Newspaper Page Text
Friday, Sept. I, 1M1
J JB,E, SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
Page NIm
New Year Message
The “New” in
New Year
By RABBI HARRY H. EPSTEIN
SPIRITUAL LEADER
Ahavath Achtm Congregation, Atlanta
As we watch the years go
by, we are tempted to believe
that “there is nothing new
under the sun,” that “you
can’t change human nature.”
As we usher in a new year,
5722, there appears to be very
little that is new in this ap
proaching new year.
This year seems merely to
be an aggravation of the ac
cumulated failings and the
cumulative problems of all
the years past. These are tur
bulent and disturbing days:
the stark struggle between
East and West is at its burst
ing stage in the light of the
grim Berlin crisis, there is
revolution from awakened
Africa to vexatious Cuba,
there is the chronic uncer
tainty in the Middle East, the
•eething and explosive racial
problem in our own country,
and the all-pervasive threat
of a nuclear war of oblitera
tion haunts and depresses us
B'NAI
B StlTH
Wi 8 h e 8 All Its
Members and Friends
A 'HAPPY
NEW YEAR
L'Shono Tovo Tikosevu
Atlanta Metropolitan
Council of B'nai Brith
B'nai B'rith Women Chapters
Covenant Devotion
Fidelity ^ Rishon
B'nai Brith Men s Lodges
Gate City Lodge, No. 144
Atlanta Lodge, No 1773
—and all these inspire under
standable fears and create
grave doubts concerning pos
sibilities of stability in our
days.
The High Holy Days, how
ever, serve as a denial of this
opinion of the doubter and
the skeptic. Moreover, this
religious season reminds us
that the people which has
had the most tragic experi
ence with man’s inhumanity
to man, is the most optimistic
of peoples. This p e r i o d’s
theme of Teshuvah, repent
ance, asserts that men and
nations can experience a re
versal of attitude and habit.
Men and nations can embark
on new directions of whole
some and creative living. Our
faith has always taught that
pessimism is paralyzing and
only the conviction that
things can be better quickens
the hands to make it so.
The Yamim Noraim give
us the faith that enables us
to see the possibilities for the
new in a “new year.” Life is
constant renewal; and man
likewise must devote h i s
energies to a redidication to
good deeds and compassion
and righteousness. Each of
us should learn how to face
the days ahead in the convic
tion that what ought to be
can be, and shall be, through
intelligence, good will and
faith in God’s teachings. The
High Holidays bring a univer
sal message, old but never
new, that love and decency
are as relevant today as when
first proclaimed as the es
sence of life and that only by
these principles can hope and
'healing come to our troubled
times.
Tradition tells us that Rosh
Hashonah marks the creation
of man. In other words, this
day a new man may be re
born through prayer and re
pentance and deeds of just
ice and charity. “The good
society is an open option. It
ivill be built by good men,*
and since man is perfectible’,
the good society of good men
is also an open option.” What
we do in the Synagogue on
these days, what we say aloud
and in the privacy of our
hearts, what we resolve to do
and say throughout the com
ing year, is important, not
only for ourselves but for all
mankind. “And therefore, the
righteous shall see and be
glad . . while iniquity shall
close its mouth and all wick
edness shall vanish like
smoke” greetings for the “new” in
Warmest and most sincere the New Year.
In English . - . in Hebrew
... in any language
The Hebrew Academy
of Atlanta
is appreciative of the fine community support
this past season and wishes one and all
To The Atlanta Community . . .
To Jewry All Over The World
We Extend
Best Wishes
FORA I
Happy New Year
Officers and Members
Atlanta Post No. 112
Jewish War Veterans
of the United States
ELLIOTT GOLDBERG, COMMANDER
and
Ladies’ Auxiliary
MRS. DAVID KAHN, PRESIDENT
New Year Greetings
to Our Members and.
to the Jewish Community
May the sound oj the Shofar usher in a year of peace, and contentment
and happiness for all.
AHAVATH ACHIM
CONGREGATION
SISTERHOOD
MR. & MRS. CLUB
►
and All Departments
DR. HARRY H. EPSTEIN, RABBI DR. IRVING H. GOLDSTEIN, President
MRS. JACOB LEVITT MR. AND MRS. PAUL 81FEN
Sisterhood President Mr. snd Mrs. Clsb Presidents