The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-14
LOCAL MATTERS.
ROSH HASHANAH.
THE GREAT HEBREW. FESTIVAL
SERVICES AT THE SYNAGOGUES
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
UNION ON THE PLATFORM OF TRUE
RELIGION.
A Lecture Of Universal Interest.

Tishri, and therefore the commencement o
the wear $685., according to the Hebrew ca.
lendar. 1t is to them the beginning Of one
of the holeSt seasons of the year, and ir
Richmond, where the Hebrews comprise sc
large, so respectable, and so Important
portion of our population, it was observed
with q deyoutness and solemnity worthy o.
the chosen people of God. On Broad street
on Main street, and on other thoroughfares
where they reside in considerable numbers,
there was an appearance OF things noticeaDlS
different from what is usually seen on their
Sabbath.day. There was an absolute cessation
of oil business, such as could have obtained
among no other class or sect, and even those
who do not always rigidly and scrupuiously
regard the Sabbath, on this occasion signal.
lied their earnestneSs and their answering
fidelity to the faith Of their fathers by attend
ance at the Synagogues, and by the practice
of all the customs that have been handed
down to them through centuries and Gen.
turieS, that have witnessed many changing
and extraordinary phases in Hebrew history
The SYnagogues were all crowded, and those
who had not minded occasionally missing
other services were among the earliest and
most eager to be present TO testify their re-
spect for this day. The weather was de.
lightful. No brighter sun ever shene upon
the face of the earth, and no iairer skies or
softer or sweeter air greeted the children OIL
Israel upon their entrance into the Promised
Land than was youchsafed their descendants
Saturday in this their Virginiau home.
Such is the importance with which New
Years day is regarded by Israeites that a
week before the festival, as a preparation,
penteBtial prayers are daily recited in the
synagogue, and q trumpet is blown to re-
mind the worshipers that but few days
remain for them during which to practice
penitence and charity. The New Years day
is known by several titles, of which the "Day
of Remembrance" the "Day Of Judgment"
and the DAY of Creation" are the most
conspicuous. The latter title the day
has acquired by the tradition which sup
poses that on that day the universe was
created out of chaos, and accordingly from
that festival the year 5635 will be begun.
Another tradition, which says that on New
Years Day Providence fixes the destinies OF
nations and individuals for the coming year,
has given the festival the name of Day
of Judgment" On that day the trumpet
is blown in the synagogue thirty times,
rs if reminding the congregation that
they-are but mortals, and will have soon to
render their account with their Maker.
The prayers on the New Years festival are
divided under several heads. There are
prayers Of repentance, prayers of glorifica.
ton of God, prayers for speedy establish
union of all men, the cessation Of strife and
war, and the acknowledgment by altman
kind of one God, the Creator of the Uni
verse and the arbiter of the destinies Of na'
tions.
The religious exercises commenced on
Friday evening ut the synagogues, and
were Of deeply interesting character. On
Saturday morning and evening there was an
immense turnout Of the people. Rev. DR.
Bettelheim, assisted by the reader, Mr.. Mich
elbacher, conducted the services at the EleV,,
enth.Street synagogue blouse of Love), and
in the morning the DR.. lectured from the
S9th Psalm, on the subject of love and char
ity. Rev. Isaac 2. Mendez, OF the Mayo
Street synagogue, delivered lecture based
upon the third and fourth verses OF the ols'
Psalm. The congregation OF the Kenneth
Israel had the services provided for the Gay
read by Rev. A. L. Coleman; they do moi
have lectures. New Years day falling on
Saturday, the ceremony of the blowing Of
the trumpet was omitted, but was cele
brated yesterday Sunday, when the sYna
gogues were again crowded. The lecture
delivered by DR.. Bethlehem, as setting forth
much of the belief Of the Israeites, we re-
gard of unusual interest to all classes OF oul
people, and we reproduce it in full. 1t was
based upon the last three verses of Micah
He said:
We some years ago in this holy place ex
plsined that we cannot claim for the seconC
day of Rosh Hashanah pentateuchical I'M
portance. but it has claim on us az s
Venerable statute, already practiced at the
time of Nehemiah, the restorer Of judaism
under Persian and Babylonian rule. In tht
Sth chapter of Nehemiah the second day o
Rosh Hasbanah is mentioned as holy day
and the chiefs of the families of all the peo
ple, and the priests and the Levites, were
assembled unto Ezra, the scribe, to under
stand the words of the law [v. 13l. Person
ally have not great reverence for Gus
toms, and do not ascribe to them hol!
importance equal to that of biblical com
mands, which they, indeed, do not deserve
Customs are customs, and have as hu
man institutions only a human. an0
not divine, origin. But at the same
time. there are some customs an0
institutions which have received, through
the practice of many thousands OF years,
necr1liar character Of reverence and sanctlty
and have been so identified with the flesh anC
blood of our religious life that it would en-
danger our religious unison if we should al
tempt to abolish them.
The second day has such claim of respec
on us-not only that 1t has been observed
among all the Israelites at all times since INT
return from the Babylonian captivity, bul
also because it had the approval OF the secone
Moses-of EZra-and of Nehemiah, the GOV
ernor Of Palestine.
And why, indeed, should we abolish ths
second. day, instituted for the hearing ano
understanding of the word of the law!
Are all of you ready to say that you have
been durins the year troubled too much
with the Sabbaths and holy days? Have
YOU. in fact. been kept back from your daily
vocation by your religion? Have your re-
ligious obseryances often lnterfereu VIII
your daily pursuits? God grantit, that az o.
you could proudly answer that yoa naYe
endeayored to build up sanctuary IN your
own house: that your children nave no!
witnessed any violation OF Gods commana'
ments in your household, and thai IN the
presence of your children, who are Dy tne
laws of God and the laws of nature entrust'
ed unto your care, you have spoken Wiih
reverence of all that which ought TO be hols
to YOU and is sacred to mankind. hail ano
praise to you if you can appear Win 9 signl
heart this day before the Lord and Deiofs l'iae'
your own conscience
But, my friends, / intend to keep on gooo
terms with you to-day, especially Win tnos.
s,.h a ans,sa 90 uaru seidnn into our house Ol