The New York herald., 1921-10-02
JEWISH NEW YEAR
TO START TONIGHT
People All Over World Will
Unite in Observing Their
Significant Holy Day.
PUBLIC WORSHIP IN U. s.
Y0m Kippur, or Day Of Atone
ment, Takes Place This
Year on Oct. IL.

Beginning tonight and continuing
until to-morrow's sunset Jews the world
over will observe their New Year. Among
orthodox Jews second day will be OBJ
served. Tuesday. October A. The vast
majority of Jews regard the New Year
as one of the two most significant holy
days of the Jewish calenS,lf, ranking
with the Day of Atonement, which Is
ten days later. az the most solemn In
the synagogue.
Greetings from President Harding will
appear In this weeks. issue of The Jes1-
tsh Tribune. Tho message follows:
On the occasion Of the celebration of
Rosh Hashonah am glad to express my
sincerest good wishes and goodwill for
the Jewish people of the United States
and their coreligionists throughout the
world. We cannot too often remind our
selves Of the great service the Jewish
people have rendered and are still rem
dering to the world. 1t Is good to know
that we live in q day in which ancient
prejudices are fast being obliterated.
and that the usefulness Of the Jewish
people to all mankind Is being constant
ly increased by reason of this fact-"
Unlike the secular New Year. Rosh-
Hashanah, the Hebrew name for this
holy day. Is an occasion. of spiritual
stimulation and direction. Its Biblical
basis is found in Leviticus 23 IA. where
1t is writtenI I'm the seventh month, In
the frat day Of the month, shall be a
solemn rest unto you, a memorial pro-
claimed with the blast of horns. holy
convocation."
From this Mosaic injunction there has
been evolved the ceremony Of the sho-
far. or blowing of the rams horn. which
is merely symbol to remind the wor-
shippers that each person has duties and
responsibilities that cannot be shirked
or delegated to another. According to
rabbinical legend. New Years Day
marks the anniversary of the creation of
the world. According to this tradition
the ensuing year will be the 56s2d of
the existence Of the world. There Is a
more valuable tradition which regards
the New Years Day as marking the an
niversary of the creation of man. hence
n universal holiday, the birthright of all
humanity.
Sounding of the Shofar.
The modern celebration of Rosh Ha-
shanah in reform synogogues includes
the sounding of the shofar only as
symbolism, with the spiritual purpose
of arousing within the congregants q
consciousness OF their obligations of
service toward all to whom they are
bound. whether as members of one fam
lily or as citizens and fellow country
men. The individuals personal conduct
is the subject of review, and new reso-
lutions and fresh ideals Of righteous
ness and service are the purpose of this
day. Among the orthodox Jews there
is the survival of an ancient practice,
dating, it is said. from the fourteenth
century called Tashlich. In accord with
which congregation foregathers along
a stream or some body of water and
symbolically casts its sins into tho
depths.
Am srican Jews will observe the New
Year by public worship. in synagogue
and temple. and by exchange of greet
ings on the part of friends and relatives
In the home. The intent of the day is
tc ren sw friendship and strengthen fell
lowslip among those bound to one an
other by ties of love and mutual SER
vice.
The Day of Atonement. or Yom Kip
pur In Hebrew. will take place this year
on Wednesday, October IL. IT is OBJ
served with great solemnity and scru-
pulous care from sunset on Tuesday to
sunset on Wednesday by Jewish people
the world over. The celebration of Yom
Kippur Is of great antiquity. and the
occasion is regarded as the holiest in
the calendar