Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-19
JEWISH NEW YEAR
BEGINS TOMORROW
AT THE SET OF sun
Day of Rejoicing as Well
as of Fervent Prayer for
Welfare of amily and
Friends.

Dcvout Jews throughout the world n
preparing today for the Jewish NJ
Year, or the Feast Of Rosh Hashana|
which begins tomorrow at sundown n
ends on sundown Monday
This year, in addition to offering pray
ers for the safety of loved ones here, a
fervant prayer will be offered for the
safety of those who are in war-ridden
Europe.
There will be happiness and sorrow in
the messages borne TO every Jewish
household today on the New Year cards,
and the postman. especially in the
Ghetto, will he anxiousy awaited.
1t is possible too that the conflict
across the sea will figure largely in the
messages. on account Of the toll of
war there are many here waiting with
much forcboding for greetings which
may never come.
II will not be necessary for the letter
carrier to ring the bell or knock at the
door of the homes in the Ghetto The
anxious ones there have been waiting
too long for the eve of the New Year.
Those loved ones abroad who do not
write al any other time never forget to
send greetings today.
When the evening star makes its ap-
pCaranCo in the heavens tomorrow. thus
marking tho beginning of the worship
those who did not receive the customary
annual greeting will lift their eyes to-
ward heaven and invoke the divine Prov
idenCe to protect those who nave sent
their last messages.
The PostOffCe force Is working over
time SO that the mail may be distributed
before the advent ,aCCordng to the Jew
ish calendar of the year 56I5.
Tomorrow night at suudown, in accord
ance with an old Jewish custom, the he
loved Jewish grandfather or the Oldest
member of the family blesses the rest
Of the family before leaving for tho syn
agogue. This custom is observed in every
orthodox home throughout tho world. At
the synagogue all will kneel in prayer,
giving thanks for gifts of the last year
and asking divine blessing for the cnsu-
ing year,
Tho observance of the Jewish New Year
as a molly season is commanded in two
passages Of the Five Books of Moses. IN
neither passage is there any specific COM
maud as 10 how the day is to be observed
beyond the iniunCtluns to blow the trum-
pet to hold a holy COnvOcaton and t0
engage in no servilc occupation, The day
is the first Of the seventh month or the
dav Of the new moon of that month,
The new moon was observed az holy
season by the Jews of old; the seventh
month was a particularly holy month, as
the seventh day was the holy day of the
week The new moon Of the seventh
month was therefore invested with a
significance of far holier import than the
other new moon days Of the year, The
Injunction to blow the trumpet on this
day was To call the people TO remem-
brance before the Lord, This ceremony
of blowing the "shofar" became the cen
tral figure Of the elaborate religious ser
vice conducted on the day.
II is the prevailing idea that m this
dsv God weighs mems actions in tbs
scales Of justice. New Years Day II
he nasstne of the centuries has thu.
come 10 embody the great religious ideas
OF divine justice and human response
bility.