The Lowcountry Digital Library has just uploaded approximately 400 Rosh Hashanah postcards from the William A. Rosenthall Judaica Collection. In addition to New Year’s cards with beautiful motifs such as flowers, birds, and landscapes, a good portion of these postcards depict scenes from Jewish life, including holiday celebrations, life cycle events, ritual objects, and themes such as Zionism and emigration.

Below, a sampling of the postcards from the collection that depict these themes. To see more Rosh Hashanah postcards, search for “Rosh Hashanah” in the Lowcountry Digital Library: William A. Rosenthall Judaica Collection – Postcards.

Rosh Hashanah postcard depicting a festival meal.

Kiddush. The text reads : “And you gave us festivals for happiness.”

Havdalah. The text is excerpted from the blessing over the Havdalah candle : “Who creates the lights of the fire.”

Entering the Sukkah with the etrog during the celebration of Sukkot.

A father and his children on their way to synagogue for Hakafot on Simchat Torah.

Hakafot on Simchat Torah. The text reads : “Rejoice and exult in the joy of Torah.”

Kiddush Levana on Motzei Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur ritual of malkot (lashes).

A family on the way to synagogue.

Greetings after the synagogue service.

A group of boys reciting the Shema Yisrael at the bedside of a kimpeturin, a mother recovering after childbirth.

The Mitzvah Tantz.

A father blessing his children.

Zionist Rosh Hashanah postcard.

Zionist Rosh Hashanah postcard.

Candles, kiddush cup, and spice box used in the ceremony of Havdalah. Text at the bottom of the postcard reads : “I will raise the cup of deliverance and call upon the name of the Lord.”

Torah scroll.

Rosh Hashanah postcard featuring a shofar. Text at the top of the postcard reads : “It is a day of blowing the horn unto you.”

Kapparot. The following is recited during the ceremony : “This is my exchange, this is my substitute, this is my atonement.”

Same Rosh Hashanah postcard as above. In this postcard, the head of the rooster used for kapparot is substituted with the face of Nicholas II of Russia.

Rosh Hashanah postcard depicting American Jews holding out their arms to their relatives arriving from Russia. Above are the Imperial Russian coat of arms and American eagle holding a banner with the text excerpted from Psalms 17:8 : “Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings.”

Jewish immigrants to the United States on Ellis Island.