National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-11
THE JEWISH FESTIVALS.


THE NEW YEAR." "DAY OF ATONE
MENT," AND Feast OF TABERNA-
Giles"
Three OF the Jewish festivals occur during the
present month, and will be appropriately OBJ
served by the followers Of that faith in this city.
This is termed in their creed the month OF Tishrl
and the days Of celebration are the "NeW Year, +"
"Day Of Atonement," and Feast of Taberna-
cles"
The "New Year" (Rosh HGshonGh) occurs this
year on the 18th and 18th instant, and by Jewish
computation is the 5635th anniversary of the crea-
tion of the world. 1t is also called YOm HGzikka-
ron, "Day Of Memorial, ~ and the beginning Of the
civil year. The command for its observance is to
be found in Lev. Xxiii24 1t is day strictly OBJ
served, and on which mo servile work is to be
DONE" On it, and during the ten days succeeding,
called the "Ten Penitential Days" (Assrct
Yemen TeshUbd,) rigid determination is made
into the acts Of the preceding year, and every
proper effort made TO correct the errors of the
past and mark out 4 future more in accordance
with the expressed Will of the Almighty, To
assist in this purpose, supplicatory (SeleehoD
prayers are said every morning and evening, in
addition to the usual service.
On Monday, the 2lst instant is the great DAY
Of Atonement," (Yom KiPPpr,) which is COM
manded to BE- observed in Exod. XXX TO- and is
vigorously kept by every Jew throughout the
world by abstaining wholly from eating or drink
ing from shutdown on the eve Of the day until stars
are seen at the days close. The abstinence how
ever is only means to an end. The mere bodily
privation is only reminder in the Aesh to attune
the mind to comprehend, in some measure, the
infnitesmal nothingness OF all that is human,
and to ask Of God some portion Of that holy spirit
attainable only by devout communion with the
Source whence all blessings flow.
By humbly asking forgiveness Of God for laws
violated, and promising sincerely abstinence for
the future, the ''seed Of Abraham" believe that
their 'slns will become white as SNOWY but not
so in relation to wrongs done his fellow-man. In
all such cases restitution has to be made where
ever possible. Pardon asked and promises re-
igiously made, and then, and not until then, is
the Heavenly Father sought to seal the best
efforts possible for poor, erring human nature to
make. Wien this is thought to be accomplished
then the resonant sounds Of the closing service
(NegeIah) pour forth from myrlads OF thankful
souls, and peace is made with God.
The 25th and 9th day, also ofthe present month /,
is the "Feast Of Tabernacles," (HGg HGsUceot,)
which commentaries the ingathering of the har-
vest, and is also a memorial Of the departure Of
the children Of Israel out of Egypt, when they
dWelt In booths (sHeeOt) The command for the
observance of the day is to be foundi Exod xiii:
10; Lev. xxiii33. The feast lasts eight days dur
ing which the palm branch, citron, willow Of the
brook and myrtle are used in the Synagogue and
in private worship, all ofIwhieh' have q typical
meaning most beautifully preserved in the glow
ing Oriental diction Of the Rabbins, from which
some Of the most popular fables now extant have
their origin.