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 We'll
as of Fervent Prayer fo,
Welfare of Family and
Friends.

Devout Jews throughout the world :.
preparing today for the Jewish Ma
Year, or the Feast of Rosh Hasb.n.,
which begins tomorrow at sundown a.,
ends on sundown Monday.
This year, in addition to offerinz 49,
ers for the safety of loved ones here ,
fervant prayer will be offered for a..
safety of those who are in war.r,dd.'
Europe.
There will be happiness and sorrov 4.
the messages borne to every tor,,.,
household today on the New Year csrS.
and the postman, especially in ~,
Ghetto, Will be anxiously awaited
1t is possible, too. that the cona,,,
across the sea will figure largely in ~
messages. On account of the toI, 's :.
war there are many here waiting wi,s n,
much foreboding for greetings which
may never come.
II viii not he necessary for the letter
carrier TO ring the bell or knock at ths
door of the homes In the Ghetto III
anxious ones there have been waitins
too long for the eve of the New Ysar
Those loved ones abroad who do nn,
write at any other time never forget "a
send greetings today
When the evening star makes its an.
pearance in the heavens tomorrow TIM,
marking the beginning of the worshin
those who did not receive the c,lstomary
annual greeting will lift their ewes to.
ward heaven and invoke the divine Prov.
idence to protect those who have sent
their last messages.
The Postofficc force Is working ovsr.
time so that the mail may be distributed
before the advent according to the Jew.
ish calendar) of the year 5615.
Tomorrow night at sundown in accord.
ance with an old Jewish custom, the be.
loved Jewish grandfather or the Oldest
member of the family blesscs the rest
of the family before leaving for the svn.
agosue. This custom is observed in every
orthodox home throughout the world AT
the synagogue all will kneel in PRAYER,
giving thanks for gifts of the last year
and asking divine blessing for the ensu.
ing year.
The observance of the Jewish New Year
as Il holy season is commanded in two
passages of the Five Books of Moses. In
neither passage is there any specific com.
mand as to how the day Is to he observed
beyond the iniunctions to blow the trum.
pet, to hold a holy Convocation and to
engage in no servile occupation The day
is the first of the seventh month or the
day Of the new moon of that month.
The new moon was observed as HOLY
season by the Jews of old; the seventh
month was 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
significance of far holer import than the
other new moon days of the year Ths
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.
1t is the prevailing idea that on this
day God weighs mems actions in the
scales of justice. New Years Day In
the passing of the centuries has thuI
come to embody the great religious ideas
of divine Justice and human resporsi
biity.