THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, September 12, 1969-45
Rosh Hashana Quiz
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
(Copyright 1969, JP& Inc.)
Best Wishes For A
Happy New Year
Cantor and Mrs.
HYMAN J. ADLER
and Family
Why is the Jewish New Year festival of Rosh Hashana scheduled
17280 Anna
in the fall of the year, when the Bible counts the months from the
Southfield, Mich. 48075
spring month of Nisan (the month of the Passover)?
Basically, the Jewish tradition concentrates on two historic occa-
sions. One is the creatioe of the world, the other is the Exodus from
I wish all my dear customers
Egypt.
Best Wishes For A Happy
The creation of the world, according to one of the rabbinic author- •
and Healthy New Year
ities, took place in the fall. The Exodus in Egypt, as we know from ;
our observances of the Passover, took place in the spring. Therefore, I
BELLE COOPER
both of these times of the year are marked with special holidays since
from
they are such important focal points in the Jewish tradition.
SMART SET BEAUTY SALON
EL 6-4898
Southfield
The New Year festival which contains a universal element (since
it prays for the peace and welfare of the entire world) is said by some
of the commentators to take place in the fall since the world was then
created and this world of ours is a world for all mankind.
Neu' Year Greetings
and Best Wishes from
The Exodus in the spring was an event especially significant to
the Jewish people since its very existence as a people started with this
MR. AND MRS.
event. The fall month of Tishri had additional significance for a num-
SAM GOLD
ber of other reasons. King Solomon used this period as a time for
dedicating the Temple he built. It was the time of the great gathering
Pointing and Decorating
(llakhel) at which time the King would read the Tora to the people
23400 Church
(Deuteronomy, 31:12).
Oak Pork
544-3988
In the days of Ezra the new government was established at that
time, thus this time of the year was an occasion which commemorated
the redemption of the people of Israel from the Babylonian Diaspora.
May the coming year bring health .
It is interesting to note that the reference to the fall holiday as
happiness and prosperity
ri
to all our
Rosh Hashana was not found in the Bible until the Book of Ezekiel. 'relatives and friends.
There is a great deal of discussion among many critical scholars as to
Mr. and Mrs. David I
why this is so.
The rabbis, however, feel that the occasion of the fall holidays as
Schoichit and Family
a period of judgment goes back at least to the time of Moses who
18929 Snowden
ascended the Mountain of Sinai on the first day of Elul to plead for
Detroit 48235
the forgiveness of his people and did not descend until the 10th day of
Tishri which is the date of the Day of Atonement. It is more of the
emphasis on the Day of Judgment which the rabbis stress than the
fact that a calendar year began on this day of Rosh Hashana.
Best Wishes for the
•
•
•
New Year
Why are the days between and including Rosh Hashana and Yom
MR. and MRS.
Kippur referred to as "Yomim Noraim" (Days of Awe)?
It seems that the first one who referred to these days as such was
PETER HELMAN
Rabbi Jacob Molin (called the "Maharil") who lived in the 14th Cen-
18711 W. 10 Mile Rd.
tury and whose classic work on Jewish customs is the most important
Southfield, Mich. 48075
in understanding the background of our present day customs and cere-
monies. In that book there is a special chapter entitled "The Laws of
Days of Awe" which deals with the various customs involved between
Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and even the month before Rosh
Hashana. Of course, the expression "Days of Awe" refer to the fact
Best Wishes For A Happy
that Rosh Hashana is a Day of Judgment and all mankind is being
and Healthy New Year To All
My Family and Friends
judged for life or death.
It is interesting, however to visualize that Ezra asked the people
to rejoice on this festival and not to be frightened or downcast
(Nehemia. 8:9-12).
Even in the days of Mishna, the holiday still had a character of
happiness. In the days of the Gaonim the Jews in Israel still con-
sidered it a happy holiday and included happy verses in the liturgy •••■•■■•■■•■••■••■■■.•■•■■••■••■■■••■■■■••■••
which are used on the joyous festivals of the year. In the 11th Century i
rabbinic opinions appeared which sought to remove these joys of ex-
MR. and MRS.
i
pression from the liturgy.
SAM COHEN-1
It is no mere coincidence that this century was the century of the
-
1
16835 Whitcomb, Detroit
first crusade and that the opinions appeared in Germany where these
crusades took place. Apparently, the event of the crusades cast a
trish their family and
gloomy shadow over the Jewish community of Western Europe.
friends a Happy and
Finally in the 14th Century the rabbis proclaimed Rosh Hashana 1
healthy New Year
and Yom Kippur as deeply solemn occasions which they have been Abs• ■■■■■•■■•■•■ •••” ■•■■••■•••■•••■■
until this day.
