The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-09-30

THE JEWISH NEW YEAR, OR Rosa HAsHANAH COM
menced yesterday evening, and will continue for
two days. i. e, until the stars make their appear
ance tomorrow evening.
The Hebrew year consisted Of twelve unequal
months, which, previously to the exile, we're
lunar The twelve solar months made up only
three ftyfour days, constituting year, too short
by eleven days. To remedy this, month was in
tercalated every two or every three years. This
supplementary month was added at the termina-
tion Of the sacred yeas; the twelfth month being
Adar, the thirteenth was called Yeadnr or Adar
the second. The year began with the month Nissan,
according to an express direction given by MOSES,
(Exod. xii. 2. and Numbers tx. ~ but this the
Jews cussider only the commencement of the
ecclesiastical year. and the month Of Tishri as the
beginning Of the civil year.
From CHAMBERS PGpers for the People, we ex-
tract the following description:
seThe period OF Rosh Hashanah Is the most
solemn OF the whole year. Scripture and tradition
unite in impressing upon it the character OF pro-
found awe. The latter deBignates it as the anni-
versary Of the creation of the universe and the
day when the Supreme Being judges mankind, and
pronounces their doom for the year to come. 1t is
therefore period Of repentance, for which
months previous preparation is made By addition
al prayers, services performed before daybreak,
and the blowing of the shofar. This primitive
musical instrument consists OF rams horn clean
ed, smoothed, and made bright by the known pro-
cesses, having taDerlng shape, and bent like
hook in. the lower part, with narrow opening at
the top, and wide one at the bottom. The shrill
sounds to be produced by it have been arranged
into various classes, each of which is designated
BY special name; and the party appointed to blow
the horn must know these names, so as TO be able
to sound the particular tone required. Sacred as
this festival is 1t isyet only preparatory to that
celebrated on the tenth of the month called the
Day of Atonement. The whole Of the ten days are
for this season called the Ten Days OF Penltence,
and the holy days themselves the Days OF awe
The religious jsw looks for the advent of that
period with feelings ofretoicing, mingled with m.
common awe and reverence. He prepares himself
for the due celebration of these fesivals by scu-
pulous seslf.e4amlnatlo ell by ne endeayos TO com, q
obtain the PARTON Of ffhose hemight hayeodanded
and by fasting and penance for the purpose of sx-
plating ths suns committed. He holds that the
Day Of OF Asoaemens eSni4ses only sins committed
ted against fellow men, unless their pardon be pre-
Nously obtained. Touching instances are record
ed of individuals high IN station, and eminent for
Learning haVing S .. tne anproach Of the Days Of
persons in every respect their interiors for the use
of an opprobriors expression uttered inthe heat
Of passion.
Before daybreak public service is held in tba
of the festival ofnew year, another IL performed
after which the religious bathe. fhe evening SER
vice is not distinguished by any particular feature.
At the evening meal, some rare fruit coming in
season, and an apple with new honey, are ALWAYS
present. The eating Of the former is preceded by
the solemn benediction, Blessed art thou, o Lord
our God, who hath Kept US alive, and preserved u.s.
and allowed us to attain to this PERIOD The eat
ing Of the latter is typical Of sweet new year.
The morning service begins at daybreak: the
faithful hasten to the synagogue before tasting
food. The devotion with which he implores divine
mercy for forgiveness of his sins is most exem-
plary. With his ample prayer-book before him.
he turns his face toward the wall, and wraps him
self up 30 completely in his scarf that nothing but
the front part Of his face remains uncovered. The
more scrupulously religious put on the white robe
mentioned above and those officiating in the SER
vice always appear IN it,
The most sacred part of the service as.mention-
edbefore Is the blowing Of the shofar. 1t is the
duty OF each adult lsraete to hear it's sound, and
no one in good health would venture to break his
fast before his ear has caught the sounds Of the
shofar. An awful stiffness prevails before this
part OF the service begins, during which every one
prepares himself in silence for the act, while a
special prayer is offered up by the party appointed
70 plow the horn. At last the solemn silence is IN
terTuPteo by the bidding OF the minister, blow;
ana tne summons is obeyed. Thrice the minister
o1os, sna tnrlce the horn sounds after which
prayer Is reclted, when the same ceremony is
twice repeated"