The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-27
Observance of High Holidays
Begins in Topeka Today.
Ten Days of Penitence VIII
Reach Climax Oct. z.
TO CLOSE STORES THURSDAY
Orthodox Hebrews VIII Cele-
brate Only Two Days.
Date of Year Set for First New
Moon of Fall.

q Today is New Years day for the
Jewish people of the city, according TO
the Jewish calendar, the new year De
ginning at shutdown this evening. AT
f. that time the congregation or Iia Ia
Israel of Topeka will assemble at us
hall AIS Kansas avenue, TO peSlIi -
7. observance of the Jewish high nom
days. the ten days of pen1tence' "niCH
reach their climax in the ON hlP-
? -. ;, +ba dav of atonement, october I.
According to the Jewish enumeration
TODAY marks the beginning of the year
Ke7T Rabbi Gordon, the well known
divine of Kansas City. will otficlate as
: high priest during the services
3 Strictly orthodox JEWISH N s se1s1,
-ars will close their stores THURSDAY
The unique part of the observance
Of New Years day lies in the fact that
aorthodox Hebrews celebrate Two Jays
It is shutdown in Jerusalem lhal uS"0
IN the New Year and sundo"h IN
3 Jerusalem is about o'clock In the
I, I, ,,sa,.r,f,e, here and to be on the safe
side both today and tomorrow are eel
4ebrated. The date of the new year
ie set by the occurrence OF the IlrsC
new moon of the fall. which this year
happens to be the 27th. ~.
The services for the two New
Years days are especlaIy d1eaIiinr
Prayers in prose and poetry oWeiiIns
,tDon Gods Judgment of man, are re-
: cited and sung.
Sound RAMS Horn.
The rams horn, the Shofar," sum-
Z nnoninR men to prayer and repent
ance is sounded in all synagogues. AT
tbe end of the services the worshlpers
greet each other with, May you De
written down for a good new year
The significance of this expression
lies in the belief that ION the new year
ali the inhabitants of the earth pass
I before Him as sheep before a shep-
. herd" 1t is a day of judgment when
the sins and the merits are weighed
by the Divine Judge. three DOCKS
lie open before the Most High. In one
book the Book of Life, the names OF
the perfectly righteous are inscribed;
in the second book, the Book of Death,
are the names of the utterly wicked,
and the third book is for the ordinary
.'middle type" of man, in whose behalf
Judgment is suspended thru the ten
s DAYS of penitence. until the day of
j. atonem ent, when the decision is nnaIy
made and recorded.
Day of Sorrow.
The New Years day observance is
one of sorrow now because of the
many centuries tribulations of the
Jews. At one time, tho, 1t was one or
rejoicing. Dancing, feasting and pleas
IRE marked the day In ancient times.
The earth. symbolized as a mother,
was supposed to have become quick
ened with new life on that day Life
in the world was created anew. Stu
dents tell us that from this observing
of the annual recreation of life that
the high belief of the Jews in immor-
7 tally was attained.
T. A little of the joy of the ancient eel
? ebration is still retained in some of
the customs.
In the home honey and fruits are
eaten and the pious wish expressed
May il be Thy will to renew to us a
good and sweet year" Strictly ortho-
dox Jews will go down tomorrow
to the Kaw, and from the Melan
bridge will shake crumbs from their
clothes and recite in Hebrew this verse
from Micah, and you will cast into
the depths of the sea all their sins"