The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-02
THE JEWISH FEASTS.
Celebration of the Nations
Historical Days.
CUSTOMS OF THE OCCASIONS.
The New Year-Day OF National Repent
ance-Different Ceremonies OF the
Orthodox and Reformers.

Today the celebration Of the autumnal festi-
vais OF the Jewish people begins, by the advent
OF the Rosh Hoshanna, head OF the year, OF New
Year and throughout the world, irrespective of
class or condition, wherever ten adults can con-
vene, they assemble and with song and prayer
lift up their voices 70 Ado Mai, that God that,
according to Jewish ancient tradition, may not
be mentioned with uncovered head.
When the nation Of Israel inhabited Palestine,
and Jerusalem was its capital, this Rosh Hosh-
anna was made not only great religious occa-
sion, but became an assemblage Of great poiitl-
cal and industrial importance. OF political
importance, because the subject, no
matter how humble or poor he might
be on this day, might personally
approach the monarch. state his grievance ana
make plea for justice. II became day OF
great industrial value, because 1t fell at season
OF the year when the harvests were gathered in
and when the farmer would bring TO the GEN.
trail market of the nation the years product ana
exchange il for the current coin OF the realm
It was q grand occasion. The whole nation
gathered together, the streets OF the sacred city
were full OF merrymakers, the priests were
robcd in their noblest vestments, the great tenn
pies were flooded with people eager to offer up
sacrifices to the God OF the chosen race. Inc
poup and ceremony of their ancient celebra-
lions defes description; and this lavish mag
nffcence continued until Jerusalem was de-
stroyed, the temple for the second time was
laid in ruins, and the Hebrews. captives first 70
Babylon and then 10 Rome, ceased to have q
separate political or national existence.
But so strongly had this day and the spirit In
eulcated thereby impressed itself upon the
Hebraie mind that the prosecutions through
centuries OF agony never drove IL out OF the
Jewish heart Neither Roman tyranny. nor
Spanish nquisitorial cruelty could tear from the
Jew the observance Of his social festivals, and
49,. to
walls, he clings to these religious celebrations
with peculiar pertiuacity
The eeclesiastic year OF the Jews begins On the
first day of the month Of Teshri, which is the
seventh month OF the Jewish calendar year.
Ten days later the sabbath of Sabbaths" comes,
which is better known a. Yom Kip
pur. or day of atouement. The
days between the new year and the
day OF atonenent are recognized among the
rabbits, teachers and learned men the pene-
tential days, which the Hebrew spends i'll close
determination, contrition and repentance, so
that when the great day arrives he can appear
before "the holy OF holies,' like the high priest
at the temple, with soul freed from sin and a
heart of purity, to ask for absolution without
any intermediate agency
The ceremonies of this occasion are even to
this day quite awe-inspiring. The modern
Jews are divided into two classes, ortho-
dox and reform. The former believe
in ancient tradition, the inspiration
OF Scripture, the resurrection of the
dead and literal Messiah who shall save the
Hebrews anu through them mankind and
lead the Jews back to the land of their
fathers. Palestine, which will eternally overflow
with milk and honey The reform Jew, full of
the spirit of the age. regards the b bic as his
tory, believes that the Jew in the past was nat
ural instrument used to keep the world from
falling into perpetual darkness, and that Mes
sah will come in the form OF a universal intel
ligence that will save men to that happiness
which comes alone from purity. virtue aud JUS
tice, aud he altogether rejects the idea OF any
literal return OF the Jews a race to Palestine.
Thus at this day the orthodox Jews hold these
occasions in great awe and the ceremonies are
modeled after the ancient manner, with fasting
rigidly for twenty-four hours and with contin-
ual prayer. The reform Jews regard the days as
of great historical value, and observe them in
quiet joys family reunions, and mild social
pleasures.
Following these festivals are two others of
more joyous character: Yom shebuolt or day
of lawgiving, which commentaries the giving
of the Decalogue TO Moses on Mount Sanai, and.
the Yom Hasuccoth, or day of the Tabernacle,
which celebrates the days when the Jews,
wandering for forty years through the wilder
ness, and preparing to become nation, dwelled
in tents. These two feasts are celebrated with
glorious joys, flowers, gifts and general good
time.
In the early springtime comes the P9sech, or
Passover. This feast is celebrated in honor of
the deliveraDce of the jews from slavery in
Egypt and is surrounded by ceremonies and OBJ
servances peculiar and fitting.
The one striking feature of all the Jewish hol-
iday observances lies in the fact that each to
some degree centers around the family circle
Moses, the great law-giyer, in his wisdom said
that noble sentiments were inculcated at the
Preside, and the love of family implanted in the
citizen was likely to create the patriot, and so
he wrapped around these great days the inspira-
ton of the home, and he achieved his purpose.
for while his influence lasted the Jews preserved
their independence and maintained their supe-
riority over the nations by whom they were sur
rounded.
The Jewish residents of Seattle, under the
leadership of their able rabbi, are celebrating
these great historical days in fitting style. The
ceremonies are performed for the most part in
the Hebrew language, but they are very impress
siye and quite interesting Throughout the day
the rabbi with his face turned TO the east reads
from the Torat or law, the prophets, aud chants
with peculiar melody the songs and poems of
his sacred nation. The music OF the special
choir is very fine, but still grander is the voice
of the congregation united and with bowed
heads the people chant the Hebrew hymns that
for ages have inspired the sons of Judah in
their terrible march through the agonies of