The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-19
The Fast of Alb.

To-day, all over the world, the devout Jews
will celebrate this, the fact OF Alb, in commemo.
| ration of the dispersion of their race and the
destruc ion of the temple Of Jerusalem. Israelites
will abstain from food or drink for the entire
twenty-four hours, according to the rules OF their
| church.
The past history of the Jewish nation is re-
viewed in the sypagogues and in the homes of the
people and the Lamentations OF Jeremiah are
rected. To dev0ut Jews 1t is q time for sadness,
for they reflect ''that through tho sins of their
fathers they were driven from their land, lost
their national independence and were scattered
over the face OF the globe, aud in humbling
themselves, physically and mentally, they ac.
knowledge Divine justice, and prayerfally
invoke their Heavenly Father in the
words Of the careworn prophet, ITO renew
(their) our days as Of old" The pious Jew deems
it his best and wisest course to regard the sacred
writings with reverence and esteem. This fast,
however, has not In these days Ct reform the hold
upon the hearts and the piety OF Israelites that
it once had, nor some other fasts sud festivals
of judaism still have. Many Israelltes refuse to
commemorate defeat. National and eoclesias-
tical pride forbids TO keep alive the recollection
of national humiliation. No one thinks OF COM
humble the vanity OF an entire people. the re-
ligious reason why this fast is observed ia to
remind scattered Israel that their dispersion ie
the punishment for offenses committed against
the God who with such mighty hand and out
stretched arm had brought them cut Of Egyptian
bondage and protected them go graciously
through aany centuries OF their national exist
ence. They could not commemorate their own
greatness and valor, because they owed all to
God, and hence when at this time they commemo-
rate defeat and dispersion their pride and vanity
cannot be wounded, but heartfelt gratitude can
be expressed to their great aud glorious Deliy-
erer.
One OF the sins Of ancient Israel at the time
of the fret temple consisted in neglect Of reli-
giouB wor ship. They withdrew themselves from
places where they might hear the law expounded.
The Prophet Zacnariah testifies that "shey m ade
their hearts as adamant lest they should hear
the law" and this on the same principle, the
Jetoish Messenger suggests, as Israelites do to-
day in negecting the synagogues and the SER
mons lest the preacher should denounce some
crime Of which they are guilty. II cannot be
denied, says the Messenger, that we are not
as religious a. we should be. The spirit Of the
age has affected our epirits-it has warped our
spiritual duties. Granted that we have seats in
synagogues even in some shrines fashioned to
quent preachers, and made such preparation for
the future 80 that when we die our remains may
be deposited with our kindred; SLOWING that we
are members OF some OF our social and religious
tions-all these preparatory steps
may be OF some service to guide
course to reach future Eden will be impeded II,
IN our last moments, we shall be forced to reflect
that we have neglected to instl the balm OF re-
igion into the hearts Of those We were command |
ID by the Highest Of al authorities to teach in |
,ur homes. Our fasts will only be turned into |
easts when, in the words Of the prophet, we
hall love truth and peace" In the words Of
righteousness and peace have embraced each
,thar."