THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS For you and all who are dear to you May it be a year blessed with good health and happiness High Holy Days Quiz By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX (Copyright 1976, JTA, Inc.) Why are there so many additions to the prayer ser- vice on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur making the ser- vices longer than others during the rest of the year? Generally speaking, on special occasions during the year, such as holidays, the rabbis, poets and scho- lars were inspired to write poetic liturgy which were sometimes used by them when they acted as the can- tors in the synagogues. Some of these were incorpo- rated into the services on the holidays to indicate the special nature of the day and to add additional inspira- tion to the service. While some congregations deleted .......... ■ •••••••• ■••■•■ the additional liturgy on other holidays, most congre- gations retained them for the High Holidays (such as Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur). There were various reasons for retaining them for these holidays. . - First, the main character of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur was prayer. Even the shofar of Rosh Hashana was considered as a means of prayer - by many authorities. Thus, the prayers were enhanced by some of the most beautiful and inspiring liturgy through the ages. Secondly, on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur the Jewish people were considered to be Sincere Wishes for a closer to the Almighty than at any other time of the New Year Filled with year. How could one get the feeling of being close to the Almighty without some form of communication with Health, Happiness and Peace Him, i.e., prayer? Some authorities questioned the propriety of adding to the fixed text of the original liturgy on other occasions through the year. Most ac- cepted the additions on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kip- pur because of the aforementioned nature of the day. Why is it that the horn of a ram is preferred for use as the shofar for Rosh Hashana services? There are two basic reasons for this preference. First, the horn of a ram is a reminder of the readiness on the part of Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac and the readiness of Isaac to be offered. It was the ram in the thicket that was used as a substitute when the angel of the Almighty stayed the hand of Abraham from sacrificing his son. The-horn of a ram, thus, re- minds us of the bravery of our forefathers and the tender mercy of the Almighty which spared them. Second, the horn of a ram is bent, instead of being straight. The bend in the horn is symbolic of the need for man to bend his will to comply with the wishes of the Almighty and to humble himself in penitence on these holy days. It is also symbolic of the eagerness of the Almigty to bend His will, to forgive man for his sins by making amends with the penitent sinner. Why is it that our Rosh Hashana New Year's celeb- ration is in the fall while the Hebrew months in the Bible are counted from the spring? Actually, the name of Rosh Hashana, which is given to this holiday is not found at all in early Biblical literature. In the Talmudic literature there are four Rosh Hashanas listed during the calendar year (see Rosh Hashana 2a), each having a special significance. There were actually four critical periods during the year when "New Years" occurred. The two most im- portant ones, of course, are the month of Tishri in the • 31750 Lakeside Dr. fall and Nisan in the spring. This is because Judaism • Farmington Hills, Mich. 48024 5 simultaneously entertains two perspectives. • As a special people, the Jew must select historical • - Rerspectives and responsibilities. This was acquired when Jews were named as a people during the exodus from Egypt which took place in the spring. Even though the Jew considers himself a special person, he never loses track of his responsibility to the world as a whole. The fall month of Tishri commemorates the creation of the world as a whole. ThuS, the Jew counts himself both as a member of the overall 'society of mankind as well as of the special society of the Jewish people. The years are thus counted from the fall and the months from the spring. Why do Jewish people visit the cemetery during the month before the High Holidays? In olden times, in some areas, these days were fast days. The Talmud mentions that it was a custom . to visit the cemetery on fast days (Taanit 16a). The Talmud gives as a reason for this practice the hope that the visit will bring about a situation where the dead will intercede for the living before the Almighty. sponsored by the association Thus, at any occasion where one finds himself in a crisis situation it is proper to visit the cemetery to ask for Jewish retarded the deceased to help us. So it is that one sometimes goes to the cemetery to ask the dead to pray for the healing of the ill. Bride and groom visit the graves of their deceased parents to ask for their prayers to that the marriage will prove successful. There were, how- ever, some rabbinic authorities who opposed the prac- tice of praying to the dead because they felt that prayers were to be offered directly to the Almighty (Maharal of Prague, Hatam Sofe, Orakh Hayim 166). Nevertheless, the practice prevailed. There are, therefore, other motives which serve as a basis for visiting the graves on the cemetery before the High Holidays. Some claim that this is clone be- cause a mood of serious contemplation is required and nothing can make a person more serious-minded than a visit to the cemetery where he realizes the frailty of his day-to-day search for vanity. Others claim that the reason for visiting the cemetery before the High Holi- days is actually to pray for the dead, praying to the Almighty that the deceased find peace in heaven. In 1788 Benjamin Franklin was among-the signel-s of a petition for funds to lift the mortgage on the synagogue of Cong. Mikveh Israel of Philadelphia. SPITZ FAMILY ROBINSON - • .• • May the .9 : NEW YEAR • •IS bring to all of .• • • • •;" our friends • • • • S happiness, • • • • •;" • • • prosperity • •• ••• and good health I •• Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Frenkel e: • •S : S•••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The Residents of HAUERIM HOUSE Wish Ail of Their •Friends in the Community A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year S. Best Wishes for the New Year MR. and MRS. PETER HELMAN 18877 W. 10 Mile Rd. Southfield, Mich. 48075 ROSENWALD POST 218 AMERICAN LEGION Officers and Members hereby convey to all Legionairs of our faith, their families and friends A HAPPY NEW YEAR Maurice Green Commander L'ESSA TOF, MR. and MRS. PAUL ZUCKERMAN Friday, September 24, 1976 65 Marion Tenenberg Aux.-President Joseph Shapiro Adjutant Mr. and Mrs. William Rossen and Family Birmingham extend best wishes to their family and friends for a year blessed with health, happiness and peace. U.11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11111111MM Best Wishes :1 = = = To All My Friends =,- _ for a healthy, happy _- = _ _ - New'Year - _- EMMA SCHAVER 5....., ..........................................................................a •••■ ••• ■■ ..1r. ■ 41,14111,1 My dear friends, I wish to convey to all of you a contented, happy and peaceful Jewish New Year on behalf of my family and myself L JOSEPH SHAPIRO Harlene, Harvey, Randy, - !Ilse and Beth Sosin W. Bloomfield- wish all their family and friends a year filled with health and happiness. HAPPY NEW YEAR Harold B. Greenblatt, C.L.U. and The Greenblatt Family Elaine, Hal, Amy, Herbie pyAbiyearl 1976 • 5737 To Our Relatives and Friends MR. & MRS. NATHAN I. GOLDIN I