The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-09-11
JEWISH new YEAR
BEGAN YESTERDAY
BSERVE ROSH HASHANAH
FESTIVAL. IMPORTANT FOR
ALL JEWISH PEOPLE.

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Ha
shanah, began yesterday Monday
evening, September 10th, and will last
through the today. 1t is purely re-
ligious occasion and in that spirit 1t
will be solemnly celebrated in every
synagogue and temple throughout the
world. Among the orthodox an addi-
tional day is kept with prayers, Titan
les and songs equal in fervor to those
OF the first day
Rosh Hashanah registers the pro-
foundest convictions of the Jewish
people. Together with the Day of
Atonement, which occurs ten days la
ter, it has always had unique hold
on the Jewish people the world over
Biblical scholars maintain 1t was
instituted after the time of Ezra, at
least four hundred years before the
common era. 1t is natural to suppose
that throughout the ages the holy day
underwent certain changes as to IN
depreciation and mode of observance.
At no time, however, did it resemble
the celebration which ushers in the
secular new year. According to the
Jewish teachers New Year was an eX-
cellent psychological moment to in
culcate a moral lesson and remind
men and women of their obligations
to God and man.
The Biblical basis for the New
Year is found in Leviticus 1924,
where it said; In the seventh month,
in the first day of the month, shall be
a solemn rest unto you, memorial
proclaimed with the blast of horns, a
holy COnVoCatiOn"
There are evidences that Babylo-
man rites did at one time prevail in
the celebration of the New Year. But
the leaders Of Jewish thought in an
cient and modern times Counteracted
them and sought to make the first day
of the Hebrew month Tishri day of
divine judgment. This does not mean
day of fire and birthstone and the
rod of chastimement. Purging the day
of hilarious rites, a pagan custom, the
leaders transformed it into an OcCa-
sion for high resolve and sincere self
searching.
The symbolism of the day was used
with great effectiveness in driving
home the moral lesson of repentance.
The sounding of the rams horn (Sho-
far was to remind the congregation
to repent Of their sins and to improve
their ways.
The Shofar blasts were intended to
signify three dominant ideals of the
religion OF Israel. These blasts pro-
claimed the fact that God is King all
over the earth, that He is Judge of
mans deeds and thoughts and that He
lis Ruler who proves throughout. the
ages that righteousness and justice are
ultimately triumphant.
The New Years day is therefore
sort of Judgment day According to
Judaism, judgment day is not held al
ter man has departed this world. On
the contrary judgment day takes place
annually in this life in order to make
man the better prepared for service
to humanity.
Legend has it that this is the 5684th
year since the world has been created.
This fiction is no longer seriously en-
tertained The medieval custom of go
ing to a river or any body of water
to cast ones sins into the depths OF
the sea is likewise obselescent and
only half heartedly carried out. On
Rosh Hashanah greetings are ex-
changed among friends and kindred
and household ties are knit frmer
New Years cards are mailed to friends
and relations.