THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Unique Customs Mark Worldwide
Celebration of Jewish New Year

By RABBI BERNARD
RASKAS

Seven Arts Features

varvn 112.113 m U 62

to all

our friends

and relatives

MANNY & LEE HELFMAN

Preparation for Rosh
Hashana begins four weeks
before the Days of Awe with
the advent of the month of
Elul.
During this month
Selihot (penitential
prayers) are recited in the
synagogue either at mid-
night or at dawn. In small
East European cam-
munities, it was customary
for the shamas (ritual direc-
tor) to go from house to
house and awaken villagers
to attend these services.
Some ritual directors
were the proud possessors of

A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family

CLARA & BERT DAN

11111111WWW11111111

May the coming year be
one filled with health,
happiness and
prosperity for all our
friends and family.

NATHAN & MAXINE OSSEPOW

To All Our
Relatives
and Friends,
Our wish for a
year filled with
happiness,
health and prosperity

IRVING & LILY BELINSKY

To All Our
Relatives
and Friends,
Our wish for a
year filled with
happiness,
health and prosperity

MANDY & JOEL FISHER, ARI & KEVIN

special hammers with
which they knocked on win-
dows or doors. Some ham-
mers were in the shape of a
shofar and others were
etched with an eagle or a
deer symbolizing the ad-
monition to fly like an eagle
and to run like a deer to do
God's will.
In Yemen those who
were eager to participate
in the Selihot service
would tie a string to their
feet and hang one end out
of the window. When the
ritual director made his
round he could pull the
string to waken the wor-
shippers.
In Afghanistan it was the
custom to prepare a sheep
for the main meal on Rosh
Hashana in remembrance
of the ram that was sac-
rificed in place of Isaac.
Pieces of the sheep's head
are touched and then the
oldest member present says,
"May we be head and not
tail." Then pieces of the
lung are served and one re-
cites, "that our skis may be
light as the lung." For des-
sert pomegranates are
served with the prayer,
"May we be full as the
pomegranate with good de-
eds."
In Kurdistan on Rosh
Hashana, the Jews go to a
river flowing at the foot of a
mountain to recite the
tashlikh prayer (casting
away sins). Instead of shak-
ing the corners of their
garments as European Jews
did, they jumped into the
water and swam around.
They felt that this would
cleanse them of their sins as
the water washed the dirt
off their bodies.
In the Warsaw Ghetto
services were not permitted
by the Nazis. However,
some Jews picked out inside
rooms and held quiet serv-
ices. The prayers were spo-
ken in whispers. There were
no cantors and no choirs,
only whispered prayers.
They said it was possible to
weep in secret as the gates
of tears are not locked.
Increasingly, kibutzim
are celebrating Rosh
Hashana with a tradi-
tional as well as innovtive
practices.
On Kibutz Bet ha-Shita
each person receives a por-
tion of pomegranate seeds
dipped in honey. This sym-
bolizes, according to tradi-
tion, a sweet and fruitful
yeaf -Chil_dren act as "mes-
sengers of good deeds" by
distributing refreshments
and gifts.
On Kibutz Gezer the
night before Rosh Hashana
the kibutz residents gather
in the dining hall and a slide
show of the past year's ac-
tivities are shown. The
leader then presents a re-
port summarizing the work
of the kibutz. After this, the
entire kibutz conducts a
heshbon hanefesh, "a re-
ckoning of the soul." Mem-
bers of the kibutz then par-
ticipate in a good and wel-
fare session on the state of
the kibutz community.
.In, America there is, the

traditional observance that
varies with the interpreta-
tion and form based on the
Orthodox, Conservative or
Reform mode.
Perhaps, the best insight
into the meaning of Rosh
Hashana can be found in the
life of the saintly Abraham
Isaac Kook, late chief rabbi
of Israel. He became criti-
cally ill in the fall of the
year and was taken to the
hospital.
When the month of Elul
began, he asked that the
shofar be sounded each
morning so that he might
fulfill the commandment
of hearing the sounds
during this month pre-
ceding Rosh Hashana.
The doctor reluctant to
comply with this request
lest the blasts have an
adverse effect on the
rabbi, vainly tried to dis-
suade his patient. The
rabbi insisted that the
shofar be blown.
Finally, one of Rabbi
Kook's students discreetly
suggested, "If this shofar is
sounded in the hospital,
wouldn't the other patients
be disturbed?"
The pious sage im-
mediately said, "Maybe you
are right. If that is so, do not
blow the shofar."
That is the real meaning
of Rosh Hashana — learn-
ing to be considered of
others.

Friday, September 11, 1982 91

Wishing all our family and
friends a year of
health and happiness

Irlay

ale coming year be one filled

with health, happiness and

peace for all mankind

Jennie and Sol King

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tfiE comin9 gEaz

1211Z11 "MILO rini,

The Mitnick Families

Charlotte and Herbert
Randy, Barry, Halye and Robyn
Marsha, Ronald and Scott