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 Family and
Friends.

Devout Jews throughout the world are
preparing today for the Jewish NoN
Year, or the Feast of Rosh Hashanah
which begins tomorrow at sundown ~,
ends on sundown Monday.
This year, in addition TO offering pray
ers for the safety of loved ones here, Il
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 be anxiousIy 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 foreboding for greetings which
may never come.
1t 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 at any other time never forget to
send greetings today
When the evening star makes It's ap-
pearance in the heavens tomorrow, thus
marking the 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 have sent
their last messages.
The Postofflce force is working over
time so that the mail may be distributed
before the advent according TO the Jew
ish calendar) Of the year $3.50
Tomorrow night at sundown, in accord
anCe with an old Jewish custom, the be-
loved Jewish grandfather or the oldest
member Of the family b.esses the rest
of the family before leaving for the syn
agogue. This custom is observed in every
orthodox home throughout the world, At
the synagogue all will knecl 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
a holy season is commanded in two
passages of the Five Books Of Moses In
neither passage is there any specific COM
mand as 10 how the day is to be observed
beyond the iniunctions to blow the trum-
pet, 10 hold a holy convOcation and 10
engage in no servile occupation The day
is the first of the seventh month or Jpe
day of the new moon Of that month.
The new moon was observed a holy
season by the Jews Of old; the seventh
month was a particularly holy month, a :
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 hoIier 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 "shofaT" became the cen
tral figure nf the elaborate religious ser
vice conducted on the day.
Il 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 thus
come TO embody the great religious ideas
of divine justice and human resporsi-
bility.