All work, trade and traffic were suspended today throughout the Jewish-populated sections of Palestine as the country’s Jewish community joined with Jews throughoughout the world in observing a day of fasting and mourning for the estimated 5,000,000 Jews murdered in Europe.
A voluntary curfew was maintained between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. and all Jews remained in their homes with the exception of a number of persons granted passes by local Jewish authorities — such as doctors, nurses, essential workers and newspapermen.
Jewish institutions flew their flags at half-mast and black-bordered Hebrew newpapers devoted their entire issues to the tragedy of Europe’s Jews. All papers featured a single demand: transfer to Palestine of the remnants of the decimated Jewish populations.
Special prayers were recited in the synagogues. Heart-breaking scenes occurred in the Old Synagogue in Jerusalem as the entire congregation, headed by Chief Rabbi Herzog, seated themselves on the floor for ten minutes in the traditional attitude of mourning. After worshippers returned home the streets of Jerusalem were desorted and gloomy.
Broadcasting last night, on the ove of the observances, Dr. Herzog deplored the cleavages in the Zionist ranks, which, he said, threaten to “weaken our position at a time when the day of decision is rapidly approaching.” He declured that the present tragedy of the Jewish people is greater than the destruction of the Temple and appealed to the nations of the world to right the 2,000-year-old wrong done the Jews by establishing a national homeland for them in Palestine.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
