The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-03
THE JEWISH NEW YEAR.
SEATTLE. Oct. Q, 1,

in the west, he ushered in an eve of gladness to
every Israelite. The Jewish New Year of 5652
commenced with shutdown last night, and in
every community on this earth where ten or
more Jewish families reside the God of Israel
win be publicly worshiped, notwithstanding
the torture and persecution to which the Jew
has been subjected by his enemies, and In spite
OF division in his own ranks by orthodoxy,
reformation and asceticism. Even in villages
where one Jewish heart beats, devotion to Him
who is the Father OF all mankind will be pri-
vately manifested.
The persecution now undergone by the Jew IN
Russia has brought him so prominently before
the public that he is repeatedly dissected; his
business and religious habits are freely depicted
with view Of convincing US that he himself is
to blame for all the ills that tyrannical car
visits upon him. And with desire to acquaint
the American public with all of the orthodox
Jews superstition. / will invite the reader to
kindly follow me to Central Europe, especially
Hungary and Poland, where the Jew still wor-
ships his God with all the'ancient orthodoxy
and superstition known, and there let US i'm
partially observe all his actions on New Years
day, and then judge whether they entitle him
to tho maltreatment he is now undergoing.
The first day of Tushra corresponding to the
month of October) the Jew observes his New
Year. The Sunday preceding, or. IL New Year
falls on Monday, two Sundays preceding, the
Jew is aroused from his peaceful slumber at a.
m. by the sexton. who hastens through all the
Jewish section, and in Q loud voice cries out the
names OF seven Jewish saints-Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Moses, Aaron, David and Solomon. Every
Jew knows that that cry announces the coming
OF the holy days. He quickly arises from his
couch. hastily dresses and hurries to the syna-
gogue. On arriving there he begins to do pei,-
ance for the sins committed during the year
just ended by prayers and lamentations. At
daybreak he says his usual morning prayers and
goes home to pursue his daily vocation until
New Year eve, when he closes all his business,
attires himself in his holiday garb and goes to
the synagogue to say his New Year s eve prayer
His sons go with him: his wife and daughters
remain at home to make all necessary prepare
lions for the evening festival. AS soon as the
evening prayers are concluded, the Jews greet
each other with Hebrew saying, Lyshono topa
ttcusyve ytcchusyne, meaning in English, "May
good year be written and sealed for YOU"
superstition prevails that on New Year the Al
mighty fixes the destiny of e. Try Israelite for
the coming year. Figuratively speaking, the
destiny Is supposed to be fled in writing. and
ten days alter, on Yom Kippur, or Atonement
day, 1t is sealed.
The salutations over, the Jew hurries to his
home, and as he enters his home the same
greetings are exchanged between him and his
wife and children. The chandelier is lighted,
and on the walls are lighted wax tapers In
candlesticks; In the center of the room Is a table
upon which are also candles, usually four, some
times as many as six or eight according to the
wealth of the Jew. At the head of the table two
plated loaves OF white bread are placed, COW
cred with an ornamental cloth. A bottle of
wine and glass stand on the right of the bread,
table service and honey on the left. Here also
we find a superstition. 1t appears that the wine
and bread are alike entitled to the prayers that
the Jew usually says at the commencement of the
meal on New Years eve, and for fear that the
bread will be jealous and perhaps feel itself in
suited by giving the wine the preference the
bread 10 covered. This is a superstition from
which we cannot draw any moral, but it is GER
tainly harmless.
Having blessed his wife and children the Jew
pours out glass OF wine, says prayers over it,
drinks q portion of ii, hands the glass to his
wife, who also drinks, and then passes the glass
around from child to child, to the Oldest first
and the youngest last. The head of the family
then washes his hands, says the usual PRAYER
uncovers the loaves of bread and GUS
one of the two-a slice for him.
self, one for his wife and one for
every child In order according 10 age. Contrary
to his custom the whole year round to din his
first bite of bread into salt in imitation of the
sacrifices In the holy temple, where Noses adj
monished the priests to use salt at every sacri-
fee, he dips his first bite into honey, thus usher
ing in the new year in sweetness. Unimport-
ant as all these little niceties may appear they
teach q wonderfully beneficial lesson AS the
wine and bread are distributed to father mother
older sister and brother, so is the respect main.
tanned. Thus we End the solution for the puzzle
so often presenting itself to the minds of all
thinking men, namely, how did the Jew manage
to maintain his sterling standard in the face of
so much bitterness and persecution. These lit
tie fetes and ceremonies impress the child with
an indescribable reverence and love for the fire.
SIDE Not only does the custom teach the child
to respect its father, mother, older brothers and
sisters, but il also helps the mother to bring nm
her children. Invariably the child learns to
obey its older brothers and sisters as well a. its
mother and father. am not a saint, nor can
lay claim to being exceptionally good, but in
honor 10 my religion, do gladly confess that
In moments of temptation and trial these little
scenes have often presented themselves before
my minds eye and kept me out of mischief.
Pardon this depression, but 1t 10 impossible for
Jew TO describe his New Years eve festival
without becoming enthusiastic.
The poor are never forgotten. The fete. be IL
rich or frugal, is shared with needy relatives
The stranger is also cared for AS the Jew
leaves his synagogue he looks around for
strangers They generally eongregate near the
entrance, and every Jew who can afford IL, In
vltes one OF them to become his guest for the
holidays. use the word guest advisediy. The
hebrew word ordch, meaning guest is applied
10 the stranger. Here, again, we see lesson of
charity taught TO the child in its infancy which
II can never forget. Once the stranger Ia In
Fited Tor the holidays he is guest indeed. As
the father opens the door of his own house he
enters. followed by the stranger. The sons, who
have been to the synagogue with their father,
are taught to give the stranger preference
Once he enters the house everything is done TO
make him feel at home and as the guest of the
family. BE Is seated at the right OF the head Of
The house, glass OF wine is given to him, and, II