The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-11
49,. Ch;aI-.. % MoNaIiv e 70
THE JEWISH NEW YEAR.
Atonement Day-The Kopura-Yom Kip
pur and the Shofar.

SEATTLE, Oct 10, 1891
To THE EDITOR: In my letter of October 8,
published in the Posr-INTELLIGENcER, in
describing the ceremonies attendant on the
celebration of the Jewish New Year, stated
that the orthodox Jew still believes that, fg-
uradyely speaking, on that day the Almighty
fixes in writing the destiny of every Israelite
for the coming year. but that the verdict is not
sealed until Yom Kippur, or Atonement day,
ten days later: and hence the aim of every Jew
Is to do as much penanee ana give much TO
charity within these intervening ten days az he
possibly can. Apparently he has two-fold OBJ
ject in so doing. First-It good year has been
granted TO him. he intends by his actions to im-
piore Providence not to take il from him. Sec
ond-f his destiny be bad one, he hopes TO
induce the Almighty to change it This super
stition Qf one may call it such) may well be
pardoned. One could almost wish that every
one was a believer in like superstition since 1t
not only induces the Jew to look at himself
with the eyes OF his Creator land therefore he
sees himself in true light, but il also induces
him to give literally to the poor; and who is
not ready to forgive superstition for the sake of
charity
On the morning before Atonement day the
Jew arises very early. Indeed he has so much 10
do in order TO prepare himself for the great day
that often, notwithstanding his early rising, he
finds hardly sufficient time to eat enough to last
him for two days, for during the next twenty
four hours, commencing with shutdown, he does
not eat or drink.
The Talmud instructs the Jew that it IL use
less to ask forgiveness of God If he has not first
obtained forgiveness from his fellow-men. After
considerable discussion, speculation and
theorizing, the Talmud concludes that no man
is entitled 10 forgiveness, nor will he receive il,
Il he has stnned so seriously against his fellow
men that they viii not forgive him. Thus we
nnd the Jew busy the entire day seeking his
friends and enemies alike, craving their forgive
ness and eheerfully forgiying them
This observance works Dotn ways-good and
bad The day often is instrumental In setting
some petty quarrel which might otherwise de-
velop into feud- Il also teaches the Jew q
very wholesome lesson; namely, that SHINING
against ones fellow men is as wrong as SHINING
sgainst God. On the other hand, 1t creates a
kind OF hypocrisy which is harmful In watch
ing some OF these people SO freely forgiving each
other one is often reminded OF two men fighting
in the streets. who, when arrested and brought
before the court, sit close TO each other and in
giving their testimony refer TO each other in the
most polite language. Until the trial Is over
and fines ara paid everything is peaceful, but
once IN the streets again they are ready for bat
tie. 60 many Jew forgives his business ri
yass the day before Iom kippur, but Is ready to
renew hostilities as soon as the day is over.
certainly must not fail to describe very
groteSque custom, known as kopur0 or forgive
ness. Apparently every Jew assumes that ne
10 deserving OF the severest punishment and so
he procures q fowl, whiris IL around his head
several times, says number OF prayers between
every revolution and then has the bird killed
and prepared for his breakfast the next day at
shutdown. Neither the Bible nor the Tamud
has any law requiring the Jew TO do so: but il
appears that he has the belief that, having
whirled the fowl around his head several times
all the ills destined for him will be visited on
the unfortunate bird. Unlike the custom prev
alent In the holy temple, where the high priest
used to place a goat before the congregation
and, after having soiemnly beseeehed heaven TO
take al sins from the people and heap them
upon the poor animal, send ii to the top OF the
mountain, from which point il was hurled over
q steep precipice TO destruction, the Jew does
not hesitate to eat the very bird upon which he
has asked that all his sins will be placed
Imagine D a. m; the streets dark, narrow and
muddy; deatening noise and quacking made
by chickens, geese and ducks; men, women and
children running about as If the town was on
fire, hurry1ng to the professional fowl killer 10
get their sin-laden poultry killed and dressed,
aud then fastening home 10 prepare everything
Tor the coming great day, and perhaps an fndis.
tinct idea may be formed of thu morning before
Yom Kippur.
BY p. IN. everything is ready and supper ia
concluded. The family surrounds the father to
receive his blessing. He gives il ferventlv but
hastily. He then attires himself in his usual
holiday garb and over and above all puts on a
long, plain, white overshirt, known as "kittle"
II Is the garment in which he is to be buried; in
fact, II Is worn for the next tweuty-four hours
so as TO remind him that man is mortal The
tails Ia wooden shawl 6xS feet in size and
worn by every orthodox Jew 10 say his morning
prayers in) he takes under his arm He then
hastens to his synagogue. AS he leaves the
house every one is III tears Sometimes women
aud children sob as If cir hearts would
break The very streets seem awe-inspirluy
The sun Is sstting. Stores are closed
Men, women and children hasten to their
synagogues. Not a loud word is spoken Silent
ana almost reyerent greetings are exchanged
between passers-by At last the veStibule of the
temple is reached. Shoes are taken of, as no
one dares 10 enter that night or the next dsv
with shoes on. Like Moses who we are told
was commanded TO remove his shoes as the yery
earth upon which he stood was holy so the
Jew believes the synagogue 70 have Is necisI
holiness on thar day AS be enters in the deep
estslIence, he stops on the threshold and bows
TO the east Then he advances noiselesslv 10 RS
seat Before donning the "tallis' he looks
around, and as he recognizes his reIafivas
friends and acquaintances he approaches them
and In suodued voice wishes them that ,hair
services may be aceeptaole 10 their CREATOR He