Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16
are said to belong to the most rigid type Of the

| ihE LAhtbsT HEBREW CONGREGATION
in this city is the Washington Hebrew congre-
CATION, which has handsome and commodious
temple on Sth near II street In their form Of
| worship as well as of observauces this congre-
cation belongs to the type known as the re-
| formed. The rabbi is Rev. L. Stern who dur.
ing his long service in that position, covering
period of nearly twenty years. has seen the
| congregation grow from mere handful o!
| people to n large and hourishing membership.
| The other synagogue is that of the Adas Is
| raei congregation, whose place of worship is at
| the corner of 9Th and G streets. The rabbi.
| Rev. Leopold Hermann. has recently come to
| the city. The congregation adheres in the
form OF worship to the service which prevails
In orthodox congregations.
TIE HEBREW POPULATION OF wAsHrSaToN.
| In relation to the question of the Hebrew
population Of the city, the membership Of the
| congregations has an important bearing. In
| fact, these organizations furnish the only data
| upon which a reliable estimate can be made.
| Even then only an approximate guess can be
made OF the total population, for among the
Hebrews, as among all other classes Of the
population, the people connected with the
| churches constitute only proportion of the
whole number. Tie census enumer-
alton OF the people Of the country
makes no distinction of race, except
| the extremely broad one Of white and colored,
and IN such classification Germans, Irish,
Hebrew, English, American, &C., are grouped
| together. The census office. however. has
| made an effort to collect the statistics of the
various religious denominations of the coun-
try. Some Of the results of this inquiry have
| already been given TO the public, but the bull
ietin containing the statistics of the Jewish
synaSogues has not yet been printed.
through the courtesy of MIR. Robert p. Porter
the superintendent of the census, Mr.. Charles
l.. Buell.. the special agent, was authorized to
furnish The STAR in advance o. the publica-
nE no hull. ,rhi will -,x {Ia
pletc statistics OF the Hebrew congregations in
! the United States the figures relative to the
congregations ill this city. Mr.. Buelrs sum-
| mary Is as follows:
AN OFFICIAL ESTIMATE.
The Jewish communicates in the District
OF Columbia, as reported in connection with
church statistics. are as follows:
Editices. Value: Communicates.
Orthodox. l $4,000 40
Reformed. 10000 936
The number Of communicates in the returns
Tor Hebrew congregations is misleading as
bearing upon Hebrew population In the in
troductory statement furnished for the Hebrew
fluctuations the following occurs:
I'm the Christian church each person who
has been baptized i'll the church and attends to
Its services is COMMUNICATE SO that each in
dividual member OF family counts for HIM
self. We have no such distinction however
the head OF the family being. so to saw the
representation in the membership of the syna-
gogue and no track being kept of the number
OF his family who attend services, SO that in
many cases single member of a congregation
may have for the use of his family from tour to
dozen seats, while there would be represented
on the roll of the congregation but a single
member.
''Sons can become members of a congregation
on attaining their majority by renting seats in
their own name, but they very rarely do SO
till they marry"
In a note Mr.. Buell. adds: upon this it would
be fair estimate to set the Hebrew population
OF the District OF Columbia at 5000 persons"
LIBERAL GUESS.
AS stated by Mr.. Buell. this is a mere estimate
OF the Hebrew population. Estimates have also
been made by such men Rev. Mr. Stern Mr.
Myer Cohen and others, who are in position
to be competent judges, and in their opinion
900 persons would be a liberal guess at the
Hebrew population in this city. As the basis
OF calculation is tho same in both
cases it is difficult 10 understand how
there should be such difference
in the results reached Perhaps the only prac-
teal solution is to split the difference between
the estimate made by the statistical expert of
the census Office and that of the men whose
close identification with the race enables them
to speak with some authority.
However. whether the one or the other esti-
mate IS regarded the correct one still true
that this class Of our population has increased
with great rapIdlty, and that they now con-
stltute an important element in the social and
business life of the city. 1t las only been a
little over forty years ago that the first Hebrew
families came to this city. and there is living
today man in the prime of life who was
THE FIRST MALE HEBREW BORN IN THE CITY,
This man is MIR. Abraham Fisher, the we'll
known real estate dealer. In the year 1S49, or
Whereabouts. five or six Hebrew families To-
Gated here and were the first Of the race to
MAKE permanent home at the capital. The
Hebrews have increased in numbers and pros
pe.lty with the growth and advancement of
the city While wealth is not the distinguish
ing characteristic OF the in this city, vet the
average Of comfortable competence is high.
They are found at the head of some of
the largest business houses of the city. They
are identified with the management of banks
and financial institutions. Theyare large own
ers OF real estate and in every department of
municipal activity the Hebrews have their
active and energetic representa- While
caring for their own, they are not unmndful
OF the appeals that come to them tor assistance
in the charitable work that is being
carried on under other auspices. They
are enterprising and public spirited and
Identified with the development of the city
along all the lines of municipal growth and
prosperity. Some of the representatives of the
race have become wealthy, but, as has been
stated, the large proportion are in moderate
circumstances. They are. however, here, as in
every place, law-abiding, industrious citizens
valuable addition to any community.
THE PRACTICE IN REGARD TO FUNERALS
One feature of the customs of the Hebrews
has not been touched upon, and that is the
practice in regard to funerals Each of the
two leading congregations have burial grounds
across the Eastern branch, and everything
associated with the last tribute OF affection and
respect paid to the remains OF the departed is
simple and devoid of display and os.entation
BY precept and example the cxtravagance
which has been for so many years
Customary with those of other faiths
and religions Is discouraged There is no
difference in circumstances surrounding the
burial of wealthy Hebrew and that of the
poorest and humblest member of the sect A
plain pine coffin is used covered with black
pail, the latter being removed when the coffin
is lowered into the grave. The body is wrapped
in grave clothes and in every other RESPECT
simplicity is the principle which is illustrated
by ~ Hebrew funeral The practical value of
this custom lies in the fact that a funeral in a
Hebrew faIoily does not entail burden of debt
stances by the death, perhaps, OF the
bread winner of the family. Public opinion
among the Hebrews supports this usage, and as
| ridiculous custom to have funeral which is
costly beyond their means.
OF A SOCIAL CHARACTER.
The social instincts of the Hebrews find
scope for expression in the round of recep-
tions, dill parties. &C., which are in vogue,