Jewish New Year Starts Tonight; Eisenhower Greets American Jewry

Led by President Eisenhower, numerous member-of Congress and State Governors today issued greetings to the Jewish people of the United States in connection with the Jewish New Year of 5720 which will be ushered in tomorrow at sundown by Jews throughout the world.

President Eisenhower’s Rosh Hashanah message of greetings, issued through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, reads: “Greetings to my fellow citizens of Jewish faith as they enter the season of their High Holy Days. The teachings of your ancient belief have long sustained you and strengthened the communities in which you live. By constant repetition–in word and deed–of the commandments of God, you have nourished the noblest principles of mankind. The demands of Justice, the plea for mercy, the rights and responsibilities of each individual: these should be uppermost in our thoughts at home and at work, when we sleep and when we awake.”

Governor Rockefeller of New York, in his Rosh Hashanah message, said: “Before the establishment of the State of Israel, Jews prayed ‘and tomorrow in Jerusalem. Today the State of Israel serves as a bulwark of free government in an area torn by selfishness, strife and misunderstandings. Let us hope that this Jewish New Year will bring to Israel peace with her neighbors and a feeling of brotherhood among all the Middle Eastern countries.”

Rosh Hashanah will be observed by Jewish members of the U.S. Armed Forces in this country and in 72 overseas countries, including remote military bases and Jungle warfare units. The global “Operation New Year” has been arranged by the National Jewish Welfare Board which has shipped religious items to domestic and overseas installation for use by Jewish chaplains at the Rosh Hashanah services. Taking part in the “Operation New Year” are 370 Jewish chaplains, some of whom have been flown thousands of miles to overseas bases.