President Hoover Heads List of Distinguished Group Conveying New Year Greetings to Jews

The good will of the American nation toward the Jewish people on the occasion of their New Year which is to be ushered in tomorrow evening, is expressed by President Herbert C. Hoover in greetings made public through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

“The approach of Rosh Hashanah serves to remind Americans of all creeds of the great debt that is owed by all our people to the Jewish race for their unparalleled contribution to the spiritual life of mankind since to them, more than to any other race, we owe the exalted and pure conception of God and the highest ethical principles to be practiced in His service,” declares the President’s message.

“I speak the good will of the nation in extending to the Jewish Community of America my heartiest good wishes for happiness in this annual season of renewal”, the message concludes.

President Hoover heads the list of representative Jews and non-Jews who are utilizing the Jewish New Year, to convey to the Jews of the United States their good wishes.

Greetings have been extended through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency by Vice President Charles Curtis, Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, Democratic candidate for president; John Garner, speaker of the House of Representatives and Democratic candidate for vice president; Felix M. Warburg, noted Jewish philanthropist; Lieutenant Governor Herbert H. Lehman; the two Jewish Governors of New Mexico and Oregon, Arthur Seligman and Julius L. Meier, respectively; Premier R. B. Bennet of Canada; Roger W. Straus, cochairman of the National Conference of Jews and Christians; Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, president of the Jewish Institute of Religion and honorary president of the American Jewish Congress; Morris Rothenberg, president of the Zionist Organization of America; M. M. Ussishkin, president of the Jewish National Fund; B. C. Vladeck, National Chairman of the People’s Ort Federation, Nelson Ruttenberg, president of the Jewish National Fund in the United States; Bernard S. Deutsch, president of the American Jewish Congress; Mrs. Samuel Halprin, president of Hadassah; Hon. Alfred M. Cohen, president of B’nai Brith; Ludwig Vogelstein, Chairman of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Mrs. Arthur Brin, president of the National Council of Jewish Women; Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein, president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America; Rabbi Eliezer Silver, president of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada; Louis J. Moss, president of the United Synagogue of America; Professor Mordecai M. Kaplan, president of the Rabbinical Assembly of the Jewish Theological Seminary; The Synagogue Council of America and the New York Board of Jewish Ministers; James Marshall; Abraham Herman, president of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society, and Governor Pinchot of Pennsylvania.

Among the greetings are the following:

Vice-President Charles Curtis: “I take pleasure in extending my cordial greetings and good wishes to our fellow citizens of the Jewish faith on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the Hebrew New Year.

“The growing custom amongst Christians of remembering the Jewish New Year with messages of good will is one which I heartily commend. It is a definite contribution toward better understanding and mutual sympathy between the various creeds and religions. As a Christian, I am conscious of the Hebraic background of the prevailing religion of the Western World. We are forever indebted to the Jewish people for their share in our spiritual inheritance.

“I desire at this season to add a word of warm and hearty encouragement of Jewish aspirations touching the establishment of a Jewish national homeland in Palestine, which it has been my pleasure to assist at every opportunity. The ideals of Zionism offer new hope to the Jewish people and the world for a spiritual rebirth and all that such a rebirth implies in the moulding of a better civilization.

“The present year has seen the formation of the American Palestine Committee, a body of non-Jews, for the support of the Zionist undertaking. I have been very happy to associate myself with this body, as a concrete opportunity for the expression of that desire to help the Jewish people reestablish a homeland of their own which has become an American tradition.”

Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt: “I extend my sincerest greetings to the citizens of Jewish Faith of America on the approaching celebration of the High Holy Days. The deep spiritual quality of the devotions of these days commands the respectful regard of their American brethren of other faiths. The contribution to the spiritual life of the nation by the Jewish people is equaled by their achievements in the field of learning and of public service, science and art, business and industry, having devoted their full measure to the building up of the things that make this nation great.

“I trust that the coming New Year will be a bright and happy one for you and that the deep religious principles of the Jewish people will continue to be an inspiration to the younger generation. I know that the esteem and respect of the other states of our nation so fully deserved, will continue in full measure.”

John Garner, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Democratic nominee for vice-president: “The Jews are ‘The Forgotten People’ among the peoples of the world. Despite their great contributions to civilization, they are frequently neglected and even oppressed. In this respect they can be compared to the ‘Forgotten Man’ whom Roosevelt has made famous through his well known speech.

