The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-17
BEGINNING THE DAY OF FASTING.
Two Jewish Houses Set Fire by Candles
Lighted for the Day Of Atonement.

ance OF the day that Is held more sacred by
them than any other In thoir calendar. The
Long Day II Is called by some because wholly
devoted to fasting and prayer; but the most
usual name. and that which is used by the Jews
themselves. is the Day OF Atonemont or. as
GeS-.o Eliot prefers to translate 1t In " Daniel
Deronda." tho Day OF Reconciliation. BY very
much the larger part OF the racefasting is made
an essential part of the Observance. and for
more than twenty-fo hours-from yesterday
afternoon until eight o'clock this evening
neither food nor drink will pass their lips.
Some members OF the three liberal congrega-
tions in Lexington and Fifth ay .nues. presided
over by the Rev. Drs. Einhorn Gottheil. and
Hucbsch. may omit the fasting in whole or
part: hut in mono Of the other congregations
will that be the case.
The purpose Of the day Is shown in its name
Its observance il commanded in the Books Of
Moses and it has never been neglected by Jews
in any particular since the dispersal OF the
jewish nation. 1t is u day Of retrospection. rc-
pcntanre Of errors. beseeching OF forgiveness.
nud promises Of uprighncss in the future. The
liberal. or IA they are usually called the Re-
larger number II their race in their Observance
of ia" day. There are distinctions in ceremony.
manner Of worship. duration of tho hours OF
Few or no Jewish places of business will he
open today in the city or its vicinity. CONNER
]
men belonging to the faith. whose residences
are in the city. are nearly all ut home to-day.
, hhosn w9a iast nrnraEr E "a 3r rne ordeai a12u
| nor at which the dishes were selected with
view TO iortiiylng the system IN the best man
| ncr: and those whose usual sunday dinner
! hour is nearer noon. postponed the meal sew
/ ernl hours for once. On the other hand. while
orthodox families are rigid In regard to ahsti-
nencc from food. some OF the younger members.
who are less ii ispO-ed To- dcNOutn"ss. Will to-day
! mike unoiseryad visits 10 r.stnurnuts: and
/ thua Xhila a m hrnpphpa ~ nsr
/ will be unusual dulness 10y reason ut the Day Of
Monement in one there Will unwOnted brisk
ness.
The sick and feeble need not fast but even
| children will abstain from food for part of the
! dav. There are special prayer books for the
| day. In the reform synagogues they are small;
and suited 70 their hricfer hours of service and
| greater delboration in recital and singing hut
| In the others they are large ortayO volumes.
| entirely Of Hebrew and containing hundreds
| Of pages Of prayers. hymns. and selections
volumes viii all be- reai rceit"i' and sung
| from beginning TO end during the twenty four
hours. They Will then be laid away for whole
year.
In thel Temple Emmanuel last evening the
| the rays Of many chandeliers; the thousands Of
seats were all occupied. and many persons
stood along the sides and at the doors. The
were harps. was exquisite. and was well set Off
! by tho rich and sonorous intoning Of the Rev.
book Of oe ssSrss sfsGE aEcn
| from the ark in costly enwrapments of white
/ SATIN ana purple velvet. After TWO regular even
| ing prayers. sermon was preached in English
10y the Rev. Dr. Gouheil. Prayers in Hebrew
! and English aud music concluded the services.
| which throughout were solemn and impressive
In thc reform Synagogue Ahayath Chcscd, at
! Lexington avcnu" and fifty-1fih street which
! ishuiltand decorated within likethe Emmanuel.
! IN Moorish style, hut with loss splendor, the
tracery on the walls though minute and elabo-
rate and in the same colors. being fainter and
th" lighting less bright. the services were -imi-
Pa sft lf sfafh hy fht4 nj la.l
/ 10y the Rev. :. Welsch. the reader who has a
/ rirh baritone voice. The sermon 0f Or.
| tntlons in Hebrew. The rabbi and the render
/ M.re IN hlatk SIX gowns and caps. II The
] Emmanuel they We're IN ordinary nitire. II WIS
] noticeable. also that while men and women sat
/ together in pew~. as in the other synAsosu",
some of the men w'r"thetr hats. and others did
! not TINS heing n disputed point upon winch N"
/ congregation WIS forced a. compromise 10y
/ leaving II to m.mhers 10 net each according 90
/ lis own views. The prayer books, which In the
! Emmanuel were in III br"w and English in the
/ AhAyafn Chnsed were in Hebrew and German.
| The synagogue was mu h crowded. md the
! niiro ~ the women WIS stylish ana costly.
/ Many n'n-J'w~ attended a- spe'ta rs. both NJ
| ths synagogue and at the one in Fiith avenue.
! In the Old Portuguese synagogue in Nine
| tccuth street, The services w'rs different from
| those int tle orthodox German. ns we'll Ms from
iRST"uFhly ort6oi"9 hui S5y traces ! iher Siq
| Spanish origin. and some - tho melodies are
eStlng h9n-c Of worship might mako II pass FOR
| public library or museum. The walls nrn of
simple Whlt". ana there are no decorator
! suNc about tho ARK containing iie rolls oi tho
! scriptures, IN the eastern wall Brtwr"n tho
! lofty pillars Of Scotch marble that rise
| on oith'r side oi the ark hung the
eternal light Above ih" ARK was "a
| canopy Of white satin. Inc centre ot tho
! elr'ul ular apartmcnt was taken up Win IN" read
| "r desk. Behind MIN sat IA" choir. comp
! oi six men and four boys, all wearing black
S GaI G Pad "a & lnG rnfed s s9SEs PAVE e4sd ,t the
flled tho part ~ female voices women not be-
| lng permitted IN the choir of strictly orthodox
/ syna-ogucs, nor insirumrntul music. Tho
! reader WIS entirely covered with white robe
! symlnlrl Of the slr0ud Of dealh-that fell over
| th" top Of his head and dcS'eudcd To bis ioet.
! AZ his left hand stood eN-Judgc Cnrlo2o.
! who is one of tho trustees of tho
! congregation. Imitation porcelain, candles,
with numerous gus-l'fs. rose from the
! railing TINT ran around this circular platform.
/ Al times the reader's voice was barely audible.
| and nj others II rose high in lamcntatiOn and
| supplIWilqn, and the choir Of mon AMI boys
| voices made responses. At the silent Prayer.
| the whole congrogHtio ion who all wore th"ir hats
| nlrl the thalth arose and turned ther faces 70
| the ensi and for some time there was deep sill.
| ness ln tll" house of worship Tn" women ot
| the congregation snt in gallery, and rose with
| the mon and turned 10 III" east. very seat IN
! ne synlgogue was o"uried,, and s'ine wor-
! Shippers stood outside tho doors with Their
/ prayer books. anu took part N the tpN1ti0us,