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Jews in U.S. Forces Will Observe Rosh Hashanah Here and Abroad

September 11, 1942
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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Thousands of American Jews in the armed services will meet the Jewish New Year, 5703, which starts at sunset tomorrow, by attending religious services in hundreds of camps, in communities adjacent to military posts, and at 18 overseas stations, it was announced here today by the National Jewish Welfare Board.

Provisions for worship on Rosh Hashanah include field services for Jewish men in war areas, for these on maneuvers and aboard ships at sea. In cooperation with the Jewish Welfare Board, the War and Navy Departments have assigned 14 of the 68 Jewish chaplains now on active duty to conduct services in England, Ireland, Hawaii, Australia, New Caledonia, Iceland, Trinidad, Panama, Porto Rico, Cuba and other outlying posts.

High Holy Day supplies, including 29,000 Rosh Hashanah prayer books and 50,000 New Year greeting cards have been sent by the Jewish Welfare Board to sixteen overseas points. Soldiers and sailors stationed in the United States have already received 30,000 prayer books and 85,000 greeting cards. Additional materials sent include abridged bibles, hymnals, Hebrew prayer shawls, phylacteries, Hebrew Scrolls of the Law, and books. Wherever possible, gift kits, games, comfort articles, and refreshments also have been sent.

CHURCHES IN ENGLAND WILL CONDUCT SERVICES

In England, services will be conducted for Jewish men with the American forces by three U.S. Jewish Army Chaplains. The Senior Jewish Chaplain with the British forces also is cooperating with the Board in providing opportunities for worship for Jewish men who cannot be reached by U.S. Chaplains. In London, the Church of Scotland will be the scene of Rosh Hashanah services conducted by Chaplain Earl Stone. In Northern Ireland the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, the Assembly Building in Belfast, has been given over to the Jewish chaplain for Rosh Hashanah services.

Services in the sign language will be held at Temple Emanu-El Community Center under the auspices of the Society for the Welfare of the Jewish Deaf, where nearly 600 persons will congregate. Men in city and state correctional institutions will receive New Year’s cards and prayer books from the Jewish Board of Guardians.

In scores of communities throughout the country the High Holiday period will mark the beginning of intensive campaigns in behalf of the United Jewish Appeal.

Special New Year services for the refugee-immigrants have been arranged by the HIAS. Arrangements have also been made by the HIAS for Rosh Hashanah services to be held at Ellis Island to accommodate the religious needs of these temporarily detained there, Abraham Herman, president of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society, stated. Appeals for the “Rescue Through Emigration” program of HIAS will be made in the synagogues in the metropolitan area and in many parts of the nation.

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