The New York herald., 1874-09-27
THE FEAST OF TAB GRNACLES,

Ancient and Modern Observance OF tho
Festival-Thc Rabbles' Wall Over tho
Desonoracy OF IsrAel-The Sabbath
Neglected That Business May BE At
tended To.
The Hebrew festivals usually come together in O
bunch. On the 18th inst. the New Year opened.
This was followed week later by the Day Of
Atonement ana its services Of penltcntiai fasts.
aud now comes festival Of Joy and pleasure
the Feast OF Tabernacles This festtva. is author.
tied and commanded to be observed in Leviticus,
xiii. 1t commentaries the harvest hOme-the
ingathering OF the crops, for whose abundance
thanksgiving to God Is In order. This feast began
yesterday, and will continue eight days, during
which period the people are supposed to dwen
in booths or tents constructed OF boughs OF
the palm, the citron. the myrtle and the
willow OF the brook, and Of the two fruits
OF the first named the people partake. To-day.
in many tenement yard, or on many
roof on the east side OF this city may such rude
shelters be seen where pious lsraelltes of the
olden time and the ancient faith gather to dwell
temporarily during the festival days. With the
exception OF some really pious Jews from Europe
the original command has lost It's hold upon the
people here, who complain OF the severity of the
| climate and the many inconveniences that attend
| q weeks residence under the booths. Some syna-
gogues on the east side also have booths attached
| for the convenience OF the members who cannot
| provide them at their homes or who don't
want the trouble ana expense thereof. AS the
Je,oish Messenger remarks, the Israeltes OF New
York and OF America are so well satisfied with
their present state they break or The history
which unites them with the past and remode!
Judaism In accordance with their so-called refined
ideas--so refined that religion forms out an infi-
Intestinal quantity IN their whole system
The design OF the festival IS to Keep fresh IN the
Jewish mind the fact that their ancestors dwelt In
booths when they went out OF Egypt, and also
ing In booths practically carried out, was never In
olden times considered a tax on the time and o
can on the pursestrlngs Of the people, but, as is
younger branches OF jewish family hailed the
incomlng OF the Feast OF Tabernacles with the
proach they were engaged. not only IN tho erec-
ton OF the hut, but in adopting every means
within their power to make 1t worthy OF the
sion The choicest mowers, the best the vegetable
kingdom could produce, adorned the temporary
booths; they entered them win JOY lott them with
fled In the ABILITY God had given them to obey
His will. How dinerentiy their descendants com
typical OF Gods shelter and protecton-how often
has /. been vouchsaied to Israeli How often has
sbooths'' when the rage OF the heathen tnundercd
against thems He will, says the Leader, cause
ss 70 rom %
whether of she mind, the body or the heart.
Hence the four kinds of boughs already alluded to
represent man as ioLows:-rhe citron represents
the heart the myrtle the eye, the willow the
mouth, and the palm the body. SO thas man is to
praise God and rejoice before him with oil his
powers OF mind and body and heart They also
symbohze grace innocence, humility and faith
virtues that insure happiness here and hereafter.
Being festival Of thank sgiving this is also a sea-
son OF amsgivng by the rich to their poorer
brethren.
when the temple stood and Jerusalem was in its
glory this festival was celebrated With great pomp
and ceremony. The squares and thoroughfares Of
| the city were ornamented with fruits and flowers
brought thither from Oil parts Of the land OF Pal
| estine by the pi0us Jews, who came thither to
worship The Offering OF sacrinces III the temple
was one OF the chief features OF the celebration,
and grand illumination Of the outer court vi the
temple took place. Connected with 1t were dances
by torchIight and the waving OF hno fruits and
leaiy branches toward the four cardinal points of
the compass accompanied with the singing Of
turgicaf songs. With this festival ends the fall
series OF Jewish holidays. the next IN order beng
the Passover, which occurs about the time OF tho
Christians Easter festival: After the holidays are
over the synagogues Will be comparatively de-
serted, and IN anticipation thereof the several
rabbies and preachers yesterday tried to impress
their CONGREGATIONS with the Importance OF Keep
ing up the revival spirit all the year and maintain
ing due regard for the Sabbath as weIl Tor the
holy and festival days