Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-09-19
To the Reformed Jew the Moral Indu
ence and the Efficacy Of the Day
only is OF Main Importance.

The observance OF Rosh Hashondh, whic b
the Israelites celebrate to-day throughout til
world, is based upon the bioIical command
ment recorded in Leviticus XXIII, "a:
" Speak unto the children Of Israel, saying /:
" In the seventh month on the first day OF the
month shall ye have rest, memorial OF
sounding the cornell, holy cOnvOcation." !"
The number SeUeR wss regarded as a sacred
mum Der by the ancient lsraelites, as well as
by the Egypt ans, HindoOs, Arabs and Per-
SLAMS, and even among more modern nations
IL was hel as popular belief. In the Mosa C
dispenss ton tue seUenth day OF the week is
designated as the day OF rest and sanctidca-
ton, the seventh month as one OF special
holiness, the seUeHfh year as a year of rest; the
year after the SeUeS-iimes seventh year as the
year Of Jubu e. n the Midrash RGbbdh, q
book Of IabbiDical origin, IL Is said: "ROt
HashtUeyin ChdUiUin." All consultations Of
the number SeUen ought to be valued. The
traditions OF the Talmud also connect
with Rosh Hashonsh the legend, that the day
is the anniversary OF the creation OF the
wolld; hence the endowment of the day with
called the "Day Of SOun ing the Corn ct, in
accordance With the above biblical com
mRndment, which Moses ordained, and the
1shofar" is blown during divine service in
some synREogues. The inJerpre RIions oSJew
ish philosophers are manifold IN regard to the
object which was to Oe reached by this cere-
mOny, but the most prominent feature or this
custom after the Babyloniau exile was evil
deutly TO arouse the sinner from HIS lethargy,
and TO remind the Israeiite that God in his
klLdnes had provided time Of
that he can approach his God
without a mediator TO Teturn by the power of
his own viii 10 the path OF vi tue and hOli-
ness. The instrument itself, the ram's-nOrn,
was also Intended to carry the mind Ick 10
the Legend OF Abraham 5 intention 70 sacTi-
fee his son aac, and thus impress himself
with the impor. ant lesson inculc Gated by that
occurrence, namely, that God rejects human
Eacr fees = eulums UI recOnCil alton and
atonemeut. The reformed lSTse'ites OF the
present, Ia observing this cay as a holy cOnvo-
calion, 90 not atJach much virtue 10 the ira-
diiionzl s. mbJ ic ! intsI pTetauons OF mere
ceremonies; TO thsm the moral influence and
eff ,scy OF the day only Is o. man impor-
not tsrnished By any riginaI sin, they are Of
Opiniol that only in con go uence OF the q ral
nature OF man j account Of the union be-
tEeeU ecu aLa @ y AID the intimate con-
nectiou lctwe E he physical and spiritual
prOpen lU-N IN man he 4 o ten TEN pied 10
stn. ? Hew Year aud the Il Day OF Atonetnent"
sp9 the inter veuiug Jays are 10 act as means
10 afford / i'm ume auh opportunity to regain,
by the aid OF his Te. igiO1, th I position Of
spiritual emineLcs al mOral superiority TO
which m n, by lie power OF his mind and by
virtu Il his entTgy, ca raise himself IN or
der that D. might 60 the good ana shun the
evil aud hu- restore the Origin nal he ave born
purity OF HI Oul. al pray els ia Inc Reform
ed synsg q express mis- icea ainly, and
the enure divine = ryi;e Is cal ,ulated 10
rescn tba' eni. At The Reformei synagJ que,
cOruar of VI ain G-d Exchange. such S-lEiceS
are Us "a mrs r. o. ing. Rev DR.. mn I'd,
rsbri %: lIs cong e ...i q on riatii 9, Hcn de-
live llE ~ urSH- 4 ne CuOiT - Z CDn-
greSatlJI as as Deeu augmented 0. tIv Oc-
cAsiOn.