New Britain herald., 1925-09-12
JEWS PLANNING FOR
 NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
Rabbi HadaS Describes What
 This Means to Hebrew People
By RABBI GERsEHN HApAs

By RABBI GERSEHN HADAs
 Next Friday night ushers in the solemn festival of the New Year It Is celebrated for two days-Saturday and Sunday, the 18th and goth or nptember.
 Every Jewish holiday except New Near and the day of Atonement, has It's place in the calendar because of its agricultural character or its his torical importance. These two days, however, are of personal rather than national value. They have deep sSAsitual significance, for on these days man turns his eye inward and searches his soul. On these days each man pauses in his pursuit aft CT the things of this earth and pom ders on such things as sin, repen- tence, forgiveness and immortality.
 So next Friday night, in every Jewish home the table will be spread as usual for the Sabbath. Candles will be lghted the Challos two oaves of bread, covered with cloth, and the Kiddush cup will grace the table. But now, in honor of the New Year we see grapes and honey, and apples to dip in the honey, as an omen of sweetness and good luck. For Rosh Hashonoh means the first of the year. It falls on the first day of the seventh Hebre" month, Tishrt. According to the Bible Nissan is the first month, to commemorate the exodus from Egypt, but the civil year dates from Tishri,
 Since ancient times the appearance of the moon was regarded AS a solemn occasion, a time for atone ment for past sins, time to pray for success and health. There were special prayers and sacrifices for the new moon. It was time for re- loicing and gladness
 The number seven has always seen sacred to the Jews. Sabbath IS the seventh day, the seventh year vas the sabbatical year, seven Sao- hatical years made a jubilee. The seventh new moon was observed as the most sacred. All joyousness vanished before it's solemnity. Every morning during the preceding month the Shofar of rams horn was blown to impress the people with the tact that the day was approaching on which they would stand before the Divine Throne for judgment, Each san would strive with repentehce and nraver to make his peace with God, that God might be mlndtul ol him and be merciful to him Aha' is why the day is also calleu '"7 "Day of Memorial
 In Bible times the shofar was used to call the people to war 'o announce excommunicatlon, to her- ald great day. The prophet Amos asks; shall the Shofar be blown III q city and the people not be afraid The imnressiveneSs of the sound eA- n,ains the rse of the Shofar on thlS 1ay, It is blown during the seFNlce hv an expert. called Boal-Ieklah' who is assisted by 3 Makrl or nrompter who calls out the Naflo"s nonbinations of notes. When one or t1,a days of the New Year falls on tbe sabbath, the Shofar is not hlo"n'
 Most of the prayers in the serVlce are based on the theme that Hou is king over all the world with su- nreme power over life. over ana over again comes the refraln- l1l- scrihe us for life, O King who de- rrh+ost in life, Write us in the Book of Life for Thy sake, o living God"
 Tradition has it that each year we are judged according to our deserts The worthy are inscribed in the Book of Life. The unworthy are doomed to death. Those between the two extremes have an oppof- tnnity during the next ten days un- til the day of Atonement, to pray that the decree may not be harsh These ten days are called Sollcho'h (forgivcnessl. These days really be gin the Sunday before the holldaF'
 A custom that is rarely observed in America has prevailed for years among orthodox Jews. On the nrS' day of New Year men, women ana children go to a nearby river, where tbov cast crumbs of bread into the water, and pray. They hope that thatr sins will vanish as the crumbs do Tho custom is called Tashlich' from a phrase found in Micah, chap for r "Thou wilt cast CTashlich) all their sins into the depths of the sea" It can be traced back to the ancient custom to pray hy the watorsidp.
 Tash)ch Is fast dying out ir America but another custom has taken deep root-that of sending greeting cards with wishes for harnv vear-"L 'Shonoh Tovoh Ii kosoy" (may you be inscribed for good yearf.
 The local congregation has made elaborate preparations tor the serV' Iices for Rosh Hashonoh. The initia service will be on Sunday morning al 30 when the Selichoth (penitentia pravers) will be recited. The holi- { day proper begins on Friday. Sep tenber i2 at sundown and extends through Sunday at sundown There will be services on each evening anc morning of the two days.
 The congregation rGs provided mnior service with 8 special choir.