The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-29
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT,
Religious Ceremonies of Yom
Kippur in the Synagogues
Yesterday.
An Impressive Musical Service at
Sheriff. Israel-Or. Nleto's
Lecture.

The most important event in the
Hebrew calendar was universally cele-
brated yesterday. 1t was the Jewish Day
of Atonement, wherein, in accordance
with the Biblical injunction, the Israelite
"afflicts his SOUP by starving his body for
twenty-four hours. 1t was the great
"white fast day." upon which the Jew
makes atonement for the transgressions he
has committed during the past year.
The synagogues in this City were
crowded from early morning till late al
night. A special feature in the services
of the orthodox was the recital of the
"Oshamnu," or Confession of SIM
The origin of this composition is shrouded
in obscurity, and it is many hundreds Of
years old. It's popularity lies IN the fact
that each word of the confession is fitted
to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and the
whole com bined to form the confession.
As on the New Year, classical and
traditional music, both recitative and
choral, was given prominent place in the
service. The choirs were under the direc-
ton of the cantors of the respective
temples and their organists.
Four services, named respectively
Schachris, Musaph, Mincha and Neilah
were held continuously throughout the
day. The rabbis of the synagogues
preached appropriate sermons either be-
fore Musaph or before Neilah.
The rabbis and the cantors who sang the
greater portion of the services were all gar
mented in vestments of white, emblem
attic of purity.
At the Synagogue Beth Israel, on Geary
street, the atonement ceremonies were
conducted by Rabbi NJ. S. Levy and Can
I Pol IN no ba
direction of II. ]. Stewart, organist, was
unusually well rendered. Verdi's great
requiem mass, Light Eternal" was sung
in English by Miss Mile Flynn in solo
soprano, A. Aspland tenor and Robert
Duncan bass. The other members of the
fine choir were Miss Rose Adler, soprano,
and Miss Coney and Mrs. Batchelder, con-
traltos. The Hebrew selection, "Kedu-
sha," which was also given, was written
for Yom Kippur by Mr.. Stewart.
The music given at the taking down OF
the torah, the'roll of Scriptures, from the
tabernacle, was beautifully rendered. The
long rollcall of the dead, the names of all
VINO had died in the congregation, were
read.
Rabbi Levy's memorial service over the
departed was grand one. 1.-THE dead are
alive" said he. 'They have passed for
ever beyond the dying and only the living
are subject to death. Let US think of the
dead. They who cannot bestow thought
on the dead the living cannot be intrusted
to their CARE
The Synagogue Sheriff. Israel at the
corner of Taylor and Suffer streets, was
crowded with people assembled to attend
the services and to hear lecture by
Rabbi Nieto. The ceremonies continued
throughout the day. with a splendid pro-
gramme of clerical and traditional music
by the following choir: Frank Coffin,
tenor; Mrs. Alvina Heuer Wilson and
Miss Black. sopranos; Miss Ella V. Nc
Closkey, contralto; G. B. R. Mills, ha5so.
Mrs. Fl. ]. Stewart presided at the organ.
The cantor was Rev. d. S. Davis.
The beautiful musical services given
were soprano solo, "Hear We, Israeli by
Mrs. Alvlna Wilson; anthem, 1.-THE Lord
Is My Shepherd" by the choir; alto solo,
20, Thou Afflicted" by Miss Ella McClos-
key; tenor solo in the Shave by Frank
Coffin; bass solo IN the Fro Komocho, by
G. B. r. Mills.
DR.. Nieto's morning sermon was devoted
to defense of the progressive idea In
Judaism. He demonstrated the extreme
Hberality of the taberna cle rabbis, and in
support Of his argument quoted the adage
from the Talmud that all things must be
arranged according to the needs of the
times.
He read passages showing that the