The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-09-15

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u ssli0isa very nearly the Same to-day
shaa thsy we're . hundred years ago; ana
q huANssA war sRc 10 brush ones hair or
clothes or boote on Saturday was CONSIDER
d Q serious sin. Consequently they think
| Il % to-day, and mono oftheir really p'ous
m.n-thcir Iesders--do H. The reader
wore no sacerdctal gown, for the Russian
law, do not permit IL. He was engaged
on the prayer-book for q half hour after
nv entrance, reading part Of the time with
marvellous rapidity, and halt chanting
half singing, the rest
There were twenty or thirty benches In
the room, and they were occupied by wor-
shippers ranging in years from six to e'gh-
". All over the age Of thirteen wore the
thsiitA, the fringcd garment which the
Bible commands the Israelites to have up
on their persons at all seasons, so that the
sight Of Il may constantly remind them Of
the divine commandments. To wear II a.
ways upon the outside Of their attire at
the present day would be very inconvsni-
, emit they therefore do that only while in
the synagogue, and at other times wear be.
meath the shirt a smaller garment, four
cornered, with . peculiar tassel at each
corner, the whole made after certain es.
,ab,ished fashion. In fact, they never take
this second article of apparel from their
bodies.
!. But TO return 10 the synagogue in Bsx.
/, ter street. They went through al the
! well-known prayers which precede the
reading Of the Pentatsuch--through the
Psalms, the extracts from the Bible, and
the touching entreaties for deliverance
from their exile. picked up prayer
!, book which lay at my side, and tursed over
its leaves. II was the standard edition
. which among oil the Orthodox is still in
use. a. well as among some Of the Reform.
, ed Jews, Though the latter have weeded
. on, many inappropriate and Objectionable
passages. There WAS no translation to the
book. Many Russisn-Polish Jews would
think translation an outrage. Fortunate
IL, l understood Hebrew--bet;er, perhaps,
than the msjority OF the worshippers in
the synagogue, who, like the mojority OF
all the Jews Of to-day, have acquired the
ability to read the mere words with tre-
mendous rapidity, but without knowing
the meaning of any except the most fire.
quently recurring.
Presently we reached the silent prayer,
during which all stand With their faces 10
the east This concluded the doors Of the
ark we're rolled back, and the parchment
scroll Of the Pentateuch, on which every
letter has been formed by hand, was taken
OF, and deposited by the reader on the
desk The president of the congregation,
the sexton, and another officer then sta
toned themselves about the SCROLL and the
reader began TO recite to the peculiar,
monoionous tune which is customary
smong the Orthodox. The passage read Is
always cut up into parts, and At the begin
ming of each a member of the congregation
is called to the desk by the reader, who ad-
dresses him by his Hebrew name (every
Orthodox Jew has that and tells him in
: Hebrew TO arise. He steps forward, re-
cites the customary short prayer, looks on
the scroll while the reader goes over it,
and when the end Of the part 10 reached
Z makes email donation TO the congrega-
y ton, and gives place to another. Strangers
who are Jews are usually given the pre-
!, ference in this, which is considered an
honor.
:. knew this and did not expect TO escape
on this occasion. / presently saw that the
reader, the sexton, and the president were
whispering together, and l felt that my
fate had been sealed. But they were evil
IDENTIFY in doubt. They appeared uncertain
> what to think Of me. Was jew like
!. themselves, but changed in expression and
sostened in feature by profane education
:, and intercourse with the outside world or
was simply Christian, a Mormon, or 9
Pagan? The sexton seemed determined
" to dissipate the doubt. He approached
y me and asked me If l desired the honor OF
;" being called TO the desk. knowing i,
10 would be considered discourteous il / ad.
~ mitted my extraction and still refused the
ne distinction which WAS rendered me, re-
u piled in the affirmative. Upon that b,
~ asked me for my Hebrew name, and CAV
It's him Moses bar Samuel-Moses, the son G
"A Samuel. A thalith was taken from the ar
're and given me. wrapped it about me an
'a' awaited my turn, endesvoring meanwhi
l'o 70 recall the words Of the prayer which
would be expected TO recite.
Moses bar Samuel was presently cslle
non Arising from my seat ! stepped to
hes desk, and graspering the peculiar tas
10. at one corner Of my thslith, pressed it up
10 the parchment scroll and then brought
~, TO my lips, uttering aloud at the same til
os. the customary benediction. As concll
,o,o cd the whole congregation chimed in, a
ma then the reader began. For five minu
fore or more he ratified away without SIM
: in pause for breath, and then finished with
we'd extra flourish and an original note or t
in his tune, to do me especial honor
III. made q second benediction, like the Fl
in Hebrew, and after informing the rea
that / wished 70 donate the sum of
dollar to the Chebrah Bnai Jisrael Ad
her Kodesh (ths Holy Congregation of
the Sons of Israell--s fact which ha i'm medis