The leaders of Safed called on Jews to capitalize on the timing of the holiday on Saturday night and celebrate the traditional Melaveh Malkeh, escorting Sabbath, known as the queen, after its end at sundown. They posted announcements throughout the city warning the public not to participate in celebrations the eve of January 1.
The day of the secular new year is known in Hebrew as Sylvester Day, named after the Roman Pope who convinced the emperor Constantine to prohibit Jews from living in Jerusalem and who arranged for the passage of anti-Semitic laws more than 1,700 years ago.
The elders suggested that Jews create festivals with great cultural and historical Jewish significance. Rather than celebrate Sylvester, Jews should honor the memory of King David, who died on a Saturday night coinciding with the Shavuot (Pentecost) holiday, and join for a festive meal and traditional dancing in one of the city's synagogues, they wrote.
"Sylvester is like Hitler," the elders declared on the posters in Safed, one of Israel's four holy cities in addition to Jerusalem, Hevron and Tiberias. Sylvester was responsible "for the murder of millions of Jews," they added.
The day of the secular new year is known in Hebrew as Sylvester Day, named after the Roman Pope who convinced the emperor Constantine to prohibit Jews from living in Jerusalem and who arranged for the passage of anti-Semitic laws more than 1,700 years ago.
The elders suggested that Jews create festivals with great cultural and historical Jewish significance. Rather than celebrate Sylvester, Jews should honor the memory of King David, who died on a Saturday night coinciding with the Shavuot (Pentecost) holiday, and join for a festive meal and traditional dancing in one of the city's synagogues, they wrote.
"Sylvester is like Hitler," the elders declared on the posters in Safed, one of Israel's four holy cities in addition to Jerusalem, Hevron and Tiberias. Sylvester was responsible "for the murder of millions of Jews," they added.