Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-28
HEBREW HOLIDAYS.
The Feast Of Decentralization II ls csle-
brated.

We yesterday gave an account of how
the devout Jews of our city kept the
ROsh Hashanah or new year., and the day
before we gave a succinct lewis chrome
logical statement, enabling even Gentiles
to understand the peculiar and intricate
system upon which their calendar is
founded. To-day we propose TO give the
ceremonies performed at the
FEAST OF TABERNACLEs,
which is the next high holiday with
Goods chosen people," On the evening
of the l4th day OF Tisri this feast
commences LEV. xiii, 42). The in
teryal between the day of atone
ment and this festival is lin Gen.
trail Europe) employed in preparations
for this festive period. Each family fits
up some room-especislly built for this
purpose-for q booth, or erects one in a
courtyard or garden. The uncongenial
climate of the portion of the world of
which the writer speaks will not allow
the Jew 10 make this booth his regular
dwelling place during the festival; but he
at least takes his meals in it. Another
popularity of this festival is the use of a
BRANCH OF PAL TREE,
of a willow, myrtle, or a citron. 1t is
these alone which, according to tradition,
are meant by Leviticus xiii, 40. The
willow branch and the myrtle are tied
boS6kUcE 10 q lOMoI part VI buo PAIN 4Sdl,
but the citrOn is kept separate, and it is
the duty of every congregation to provide
these requisites for The use of its mem
bers. There are, however, few religious
Jews who if they can afford it, do not
provide them for their own use. Grasp
ing the palm branch in their right hand,
and with the left holding the citron, and
holding them close together, a benediction
expressive of the occasion is expressed
and the branch agitated. This ceremony
il gone through every morning of the
festival (seven days., and by each indi-
vidUsl Jew separately. No religious Jew
would
TASTE FOOD
before the performance of this rite. The
eighth day should properly conclude the
festival, but the Rsbbin have added a
ninth under the title of
REJOICING WITH THE LAW.
This, as its name betokens, is a day of
great merriment, in which the gravest
Rabbin (of course in their own peculiar
ways take part, and every Jew expresses
his delight in and attachment to
THE LAW,
the last section of which is publicly
chaunted in the synagogue-for the Pen
tateuch is divided into tifty-four sections,
according to the number of Sabbaths con-
AaAa@ AZ EAA0 N1aA &C a
planned day before yesterday, and on
each is apportioned to be read a part of
the Holy Writ, so that in the course of g
year the whole cycle of the Scriptures is
completed.
THE s~YNAGoGUEs
on this occasion are gsyer and more joy
Ously gotten up than at any time during
the whole Jewish year, and are always the
scene of extraordinary. hustle, and not
~unfrequently las we rave seen at Frank
fort Am Main of uproarious joy. In the
evening the places of worship are
crowded, and the boys are seen entering |
with little gayly painted banners and wax
tspers in their hands. The synagogues
are most sumptuOusly lighted, and before
THE ARK
generally glitters a veil OF the most costly
materials, g~OrgeOusly bedecked, not un-
with diamonds, pearls and
other precious stones. After a short SER
this veil is drawn aside and the ark
opened, andths
SCROLLS OF THE LAW,
with costly stutfs, and not I'M
frequently with plates of precious metals
are sOlemnly handed by a beadle to
various persons summoned by name to
the ark Tor that purpose. This done, a
portable canopy, carried by several
youths, is extended over the minister and
wardens, who, with the scrolls in their
hands, head a solemn procession, which
is joined by all other SCROLL bearers, the
youth'and little boys of the congregation,
the latter holding in their hands the ban
neTs alluded to, at the top of which
Wax tapers are fastened, and all
chanting hymnsi in praise of the law.