The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-17
The HEBREW HOLY DAYS.
Solemn Festivals Which Will
Be Observed During This
Week.
NEW YEAR. AND ACHIEVEMENT.
Many Quaint, Ancient and Interest
ing Ceremonies in the
Synagogue.

On Thursday, September 10, concurrent
with the first day of the Hebrew month
Tishri, will occur the Jewish New Year, or
Rosh Hashono. According to Hebrew
computation it is the five thousand six
hundred and sixty-sixth year of the crea-
ton of the world.
The festival will commence on the even
ing of Wednesday next, and will be recog-
nized by the orthodox until the evening of
Friday. The Temple Emanuel will, how
ever, only observe it one day, they being
reform congregation. All good Jews will,
as usual. close their stores and offices, and
the streets where they most do congregate
will present quite a deserted appearance.
Whatever may DE his shortcomings in re-
gard to the observance of Sabbaths and the
other festivals, the Israelite is always par
ticular to see that the New Year and Day
of Atonement are religiously spent.
White, the symbol of purity, will be the
prevailing color of the synagogue appur
tenances. The mantel of the ark of the
covenant will be of white satin. The
covers of the reading desk and the pulpit
will be white, and the ministers OF the
orthodox places of worship will wear white
gowns and hats.
Sermons will be delivered by the rabbis
of the various synagogues on the first day
of the festival. Following the biblical Or
dinance, the shofar, or cornet, will be
blown in the synagogue. This trumpet is
fashioned out of the horn of ram, and is
blown thirty times with different intona-
tions.
The ten intervening days between the
New Year and Day of Atonement are
termed the ten days of penitence. The
orthodox Jew will on each of these days
attend synagogue at + A. NJ. to read the
Selichoth, or prayers for forgiveness.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is
day which is strictly observed by He
brews throughout the world, without re-
gard to their different shades of opinion
on matters communal. From sunset on
the 9th of Tishri till sunset on the 10th
the Jew is prohibited from eating any food.
1t is the greatest fast day of the Jewish
calendar, the others being held on the 18th
day of Nissan (the fast of the firstborn),
the 18th of TamuZ, the 9th of Alb and the
10th of Tebeth, which latter are to COM
memorate the fall and seizure of Jerusa-
lem.
The eve of the Day of Atonement is called
Kol Nidre, from the two opening words OF
the evening prayer used on the occasion.
Sermons will be preached in the Temple
Emanu-El by DR.. Jacob Voorsanger, in
the Synagogue Sheriff. Israel by Rev.
Jacob Nieto in the Temple Beth Israel by
Rabbi NJ. s. Levy and in the Synagogue
Ohabai Shalome by Rabbi Julius Fryer.
On the morning of Yom Kippur services
will commence with the reading of the
Shahrith, or morning prayer. Other ser
vices held continuously throughout the
day are named Musaph, Mincha and
Neilah. Sermons will be preached either
before Musaph or before Neilah. A single
blast of the cornet will announce the ter
mination of the fast.
Five days after the Day of Atonement the
festival of Succoth or Booths, will be held,
This is probably the prettiest festival in the
Jewish calendar, and it is celebrated with
many quaint and ancient ceremonies. 1t
derives its name from the fact that while
the Hebrews were wanderers in the wilder
ness their only dwellings were booths
or tents. In commemoratlon of this the
orthodox Jew will erect for himself tenn
porary structure, called a succoh, built of
some light wood and rooted with evergreen
boughs. In this frail tent he will take his
meals for eight days.
The synagogal ceremonies will also be
of interest. The ministers will carry palm
branches, called lulovim, and the fruit of
the citron tree, called esrogim. These they
will carry in their hands while chanting
the Hallel, or hymns of praise. Those He
sions in their places of worship, chanting
joyful hymns as they walk.
The seventh day of Succoth is named
Hoshana Rabbah, 1.-The Great Hosanna."
All visitors to the synagogues of the ortho-
dox on that morning will be presented
with small handful of willow leaves,
with which they will strew the ground in
imitation of the priests of old. The sue
cob is used for the last time on this day.
Shemini Azereth, the feast of the eighth
day. follows Immediately on Hoshana
Rabbah. The services on this day will not
be characterized by anything of special in
terest. The prayer for rain will be offered
in accordance with the custom which OBJ
tains in Palestine.
The festivals will close with the observ-
ance of Simchat Torah-"The Rejoicing of
the Law" 1t is a day OF general jollity
and merry-making and will be kept only
by the orthodox. 1t derives it's name from
the fact that the ffty-two portions in
which the Pentateuch is divided are
finished and recommended by the con-
sentative congregations. This finishing of
the last chapter of Deuteronomy and re-
commencing with the first chapter of
Genesis has gone on uninterruptedly for
many centuries.