The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-17
THE GLAD NEW YEAR.
Jewish Congregations Ready
for Proper Observance.
SERVICES FOR TWO DAYS.
Devotions VIII Begin Wednesday Even
ing and Continue Thursday
and Friday.

Il
ious holiday. the Jew looks % that day a
the principal religious and exhortatioa day.
Rosh TToshore. the first day OF the year.
IS presumed 20 be the day in which the
Almighty strikes balance in the account
with His chosen people. The PRAYERS OF the
entire month preceding are all directed to-
wards reducing the debit side Of tire spt~-
itual ledger account for the wear past. and,
according 20 the cabalistic doctrine this is
the day in which the Heavenly Throne al
Judges the destiny OF every Jew for tire
coming year.
IN this city extensive preparations are
row being made by both congregations.
the reform and orthodox. TO properly oh
serve the New Year and the following holi-
days.
Reform and Orthodoxy.
The essential difference between the two
con grerations is hard TO define Outside 81
the city Of New York and perhaps BaIti-
more The orthodox Jew Of this country has
given up the idea OF pTaeticing his religion
with all the ceremonies and strictness stilI
in vogue in the three Polauds. The reform
synagogue OF this city, too. has found.
after several trials. that neither the native
Tor the German Jew residing here and in
this vicl1ity IS ready for the advanced re-
form OF Or. Hirsch. OF Chicago: DR.. Koh-
Ter. Of New York. or DR.. Krauskopf Of
Philadelphia Thus the disinterasted oh
server cannot account for two separate
Jewish congrega tons and fails to ind any
valid reason why the two struggling. weak
congregations should not combine and do
their best toward building up one strong,
well-supported synagogue. with an able
rabbi their leader and an efficient and
effective corps of teachers for the proper
education OF their children in Jewish his
tory and religion.
However much such a consolidation nav
II ~fof,a s,w s~ - -
least, little hope for its achievement Con-
sequently the coming holidays viii be OBJ
served by the two congregations in their
separate temples. with almost identical
ceremonies, except that the Reform viii
have an organ and a choir and the other
viii rely upon the voices OF its readers 70
furnish all the music.
The society Bichor Choiem.
Probably a brief retrospective view OF
the origin, growth and development sf
both congregations will not he entirely
without interest About FIVE years ago four
teen orthodox Jews residing IN this city
seemed 10 have felt the necessity OF organ
iZing 4 separate congregation Not being
numerically strong enough 10 maintain
synagogue. they formed themselves into
the Society B!chor Cholem Visiting the
sick). Three years ago the society had
gained sufficient strength ana influence to
Justify II I'm starting an orthodox syna-
gogue. Rooms were rented IN the IInckley
block. and ever since regular services have
been held every Friday night twice every
Saturday and on all the annual Jewish
holidays.
AS has been observed. strict orthodoxy
had 10 be abandoned. To hold services
every morning and evening as orthodoxy
demands was found to be utterly out Of
the question. Recently the synagogue was
moved from the Hinckley block to the
SQUIRE Latmer block. \ teacher in He
brew gives lessons daily in the synagogue
TO all the children who desire to attend.
About twenty children do attend daily.
most OF whom attend also the common
schools. and with no apparent extra effort
they acquire n rudime1tary knowledge Of
a language so very dear TO the heart Of
their ancestors aad parents
when Does the New Year Begin.
It's rooms however. not being large
enough 70 accommodate the large attend
ance of the main holidays. the .. A. r. hall
IN the HinCklev block has been rented for
the occasion. Services VIII be held Wednes-
day night and on the two following days.
WHY two days. II IS a question easier
asked than answered. There surely cannot
be two first days Of the year. Yet all the
answer that can be gotten from the num-
berless volumes which have been written
upon the question consists Of two Hebrew
words. and means that the Jews. after be-
ing driven from the holy land and the tenn
pie have lost their excellent system OF call
endar making and consequently are not
sure which Of the two Is tho right day. rs
10 on the safe side they observe both. The
Wednesday night services al the synagogue
VIII he short. Tho home altar Is mostly IN
Use for the New Years eve Thursday and
Friday the services VIII be Identical and
last from daybreak until little after noon
These services are divided into three parts.
The first is the morning service, which VIII
be read and chanted By NJ. + Ricllcs
Then comes the reading from the Torah
and tho blowing ~ the shofar (ram's horn.
and perhaps short address. an Of which
VII he performed ~ Mr.. Genss. Tho last
and most Impressive service known as the
rusaph. or "wiu3-up." VIII be conducted
hoy X Ferguson.
This congregation is very mild !n its
prctensors LIS expenses ara very small.
T. owes no debts, has no property. out
side ~ the parapaerral.a and furniture
belonging 70 the synagogue. K hopes 81
pho near future % erect a building of It's
own. but its hopes are not based on any
very encouraging signs It's members are
mostly fQrf working. honest but poor
wr-. 10 has hut th.rty-s.X members, who.
however humble. earnestly exert trcm-
selves in behalf * the religion in which
they believe.
The congregation ohavcth Sholum.
I'rtl November Is. lSS9 no regularly or
gan. y.E Jewish .-fts-rve GA ff0u evterc3 IN