Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-24
A JoYoUs FESTIVAL.
The Hebrew Feast Of Tabernacles-How
It is Observed.

The Hebrew Feast Of Tabernacles-HOw
It is Observed.
The next seven days will be celebrated
sn the Hebrew church AS festival period.
The drst and tenth day OF the month
''Tishri," devoted TO prayer and peni-
tence, fasting and atonement, having been
observed with great solemnlty-auo
festival Of Israel Of different character
named 'Succote," or Feast OF Taber-
nacles," began last evening. The statute
Tor this holiday is recorded in Leyiticus,
chapter %, verses 50 to 43, as follows:
''On the fifteenth day OF the seventh
month ye shall DO no spryilo work there
in. When We lave gathered in the fruit
q the land We shall keep q feast unto the
Lord seven days On the first Gav shall
be sabbath, and on the eighth day shall
be sabbath. And ye shall take unto You
on the nrst day the fruit OF the tree Ha-
dar, branches Of the palm tree the boughs
OF the myrtle tree and the willows OF the
brook, and ye shall rejoice before the
Lord; 10 shall De a statute forever unto
your generations Nu shall dwell in
booths seven days. Az that are lsraeltes
porn snail dwell iH booths That your gem
CREATIONS may know that ] made the chill
dion OF Israel % dwell IN booths when
brough them out of inc land OF Egypt. /
am the Lord your Cod
The booths or isbernRcles are con-
elructed OF she bOuehs of trees. the roofs
covered with fragrant lNergreens, and
kuAcltuilY open tu admit ihc light of The
sun AID 10 observe tlp brightness ~ the
stars. They arc used ipf religious pur-
poses during The festival The custom or
dwelling IN hootns obtains ecry generally
ln Palestine, Russia t.d Poland. also In
some parts ni Germany Tn tGe United
states the iabcrnIci8 ls permanent
structure adjoining Che synagogue, with
tho roof 80 arranged that tGe foliage or
trees can be inserted, and the ornament
observed through tae cfergreens. Tine
festival is COMMUNICATED with great re-
iOiclng, and ~ Intended 10 Impress upon
the Jewish mind the signs and miracles
wrought Ia thC desert. ,ue dwelling in
booths teaching the lesson tuat IN the
height OF prosperity adversely should ho
remembered. and while 10 symb0lizes the
virtues or meeknes8 ard humility Do
aWNkens the emotion 0f gratitude 90 God
for deliyerance from dnlrcr and suffering
IN acc0rdancc with th0 statute, during
the service Of the synagogue the four
united branches, including the fruit OF
the tree Hadar-the CitrOn--are borne iu
one hand by the minister. with the scroll
~ uie law in the other and when thoy are
elevated choir aud congregation chant
hosannas 70 the Moat High. This cere-
mony, as explained by jewish common
tatOrs, "p0inte a moral" Tho palm
branch. they write, Is lofty and erect, and
lls leaves strike out from both sides. 10
u IKE the stature VI man and assimilatts
% bis spinal column, from which the ribs
branch out on either side aud contain the
vital organs. The myrtle is oyai-shaped
IKE tho eye OF man, ana tho willow like
bis lips-cOmprossed the citrOn is
formed Ike the heart Of man. All these
products are Joined together in the relig-
iOus ceremonial 10 teach Israel that tho
body eye, Dip and heart Of man should all