Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-15
THE HEBREW NEW YEAR.
How IL Was Celebrated by the Israel.
ties I'm This City.


ropsr's SERVICES AT THE WASHINGTON srxA.
ooouE-rLoouESr SERMON or RARni srrRx-
THE WORLD BETTER THAN IT mas BrrS-sus-
SIAN PERSECUTION or THK HHnRrws
The celebration OF the Hebrew new yesr
was observed yesterday and today. The season
Is one not only Of religious observance. but OF
social enjoyments, whom friends exchange
greetings and wishes for happiness during the
new year. AT the synagogue OF the Washing
ton Hebrew congregation, on sth street. Q large
congregation attended the services last even
ing. This morning az $50 services were held
aud every seat in the spacious auditorium was
occupied. Rabbi Stern oficiated. A curtain
OF white silk was suspended before the recess
containing the ark and the reading
desk was similarly covered The black vest
ments OF the rabbi were faced with white The
services we're conducted IN accordance with the
fitnai. The choral portion being rendered by
habbi Stern. who was assisted Nv the regular
snoir OF the church and quartet consisting %
Mrs. DALEY, Mira Gibson. Messrs. Holer and
hhoop; AZ the appropriate place IN the SER
vices the shopar or rams horn announcing the
new year was blown by Mr.. s. Goodman
TIKI ANNUAL srRMoS,
preached by Rabbi Stern. was ON a theme ap-
propriate 20 the season. He enforced the
lesson that q life Rctuated by uuselhsh mo-
uves and desire 10 DO good was the truost
and most satisfactory. He spoke Of the wear
that had passed and the changes il had wrought
IN the lives of his hearers; how
there had been changes in the homo
circle and now the hearts OF those looking
back over the days that are gone are Allied with
mingled feelings OF gladness and grief. But
whatever the individual experiences of tho
past have been the national tendency was 20 look
toward 40 hap
lie spoke of the great love and desire for life
which was natural 90 man. Life he said Was
the gift OF God and it should be cherished
TBE DEsIRF ron LIVE
was legitimate one, but the entire sphere Of
man on earth was not bounded by mer. living
That was true of the animal kingdom. but Cor
man there is a higher aim. life OF noble
motives and unselhshDess is the true ideal
He spoke of the so-called elixir Of life m mod
ern times, the infusion OF animal blood into
the human body, and said il this had proved 10
be a success IL would only have prolonged the
physical life. That ELIXIR. he said. which seeks
10 elevate and ennoble men makes life worth
living ard is of benefit 60 the soul as well as 20
the body. To guard our tongues from evil ana
and our lips from guile. lac said. was a wise ad-
monItion. To depart from evil and do good 10
another Important injunction Tor those wishing
10 live noble lives To act contrary 20 these in
functions, the preacher said, moral death.
For one he was inclined 10 be optimistic. lie
believed that
TIE MORAL STANDARD or THE WORLD
was never higher than it is today In spite Of
the crimes and evil deeds which are recounted
in the newspapers he believed that the mass Of
the people was not SO corrupt as they have
been in the past. He reminded his
hearers that II not sufficient 90
abstain from evil, from doing merely what
is forbidden by laws human and divine; but
men are instructed 20 DO good. This is not
merely passive condition. but n is active. lie
enjoIned his hearers that the higher life did
not permit us TO forget that others were not as
happy AS ourselves and that II was n duty 20 do
our honestshare in relieving distress.
RUSSIAN PERSECUTION or HEBREWS.
He spoke of the shocking cruelty which the
Russian government was displaying toward
their Jewish subjccts Thousands OF those
helpless people. he said. were seeking refuge
in this country. In spite of all protests
the danger of the Wholesale expulsion Of
the jews from Russia looms up. We
must, he said. face the issue, and IL
we cannot compel Russia to abandon
ats designs, we can suecor the helpless depend
ent outcasts as they come TO us. We may have,
he said, trials and misfortunes but all these
are nothing compared with the misfortunes OF
our downtoadcn brethren m Russia Let us
all do our duty. the preacher urged.
The further injunction OF the Scriptures re-
ferred to by the preacher TO seek peace
and preserve it. This he explained meant the
peace Of mind that comes from duty well per-
formed. He said this could not be attained
by life Of Incidence or selfshness
No man. he said, Who is simply preserving his
own aims. looking after his own interests blind
10 the needs and misfortunes of Others. can be
said 20 he truly happy. Such a man in choos-
ing his path of lite has chosen foolishiy,
wronSfulIy. The wise choose the course
of life which is acceptable 20 God
a life OF kindness, integrity. purity. usefulness
and charity. IL this way, the preacher as
sured his hearers in closing, that peace Of
mind can be acquired which nothing else