The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-09

cation OF scFoh OF INC Inv, lN''
pher Torab.
In recent leading article upon the Jews
VIC stated our belief that everything concern
ing the social position and religion OF ''hs
s'peculiar people" was OF great interest 10
the world ut large, for the careful student oil
sacred and profanc history cannot fall to
note the marked influence they have had, !
and continue unmeasurcdly to have, In
moulding favorably the tastes OF the peoples
of all climcs-for the sons Of Israel, like the
stars, are seen evcrywherc-in religion,
substantially, finance, commerce, litcra-
ture, IN lsic, painting, science, poetry, his.
tory, the drama, the arts, and all those emo
bling gins Of God which appeal and are re-
sponded to by the refined and better feelings
OF our common nature; which teaches, by
everyday example, "pcace on earth, good
will to men;" therefore we have taken palms
TO present to our readers full account OF
what was to us novel and interesting cere-
mony, namely, the dedication yesterday
morning Of new scroll Of the law in our
Washington Synagogue, to be hereafter
used In that building.
Among the religious customs prevailing
among the Jews, that OF reading the law In
the original Hebrew is considered the most
sacred, and so particular arc they In this
or INSTRUMENTATION Is looked upon with
such disfavor that II seldom occurs.
This law, (Torah,) as used In the syna-
rogue, comprises the five books Of Moses
only, and y written with peculiar pen In
very black ink; also particularly prepared In
the square Hebrew character, without
sspoiuts," |. c. vowels, upon series Of sheets
OF parchment Of unusual thickness, and
generally OF the whitest and smoothest tex
ture: three sheets of parchment are fastened
together at the sides so as to form long,
continuous sheet, which Is kept In position
by being firmly fastened at the beginning
and at the end to two handsomely turned
wooden winders, similar to a reel, and sutli-
Gent OF the parchment Is wound around
either Of these windcrs to present the proper
intervening space and fiat surface, when laid
upon the reading desk, (Tabar,) to read with
facility the portion (Parasar) of the day.
The Torah Is written by persons educated
for the purpose, and Ia es much trade ms
that OF the printer, whose handiwork they
may be said to excel. The rules, which are
In reality laws, in relation thereto arc nu-
nerous and Internationally binding; so
much so, that il when completed a single
error, however Insignificant, Is found by the
person who Is always appontcd to make cN-
animation, he refuses his certificate and the
work Of the scribe Is worthless. Words arc
never divided rs with us, into syllables, and
carried from one line to the next, but must
he entire on their several lines. This does
not, however, necessitatc the introduction Of
"spaces"-to use a printers eNpression-as
the Hebrew character Is of that formation
which permits an elongation of many of the
letters, and SO the otherwise blank space
is compactly filled from margin to margin.
Like many of the Oriental languages II Is
read from right to left, and In horizontal
lines parallel to each other. II Is not pune.
- l.,. md "a
period neither Is II divided into chapter
and verse as In our Bible, but each Parasah
takes Its name from Its principal initial
work: thus the first chapter of Genesis is
called Bercshith, which corresponds to our
word ''begir uing," &C., &c.
When not In position to be read, the law
IL enyeloped in an ornamental mantle Of
satin or velvet, suitably embroidered in gold,
with Hebrew motto, &C., and embellishcd
at the top with gold and silver ornaments
together with pointer (Yod) used by the
reader, so that the person called to the law,
which is esteemed high honor, can follow
him while he points 10 the words he read:
aloud. Every Jewish congregation has ono
or more of these scrolls, the number depend
ing upon their wealth-for each one cost;
about s3OO-or zeal Of its members. 1t Il
accounted meritorious for each congregation
to have in its nrk-which Is always In the
eastern side of the building, whittier every
face is turned In praycr-as many scroll'
(Sephorim) as circumstances will permit.
As we said before, yesterday was made tn,
occasion for the dedication OF one of thcs,
Sephorlm, and was witnessed by large as
sembly, among whom We noticed many o
our most prominent citizens.
The ceremony began by the members O
&. the congregation, who had assembled in the
vestry-room, singing Psalms 10, AZ and -
The new scpher was then carried beneath II
canopy (Choopah) TO the audience chamber
of the synagogue, which was gayly dressed
with sprigs OF cedar and bouquets of flowers,
where II was met by q procession hearing the
other SephOrim Of the congregation, and the
minister read Psalm 10, beginning at the
verse. the audience making the customary
responses. Seven circuits were then made
around the synagogue by those bearing the
law, each one accompanied by the chanting
of q different Psalm Of David. Up to this
period the ciilrr service had been conducted
In the sweet, though strange accents of the
Hebrew tong Ic, but now followed most
excellent sermon in the vcrnaC ular, which at
once showed the careful English training of
the presiding minister, (IIazan,) German
by birth, the Rev. Jacob 8. jacobson, who
began by stating that the authority for the
celebration Just witnessed was as ancient ~
the law itself, for we read In Samuel ii,verst
@, that King David himself rcjoicingly pre-
ceded the procession which accompanied tho
law on its passage to Obed Edom the Glttlte,
after II had been touched by the polluted
hand of Uzzah, and how 1t was honorcd by
the "sweet singers in Israel"
The law is a living, not a dead Letters by 1t
are guided all the civilized nations Of the
earth, and those who depart from its teach
ings are sunk into irretricvablc ruin; this Il
the lesson Of history. The Jews but rcspcc
themselves when they respect their law, ant
the Gentle world, In It's present state Of pro
Cresslye enlightenment, are ready and glat
to extend them the hand Of fellowship. Blu
to be plain, do they obey Its commando D.
they keep their Sabbath Do they abstai
from prohibited viands, and are not to
many disposed TO seek after the tenets Of tn
mis-named ''refOrmers," who, although h
would do many the Justice to say, were wei
Intended, yet the tendency Of their preach
ings were calculated to lead away the loose
Inclined or unthlnking portion of the com
munty; but 1t was not In the power OF MAJ
to permanently lead cstray the children o
God, for His law had stood the test of nearly
six thousand years, and II was somewhat
Illogical to suppose that It was TO be abro
gated In our day.
The reverend gentleman preached from
the text XVI chapter, 10th verse, Of Dcuter
onomyi
"Thisday the Lord God commanded thee Il
do these ststutes and OrdinAncesj and tho
shalt keep and do them with all thy heart
and with all thy soul. Thou hast this dsl
RcknO lodged the Lord, that he Is thy God
and that thou wilt walk In his ways, and keel
his statutes, and his commandments, and hi
ordinances, and heArken unto his voicei ant
the Lord hath acknowledged thee this day
that thou art unto him peculiar people, Al
he hath spoken unto thee, and that thol
shouldst keep all his commandments; so tina
he may set thee high above all nations hat h,
hath made, In praise, and In name, AMI IL
honour, and that thou mayst be holy psopl
unto the Lord thy God, AS lie hath spoken"
The reverend gcntleman's comments upo
this beautiful selection were eloquent In tn
extreme, and we regret that our alrcad
extended notes preclude the printing Q
them In full The new law was then takel
from the ark and portions for the new mool
read to several persons, AFTER which II wa
replaced and the Conditional new-moon'
service read. IT, was followed by al
effective prayer in German. The service wal
concluded by the reader chanting the beau
tiful hymn, "iigdal," the congregation par
italy participating therein. The impression
left upon the audience cannot fail of pro
ducing good and lasting effect.
RETURNED HoME.-On Saturday after
noon, the Naval Academy band, Professor