Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-09-14
JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.
FIRST OPENED TODAY
Procession Carries Old and New
Bibles TO New Place Of Worship
Jewish New Year Begins.

Jewish New Year Begins.
The opening OF the new Jewish
| synagogue on Pennsylvania avenue
this afternoon with the unique eere.
mony of carrying The Bibles there BY
the congregation is a prelude 20 the
Rosh Hoshanah OF the Jewish New
Year, which begins tomorrow evening
al shutdown.
AS has been told in the columns of
this paper. the Jewish congregation,
OF Martinshurg. numbering fifteen fam.
ilies or a population OF some ifty or
sixty. some months ago purchased the
FOLD First United Brethren church.
Lately the church has been trans.
formed into synagogue and as such
was used this afternoon for the first
1 time for a Hebrew ceremony. This
was the removal of the old and new
Bibles from the home OF Rabbi Nor.
7 ris Levin, on Liberty street, TO the
/ synagogue on Pennsylvania avenue
I which, according to Jewish rites and
traditions. Is a ceremony Of much
lsolemnity
This occasion was graced by the
presence of Rabbi Morris Baron, OF
Cumberland, who arrived here on No.
6. The stores and other business
places OF the Jews closed at $3.50 and
they then assembled at the home OF
Rabbi NJ. Levin on Liberty street.
Headed by six members OF the City
Band the Jewish congregation. men
women and children marched 10 the
synagogue Behind the band came
four boys carrying a plush velvet can
opy, supported by four sticks or poles
These boys were l.. Hack. Samuel
Fine, Benjamin Sklar and Allen Katz
/ Under this canopy walked the person
carrying the Bible old and new, and
this was performed in turn by every
member of The congregation On
either side OF the canopy marched the
flag bearers :. Fine carried the
American flag while y. Levin carried
the Jewish flag of silk, the colors being
blue. yellow and white.
Arriving at the synagogue Rabbi
Baron delivered an address in the
course of which he congratulated the
Hebrew congregation upon acquiring
such comfortable place of worship.
The new Bible was received yester-
] day. According to Jewish custom cen.
turtles old 1t is written by hand on
calfsldn and not printed In bookform.
1t cost $2o2 and rolls up like scroll.
There will be services tomorrow
evening in the synagogue commencing
at $50 and continuing for an hour
or two. Thursday the services will be
from to and again at $50 p. m.
and Friday the same. During these
solemn services all Jewish places of
business will be closed by the ortho.
dox Hebrews.
The Jewish holiday season begins
somewhat earlier this year than 9TH
er years. The first holiday is the New
Year, or Rosh Hashanah, which oc-
ours this year on Thursday, the New
Year eve being on Wednesday eve
ming.
In the jewish tradition the Rosh
Hashanah marks the anniversary of
the creation of the world, supposed to
have taken place 5673 years ago.
hence the Jewish year beginning with
this New Years day will be known as
the year 5673.
Rosh Hashanah or New Year Is one
of the festivals ordained in the Bible.
Leyiticus XAIIT, "a. 25. where we
read, In the seventh month, in the
first day of the month, shall We have a
Sabbath, memorial OF trumpets, and
holy convocation. We shall do no SER
vile work therein" AS we note from
! The Biblical wording. the New Years
day Is intended as day Of memorial,
of remembrance, when net only Coo
calls to nina everything His children
have done during the past year, to
pass Judgment on them according to
their works, but when the children of
God should remember their deeds and
properly emaluate them.
Also, according to the Biblical pre-
scription, the Shofar or rams horn or
trumpet Is solemnly sounded a num-
Der OF times in the Jewish house OF
worship to arouse the conscience OF
the worshippers.
In order to prepare for the solemn
holy season. the orthodox jew for
some days before the New Years day
arises at earliest dawn and repairs TO
the synagogue where penitential pray
ers are intoned in a special mournful
chant This early morning service
continues during the New Years day
until the day of Atonement.
In many communities especially In
Europe, II is customary for the Jews
to congregate on the afternoon OF the
New Year near running stream
whore In addition to certain peniten-
tial prayers verses 1920 from the sew
enth chapter of Micah are read, end
/ ing with Thou wilt cast all their sins
into the depths Of the sea- In some
districts crumbs Of bread are thrown
into the waters symholical OF the sins
to be forgiven.
The New Years day is one Of sol