This is how New Yorkers celebrated the High Holidays at the turn of the 20th century

In the fall of 1910, Edward Morgan, the Postmaster General of New York, made an impassioned plea to the city’s Jewish community: Send your High Holiday postcards early.

It was the height of the postcard craze in the United States , and members of the city’s Jewish community were eager to send well wishes their loved ones for the Jewish new year . But the sheer volume of mail was a cause for concern for Morgan.

“On account of the large quantity of letters and cards of greeting deposited in the General Post Office and Post Office Stations incidental to the Jewish Holy Days falling on October 4th, 5th and 13th, this year, it is suggested that as much of this and other mail matter as possible be mailed on or before October 2nd, 3rd and 11th respectively, so that it may be handled and despa