THE JEWISH NEW YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6827, 3 October 1883, Page 5

THE JEWISH NEW YEAR.

The New Year's service at the Jewish Synagogue yesterday forenoon was crowded—inconveniently eo, and showing the necessity for the erection of the proposed new synagogue being carried out. The service was conducted by the Rev. S. A. Goldstein, assisted by Mr. A. H. Nathan, President of the Jewish congregation. The sermon was based on the text taken from the Ethics of the Sages, " The day is short, the work is great, and the labourers are slothful; the reward is ample, and the Master of iihe House urges us on." In reference to this feaifc, one of the most important amongst the Jews, the following command is given in the lavif of Moses, Nums. xxix. 1, 2: "And in thi'i seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work; it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the Lord ; one young bullock, one ram, and several U.mbs of the first year without blemish." On this festival, which received, anil still bca'.'s amongst the Jews the name of the Feast of Trumpets, the people assemblt'd from all parts of Palestine at Jerusalem, sacrifices wtire offered up, silver trumpets were blown from morning till night, the Levites read passages from the law, and gave instructions to the people. This season whs reckoned peculiarly favourable for the commencement of any undertaking. Among tho modem Jews the first and second days of Tisri are still separated by a cessation from all. unnecessary labour, and the observance of protracted services in the synagogue. It is a Rabbinical notion that the. world was created on this day, and that Qod sits in judgment on mankind on thiß first day ot t»e year. The special services of the synagogue are thus described by Mr. Allen :—"ln the morning service, after.the lessons from the iaw and the prophets, they blow a trumpet or cornet, which is required to be made of rams horn, in memory of the ram which was substituted for Isaac on Mount Moriah. Tho prayers make frequent allusion to the transaction, which the raDbis affirm to huve happeued on this day. The blowing of the cornet is preceded by a grace; and as soon aB it has been sounded the reader proclaims, 1 Happy is the people who know the joyful sound. 0 Lord ! in the light of thy countenance shall they- walk.' In the ' History and Literature of tho Israelites,' by the Misses Rothschild, the following passage occurs: 'On the first day of the seventh month, a day of memorial, or a day of blowing the trumpet, was commanded to be kept.' Its character is not described: in the Bible beyond being designated as a day on which no work was to be done, and solemn satrifloes were to be offered to God. liufc Jewish, tradition, working out every allusion to Scripture, considers it as the commencement of the religious year, and, morever, as the beginning of a season of penitence,- -which culminates in the Day of Atonsment, solemnised on the tenth of the same month."