JEWISH NEW YEAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 258, 28 September 1935, Page 2

JEWISH NEW YEAR.

CELEBRATED TO-DAY. To-day in their synagogues and temples throughout the world, Jews gathered to celebrate their incoming New Year, 5096. Not with frivolous or noisy festivities, but the solemn and serious mood, with prayer and meditation, the Jew ushers in tlie New Year. The blowing of the Sliofar, a ram’s horn, constitutes a characteristic and unique feature of the service. Its sound symbolises to Jews tlie clarion call to repentance and spiritual regeneration. Judaism lias invested the Now Year festivities with peculiar and antique solemnity. AA’ith it begins the an’nual 10-day period of repentance, culminating in the holiest day in tlie Jewish year, the Day of Atonement. New Year Day is also designated in Jewish lore the Day of Memory, or the Day of Judgment. According to tradition, on this day God sits in judgment over the world, and takes account of the deeds of men, of good and of evil.

In the liturgy of the day the Jew prays for the brotherhood of men, for universal peace, for the _ reign of righteousness, and for the Kingdom of God to be speedily established on earth.