In our concern over life and death, we probably reflect the awe
in which the Western European Jews lived in the medieval times which
A Happy and Prosperous
saw many Jewish communities completely exterminated. It had the
New Year
effect of making the remnants of the people of Israel wonder forever
MRS. BERNARD CHASE
whether or not they were worthy of the gift of life in view of the many
tragic deaths suffered by the Jewish people throughout history.
AND FAMILY
LAURA NUSBAUM
0 00000000000 W'
Happy New Year To Our Friends and Customers
ARTISTE HAIR STYLISTS
Northland Center
Livonia Mall
Oakland Mall
EL 6-0660
474-8844
588-2502
15331 Rosemary Ave.
Ook Park, Mich. 48237
Best Wishes For A Year of
Health, Happiness and
Prosperity
May the New Year Bring
Peace, Health and Prosperity to
All Our Friends and Relatives
Mr. and Mrs. Max Goose
Mrs. Samuel N. Heyman
21731
and Family
Gardner
Oak Park, Mich. 48237
1200 California St.
San Francisco, California 94109
Izmir 1721L1 ITIVO
Best Wishes For A Year of
Health and Happiness To All
Our Friends and Relatives
The Brummer Family
24221
Berkley
Oak Pork, Nlich. 48237
MR. and MRS. Leo Weber
19940 Stout
Cetroit, Mich. 48219
Best Wishes To All Our
Friends and Relatives
For A Happy and Healthy
New Year
Charlotte and Max Segal
May The Coming Year Be Filled
With Health and Happiness For
11 Our Friends and Relatives
BERNARD ISAACS
and FAMILY
425 Euclid Avenue
Son Francisco, Calif. 94118
18975 Robson
Detroit, Mich. 48235
Best Wishes For A Year of
Health and Happiness
Best wishes for a year of
health and happiness to
all our friends and the
entire Jewish Community
MICHAEL GOODMAN
4108 W. 13 Mile Rd.
Royal Oak, Mich. 48072
Rest Wishes For A Year
of Health and Happiness
MR. and MRS.
BERNARD BLOSTEIN
13130 Nadine
Huntington Woods, Mich. 48070.1
MRS. ALEX BELKIN
and FAMILY
28250 Southfield Rd., Room 220
Lathrup Village, Mich. 48075
wish all their family and friends
a very happy and healthy
New Year
MR. and MRS.
GEORGE MAX
16607 Ilene, Detroit
extend to all their relatives
and friends A Happy, Healthy
New Year
Mr. and Mrs. Movsas
Goldoftas
18041
Schaefer
Detroit
Dr. and Mrs. Alex
Friedlaender and Family
8530 Lincoln Drive
Huntington Woods, .Mich. 48070
Extend Best Wishes for a
Happy and Healthy New Year
to All Their Relatives and
Friends
Mrs. Pauline Max and
Mrs. Esther Fine
Wish all their relatives and
friends a year of health
and happiness.
•;
io
‘:.0 O a a 0 0 0 a O O oaciaoacioaas 6 o
Dr. and Mrs.
Sidney Friedlaender
and Family
12944 Borgman
Huntington Woods, Mich.
Wish All Their Friends and
Relatives A Happy and Healthy
New Year
Happy New Year to All Our
Relatives and Friends
Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Jacobs
19245 Parkside
Detroit, Michigan
Best Wishes For A Year Filled
With Health and Happiness To
AU Our Friends and Relatives
Wishing All Our Friends and Relatives
A Very Happy, Healthy and Joyous New Year
SIMON and DORA
PLAFKIN
MR. AND MRS. MAX RICHMAN AND FAMILY
18929 Burt Rood
Detroit, Mich. 48219
-,2111YX4re:: YJEK. ,Z4e,
0
Sooaoocloo000015-1513-15-
28770 Brooks Lane, Southfield, Mich.
<AC-
HENRI PHILLIPE, INC.
X
107 TOWNSEND
(Opposite HUGHES-HATCHER-SUFFRIN)
PARKING LOT
A
PHONE: 647-5445
Mr. Henri and Staff
wish all our clients and
friends A Happy and Healthy
New Year
IZIMAIEgliarianttTAIIEWAPETXACell'Ar.r:MaCel
lriWA