“We who are championing the cause of the average citizen whose rights are neglected have also a deep sympathy for the Jewish people who have suffered for centuries.”

Felix M. Warburg: “May I express the hope that the slightly more optimistic viewpoint which is prevailing at present may express itself in the revival of the generous impulses which have characterized our people from generation to generation.

Herbert H. Lehman, Lt. Gov. of New York State: “The old year has brought distress and fear to the whole world but on the New Year the Shofar sounds forth its message of courage and hope. As in ages past, it summons us to give thanks for our many blessings and brings us assurance that through service to God and Man we can make the New Year a year of renewed happiness for ourselves and others.

“Fifteen years ago a united people answered the war note of the bugle, sounding its call for service to our country in its hour of need. Then there was no hesitation or fear of defeat.

“Again an hour of need has come and again our country calls upon a united people for service. Again there may be no hesitation or fear of defeat. Together, by unselfish, courageous effort, we can bring renewed prosperity and relieve the needs of those who suffer in want. On these holy days, ordained for prayer, penitence and charity, the Shofar calls upon us for such effort. We shall not hesitate or fear.”

Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, President of the Jewish Institute of Religion: “The year 5692 has not been a joyous year for the Jewish people. Of sixteen millions of Jews, nearly half dwell in the so-called East-European lands,—Russia, Poland, Roumania. Soviet Russia remains the land nobody knows.

“As for Poland and Roumania, none save the professional optimists of pulpit and press, whose optimism is at the bidding of their communal masters,—will deny the fact that the Jewish status is woeful in these countries.

“Austria and Hungary remain the medieval outposts of Central Europe.

“The recent World Jewish Conference at Geneva was no more than a symbol of the Jewish will to live everywhere under the aegis of law and justice through united planning and inflexibly resolute purpose. The only way that cannot be right is the way of cowardly surrender and groveling self-abasement. We have not lived through forty centuries of difficulty and trial only to perish now on the eve of the day of justice and freedom for all men. We and our fathers have trodden the long, hard, bitter way with loftiest courage. That despite contumely, menace, hurt, we fail not nor waver as we near the goal, is my New Year’s wish for my people Israel for 5693.”

Morris Rothenberg, President of the Zionist Organization of America: “The closing year has been an unhappy one for vast numbers of the Jewish people.

“One little land has been a lone bright star during the past year—Palestine. Despite the difficulties with which it has had to cope, the Jewish National Home has made gratifying progress, and in contradistinction to other Jewish communities, a spirit of happiness and of hopefulness pervades it.

“May the New Year bring a better day to Jews throughout the world and a further advance towards the realization of Jewish ideals in Palestine.

Hon. Alfred M. Cohen, President of B’nai Brith: “On the threshold of another year! No finite mind may fathom the undiscovered destinies it holds. But faith and hope as a flaming torch will light the way whither soever it may lead and give cheer to the spirit whenever it may flag.

“The year has been good in many ways. Adversity has made us more kindly towards our fellows. Prosperity had made many feel that they were supermen, immune from the things that happen to the crowd. They have been disillusioned and though poorer in purse, they are richer otherwise. Although our institutions, religious, philanthropic and educational have had a struggle, they have not perished. The Jew has been put to the test and has been found not wanting.

“B’nai Brith, representative of all Israel—catholic Israel, as the lamented Dr. Schechter of blessed memory, was wont to say—has extended during the year into France and Algeria. Its care is for the Jew wherever he may dwell. Everywhere B’nai Brith is his servant—his to command whenever and wherever he may be. It now, as ever, seeks our brethren that it may serve them. In this spirit B’nai Brith greets the New Year.”

Ludwig Vogelstein, Chairman of the Board of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations: “The severe economic depression, particularly of the last year, has seriously affected cultural and educational institutions. It is our duty to preserve the groundwork in order to rebuild in more prosperous days.

“At the turn of the year, we pray for a year of blessing and prosperity for mankind; for a year of peace, contentment, of joy and spiritual welfare; a year which finds the hearts of parents united with the hearts of children; a year of mutual understanding between nations, disappearance of prejudice and hatred so that the prophetical hope of Israel for universal peace be brought closer to realization.

“To our membership throughout the United States and Canada, to all Israel united in prayer on Rosh Hashanah, to all mankind we wish and pray for a Happy New Year.”