The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-06-04
(From the New York sun, MAY 24.]

(From the New York sun, May A.]
The Synagogue Shaarai Berocho, in
Sixth street, was open on Saturday after
noon. and nearly half the three hundred
seats were filled. Behind IN altar GOV.
cred with a rich blue cloth, bordered
With gold, was desk at which tho rabbi,
with his back turned to the congregation,
read or rather chanted the musical He.
brew scriptures. He was habited IN a
long, loose black gown and wore mitre
Of dark color; and as he stood thus he
faced heavy curtain Of black velvet,
richly embr oidered with gold, that hung
on the wall. Above him burned the
light that the pious Hebrew
keeps bright during twenty.four
hours Of the Sabbath. On
the platform by the side Of the rabbi sat
the President ana tho officers of the syn.
agogue with light scarfs of black and
white thrown about their shoulders. At
signal from the rabbi, after tho first
long chant, one ofthese men arose and
drew aside the velvet curtain exposing to
view some sliding doors that opened upon
the holy shrine in which were stored the
five books Of Moses written in Hebrew
upon rolls Of parchment. Reverently
was one Of these rolls brought forward
and partly opened, that the learned
rabbi might read the days lesson. Then
was it as revercntly replaced.
. So far the services had been conducted
entirely in Hebrew; but now tho rabbi
turned and spoke = few low words in
English, in response to which a young
woman quietly stepped before him. It
was Henrietta Held, young German girl
born of Protestant parents. Several
months ago she was married by civil con.
tract to an 1sraelite. Lewis Kahn, son Of
the conspicuous Hebrew, DR.. Marx Kahn.
At the time Of the marriage the husband
placed no restriction upon the religious
belief Of the wife, but as time passed by
she became impressed by the beautiful
trust of the Jewish faith, and then fol.
lowed the desire that her children should
be born in the church Of their father.
Feeling thus, she went few weeks ago
to Marx Cohn, the good rabbi of her hus.
bands synagogue, and made known her
desire.
THE JEWISH CATEcH1sM.
MY dear daughter" said he, IS he
gave to her the catechism, the creed, and
the history Of the Jews, ''it may be hard
for you to believe the teachings Of our
books. We do not seek to mako con.
verts, but we will gladly welcome you II
you choose to come"
When she next visited the good rabbi
she said: "Rabbi, have read carefully
and studied diligently, but I do not see
that need to be more than pure in heart,
kind to the poor, honest to my husband.
and true to God, in order to be q good
Jewish woman. These things I am will
ing to strive for.''
In all the rabbits lifelong experience
she was the first Christian that had asked
to be received by him into the church Of
the Jews, and she wished to come quietly,
in faith, and without pomp.
AS tho beautiful young woman stood
alone before the good rabbi Oh Saturday
afternoon the picture was one to be re.
membcred. The rabbi was attired in his
long, dark gown, and the candidate be.
tore him wore rich silks and laces. She
is only nineteen years old, ofmedium size
with strong, thoughtful and gentle face.
and an abundance Of light hair. She ans.
wered the questions put to her by the
rabbi in . clear, calm voice, without hest.
tatfon. Tho ceremony was brief, the
forms g follows having been especially
prepared for the occasion BY MI. 0ohn99
tho cslebrant;