the fall. And
because OF this discrepancy between
the lunar and solar years there is a
few days variation from year TO
year in the date of the celebration
according to current calendar.
Tho celebration OF Rosh Has
hanah Is established by Mosaic pre-
cept. In Levitlcus xiii. "a and 25.
1t says: Speak unto the children
OF lsreal, saying in the seventh
month. in the first day OF the month
shall We have Sabbath. a memorial
of blowing trumpets, a holy con yo-
cation. Ye shall do no servile work
therein. but ye shall offer an OFFER
ing made by fire unto the Lord"
Different from the ordinary con-
ception Rosh Hoshanah has deep
religious significance. 1t is called
In the Bible. the day OF remember
ance. the day OF Judgment and the
day of blowing the shofar. or trum-
pet. 1t is more than anything else
really the preparation for The great
Yom Ripped, or Day of A-onement
The days between Rosh Hos
hanah and Yom Kippur are known
as the awful day, or the ten days of
penitence, each OF which is observed
as half-feast day by the more orr
thodox Jews. while the Yom Kippur
itself is invariably observed as a
complete fast.
The rabbinical allegory that on
Rosh Hoshanah God commands the
recording angel to open the books
of each ones sins and merits. leav-
ing the record open to be finally
and irrevocably closed on the Yom
Kippur, indicates at once the signl-
ficance of the day and the approp-
rate ness of calling the New Year
the day of remembrance, judgment
and OF blowing the shofar
Business is generally suspended
in Hebrew commercial circles dur
ing the New Years celebration
The Jewish temples and synagogues
are thronged with worshippers
Among the orthodox Hebrews the
festival lasts two days. The Re
formed Jews celebrate it for one
day only. AS the priestly success
sion has been lost. the burnt offer
ing can no longer be made. The
trumpets are blown.