Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-16
'ROSH HOSHANA' TO-DAY
Beginning the New Year in the
Hebrew Calendar.
TIME FOR REPENTANCE
Services Held in All the Jewish
Temples.
THIRTY CALLS ON TRUMPET
Rabbi Simon Finds That There Is
Much Reason to Look For
ward Hopefully.

The Jewish world is celebrating today
"Rosh HOshana"-the beginning of the
year $50 of the Hebrew calendar. Serv-
ices BETTING the day were held in all
the Jewish temples of Washington this
morning. The day does not, like most
other Jewish holidays, commemorate any
historical event. but is rather time for
repentance 1t is the most important
day on which God sits in judgment. Three
books of account are opened wherein is
recorded the fate of the wicked, the
righteous and those belonging to an in
termediate class
The new year begins a sacred period
known as the ten days of penitence. The
last of these days. the day of atonement,
is the most solemn of them all; in fact,
the most solemn day of the entire Jew
ish year.
In the olden times there was custom
of partaking of some specially palatable
food on new years eve and last night
the tables in many Jewish homes of
honey. The bread was dipped into the
honey and the following benediction pro-
nounced: May it please the Lord. Our
God and our forefathers, to renew for us
pates the hope that the prayer will be
acceptable. A custom which was in vogue
in the middle ages sometimes prevails
now. 1t was that of greeting one another
with ''Mayest thou be inscribed for a new
year" with reference to the Book of Life
for the righteous.
Observances of the Day.
The day is observed by the Reformed
Hebrews until shutdown this evening. while
the orthodox keep an additional twenty.
four hours. In the Eighth Street Temple
Rabbi Simon preached this morning on
The Old Order Changeth." This was
known the trumpet service, for at the
beginning rams horn was blown be-
speaking not only the old time call for
battle, but for prayer. 1t Is considered
a token of the expected rally when the
children of Israel will once more be called
to worship God in the temple at Jerusalem.
1t is the note calling the people together
to look in remorse over their actions of
the past year, to be hopeful for the COM
ing and to try to see IN how far they
have advanced since last new year.
Thirty sounds were given on the trumpet
in each house of worship. At the AdaS
Israel Temple well as the other syna-
gogueS the same services were held. The
first sound in each instance was long
call which was repeated three times. The
second call was number of short broken
notes, which signifies the broken heart
which realizes its sins. and the third Is
supposed to be the alarm given to arouse
the conscience and the fourth signifies
the forgiveness of God of the repentant
heart. Those were the fundamental sounds
which were repeated until the thirty
sounds had been given.
In his address Rabbi Simon directed
attention to the new order Of things. The
problems of politics. society and other
questions which have arisen within the
year were referred to at length. He called
upon the people to look forward hopefully
to the new change, declaring that there
is much improvement over the old year.
There Is more liberty, more peace and
more justice, he said. this year than in
those which have gone before.
Rabbi Simon also spoke al the temple
last night. Rabbi Egelson ofhciated at
the services in the Adas Israel Temple.
In his sermon last night DIR. simon
said: "Rosh Hoshana is our protest
against materialism. 1t is not a day. Dui
an atmosphere 1t is to be felt rather
than thought. 1t is not time, but a
spirit 1t is sacred to the Jew, for 1t
has come down to him through many
generations Of ancestors. Around 1t are
some of the dearest recollections Of his
heart. 1t cannot be divorced from his
affections.
.'The day means loyalty. 1t means
that we are loyal to our race, our re-
Igion and our God. The Jew has seen
nature and loved it, but he has always
seen the mighty force behind this Je-
hovah. He has seen the spirit. the force.
behind all the things OF this world. and
he has never lost sight of them.
January / means an inventory and a
stock taking. 1t is a time when we re-
view our past and make resolutions for
our future; a day when 1--WE can figure
out profits. But Rosh Hoshana, our New
Year, is a day OF the heart. 1t touches
the most sacred things within his reach
1T is on this night, therefore. that the
deepest and most spiritually significant
elements Of our faith stand out. and we