All of Israel’s borders were quiet during the two days of the New Year holiday. Soldiers who remained on duty during the holiday were able to attend synagogue services at various posts or were visited by mobile synagogues at advance positions. Civilian synagogues were packed to capacity and so were Israeli roads with record traffic jams as thousands spent the holidays camping or at hotels and on the seashore. Police officials reported that despite the bumper-to-bumper traffic, only two traffic fatalities were recorded. Both involved pedestrians run down by oncoming vehicles. The beach at Tel Aviv was visited by Hassidim in black garments and fur hats who performed the traditional rites of “tash-lich.”
In the Great Synagogue, Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren referred to the seven Israelis killed when Egyptian rockets downed an Israeli transport plane over Sinai last Friday. He prayed that they would be the last casualties and that the new year would bring peace. Haifa port, closed down for Rosh Hashanah, was surprised by the unexpected arrival of an Italian passenger liner with tourists, the first time a ship ever docked during a holiday. Port officials permitted the passengers to disembark but without their baggage. Eilat was hit by a sudden hail and wind storm Monday which forced campers to fold their tents and take cover. But the beach was crowded again Tuesday as were the shores of Lake Kinnereth and other popular outing sights in Galilee.
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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.
