The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-30
CELEBRATING PENTECOST
The Singular Service Performed by Polish
Jews In Allen street.

The festival Of Pehtecost, or feast OF
weeks" was observed with great solemnity in
all the jewish synagogues yesterday. II Is
commemorated as being the anniversary Of the
finding Of the Ten Commandments on Mount
Sinai. The most peculiar ceremonies were per-
formed at the Polish " Beth Hamedrash." in
Allen street. Beth Hamedrash signifies
house Of learning 1t is an institution which
has existed among the Jews since tho time Of
Ezra. It ilourishes now only among the ultra
orthodox Polish Jews. 1t il sort Of school for
the expounling and study Of the Talmud and
il has also a judicial and eccles iasticnl charac-
ter. IL holds meetings nightly for the EXPOSE
ton and reading OF the writings of tho rAhbis.
These writings are read aloud. and commented
upon IN a free md easy style. The Beth
Hamedrash.' when II exercises its judicial
functions, resolves itself into n committee Of the
whole. and cnlls itself a Both Din, or house OF
judgment This Beth Din decides all knotty
questions Of ecclesiastical law for the Allen
street and Baxter street Jews. and by deciding
all teuy questions that arise among its sup
porters spares our civil courts much petty and
tiresome litigation.
The reporter found his way easily enough to
the synagogue. He had simply TO follow the
throngs that. as early as 3 o'clock, were wend-
votions Tho hall was packed with men
wrapped up in what looked like blankets. but
what We're talithinl- scarfs OF white alpaca.
was occupied by man wrapped in tolls or
scarf Tho reading desk was occupied by about
nun hllf'll men INJURY Wlff All tue men
on the reading desk wero reading aloud, and
those in the synagogue were trying to drown
their voices by VOcierOus responses. suddenly
they began to sway from side to side. and all
the wprshippers elsewhere were swayng to
and fro, Not man was standing still. Even
when they sat down the worshippers kept
up the rocking motion, increasing its rapidly
with every rising infection in the voice OF the
readers; The reading or chanting was kept up
in dull monotone .yari u occasionally by long
and loud wall mt which all the men arose and sat
down, renewing tho perpetual rocking motion.
when the prayers Tor the drad were begun,
those who had parents went out Of the church.
In the midst of tho prayer the whole congre-
CATION Were in tears. Scattered all through the
service were blessings in Hebrew. As often Ms
these We're uttered by the cantor the entire
that the service seemed 10 DO rs one prolonged
wrangle or debate in some unknown tongue.
When tho Slpher IOrah," or parchment of the
law, wrapped in velvet and dctked out in silver
WOrsllppcr stretched out his hand. touched the
sacred scroll, and kissed his fingers. When
the PARCHMENT was unrOlled and placed on tho
desk. Rabbi lnVY read a few lines and the whole
congregation responded. Every time thd rabbi
resumed his reading, he read specially to some
one member Of tho congregation who, cunsd-
rrlng thls an honor, made money Offering to
mo synagogue. At tho termination of the read
INK OF the tOrah the parchment was held up
10 the sight OF tho Hssemhlagr. and. ms II by Il
prrcc nccrted signal, about 200 men. young and
DID, all clad in the tolls Jumped TO their feet
and, rocking necessarily 10 and fro, called out
some words i'm Hebrew expressive Of their row
errn'o Tor the law. Thon they took their seats
agaln, and continued unintcrnittingly rocking
and crying bitterly until after II o'clock when
tho congregation was dismissed.
during the service n collection amounting 10
moro thnn 600 was taken up for the INDECENT
Jews OF Jerusalem. a prayer was also offered
E'gno Is, thG lt"y Israel Levy, and the cantor
the Roy. DR.. hanover.