The people of Israel celebrated the Jewish New Year of 5713 undeterred by food shortages, austerity and the manifold problems which have weighed upon this small state during the past twelve months.
Thousands of residents of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa abandoned the cities for a long week-end with friends or relatives in the agricultural settlements through-out the country. But tens of thousands flocked into the cities and hotels in all three major cities were filled to capacity.
The Israel National Railway’s new Diesel locomotives, just acquired from Belgium, were put into operation to help move the holiday traffic and an almost endless stream of double-decked buses moved out of Tel Aviv’s Central Station, carrying holiday-makers to the countryside.
Synagogues here and in Tel Aviv were filled to capacity and thousands worshipped in improvised synagogues. Special services were arranged in Army camps through-out the country.
As one result of the Government’s new economic policy, which witnessed drastic revision of exchange rates earlier this year, retail shops reported a much lower holiday merchandise turnover than in previous years, but florists and gift shops reported a booming trade.
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.
