The San Francisco call., 1909-09-17
SERVICES USHER IN
JEWISH new YEAR
Sacred Festival of ROsh HOsh-
anah Observed in All
Hebrew Temples

Impressive services were held yester-
day in the Hebrew temples of wor-
ship, marking the opening of the year
500 of the Jewish calendar Rosh
Hoshahanah, as the new year is known,
is one of the most sacred of the holi-
days of Israel. The work Of the day
is laid aside and the devout followers
of the ancient faith give themselves
over TO thought of the higher life and
to the contemplation of the rich heri-
tage that has come down TO them. hal
lowed through the centuries. The cere-
monies, expressing the deep religious
fervor of ages, call forth anew each
year the traditional melodies and po-
etry that inspired a struggling and
steadfast people of long ago.
The blowing of the shofar, or rams
horn, one of the features of the serv-
ices, formed an appropriate theme
upon which many of the discourses
were based. Again was the sacred
sentiment repeated: Happy the peo-
pie that know the joyful sound; they
walk, o. Lord, in the. light of thy
countenance."
In all the synagogues of the city
the attendance was unusually large.
The special music was noteworthy
feature of the observance, augmented
clsoirs appearing at both morning and
evening ceremonies. ,.e.+
SERMON BY RABBI KAPLAN
At the Bush street temple, Rabbi B.
NJ Kaplan spoke of three aspects of
the new year: the philosophical, the
sentimental. and the symbolical. He
said in part:
God is the ultimate authority of
morality Morality, without God, can
not prevail. Upon this occasion we
should remember the great sacrifices
our forefathers made in the cause of
religion, so that we of the present
generation may make some sacrifice to
hold sacred these ideals. The very
sufferings that our forefathers endured
for religion and morality are cherished
as a source of satisfaction, for to suf-
fer for an ideal is the greatest delight
of the soul.
This idea was well illustrated in
the case of the poet Bjonsen. He was
asked what was the happiest moment
in his life. He had stood firm for
the rights of the people against a GER
tain element in parliament. One day
some of his opponents went to his
home and hurled stones at his win
dows- AS they left, they sang the
said, was the happiest moment of his
life. This is the case with the Jews
Today all denominations sing the
psalms they composed
In the blowing of the shofar we
have symbol to remind us of the final
summons that must come and for which
we must prepare. Judaism does not
want to brood over death, but to pre-
pare for the higher life. Many are
inclined to conduct themselves as
though they intended to live forever.
This day reminds us that we are here
only temporarily and should think of
the other life"
At the Geary street synagogue Rabbi
NJ S. Levy addressed himself to the
theme: AS the sheep pass in review
before the shepherd, so Israel passes
before God on this day of judgment"
He asked his congregation If it be-
lieved in day of judgment, and con-
tinued:
Il do believe in the day Of Judgment.
Some may regard it as poetry. regard
it as fact. Every day is a day of judg
ment. The lesson should impress upon
US our duty to God and to our homes"
CONGRATULATED CONGREGATION
At the close of the services Doctor
Levy congratulated the congregation
on it's efforts in bringing to completion.
the splendid temple In Geary street, and
expressed the hope that next1-year.
might find the debt cleared. Services
will be held in the synagogue this
morning at 7:15-
Rev. Julian Morgenstern of Cincin-
natl oficiated at Temple Emanuel.
Through President -Lippman Sachs. the
congregation received a telegram of
good wishes and an acceptance of the
pastorate from Rabbi Martin A. Never
of Brooklyn. Doctor Meyer. who is
San Franciscan by birth and early edu-
cation, was recently invited to preside
as rabbi at the temple, succeeding the
late DIR. Jacob Voorsanger. The musi-
cal service at Temple Emanuel was
under the direction OF Cantor E.
Stark, and was particularly beautiful
At Temple Israel, at California and
Webster streets, Rabbi Jacob Nieto
spoke on a theme appropriate to the
day. Rabbi M. NJ. Golden presided at
the services at Corinthian hall, at 2135
Sutter street Lewis Wiener delivered
an interesting sermon, in which he
sketched the rise of Judaism Lucius