The Jewish New Year 5704 will be ushered in tonight throughout the world in synagogues and temples, and temples, on the fighting fronts and in concentration camps in Europe where persecuted Jews will pray for the hour of their liberation.
Vice President Henry A. Wallace will broadcast a Rosh-Hashonah message to Jewish fighting men tonight from Washington. A message to the Jews of America issued by Secretary of State Cordell Hull, through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, reads:
“On the occasion of the celebration of the Jewish New Year I desire to extend my greetings to all Americans of the Jewish faith. It seems appropriate at this season to express again my constant sympathy with them in their sorrow over those of their religion who still live and die in the deep shadow of persecution. It is also appropriate at this time for us to rejoice together over the world’s quickening hope for the dawn of a new year in which we may realize peace at last for all the great brotherhood of mankind.”
Pointing out that in the Jewish year now ended, one-third of the Jews of Europe have perished, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, president of the American Jewish Congress, declared in a New Year’s message that while the major crime is that of “Hitler and his fellow-gangsters,” the civilized world is not wholly without blame, he asserted that the United Nations might have saved many from death “if they had cared or dared to intervene,” and expressed the hope that “it may not be too late to save numbers of those who can yet be saved.”
Governor Thomas E. Dewey, in a message to the Jews, said: “The celebration of Rosh Hashonah has a particular significance to the Jewish people this year 5704. They, of all the peoples and religious faiths of the world, were the first victims of the Nazi-Fascist assault upon mankind. It was early recognized by those with foresight that the persecution of the Jews was but the preliminary to the assault upon the whole civilized Western world by the atavistic bestiality of Hitler. The world has since learned the basic truth of that foresight.”
Philip Murray, president of the C.I.O., issued a Rosh Hashonah greeting through the Jewish Labor Committee, expressing the hope that “this new Jewish year may see the coming of that peace for which we all labor and serve. May this be the year of the last battle in the war in which the Jews were the first casualties.”
The World Council for the Four Freedoms, embracing many non-Jews and religious leaders of other faiths, said in its message: “It should be reassuring and hopeful to realize that an increasing force of Christian public opinion is being created and implemented to help not only the suffering millions of Jews but also to help assure for the days to come a world order in which Israel together with every other people may enjoy complete security and take its place in the household of nations as an equal in every respect.”
Junior Hadassah cabled a special Rosh Hashonah contribution of $10,000 to the Children’s Village of Meier Shfeyah, near Haifa, to help expand its facilities and to meet the wartime cost of living. The grain crops of the village were spoiled by excessive rainfall, cutting off an important source of income, it was said.
The American Federation for Polish Jews has sent an appeal to the Rabbis all over the country, asking that they dedicate an appropriate part of their sermons during the coming Holy Days, to the tragedy of Polish Jewry.
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.
