The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-09-16
TOM KIPPUR TO-DAY.
How the Day of Atonement is ob'
 served by the Hebrews.

served by the Hebrews.
 To-day, immediately after the sun sets, the most religious of all the holi- days in the Hebrew calendar will be- gin, extending till about seven o'clock Thursday evening. This holiday, the | Day of Atonement, Is called Tom Kip pur in the Hebrew tongue, and it | brings with it a number of interesting costumes and observances, It Is the | day when the Jews ask forgiVness of | the sins which they have committed through the year. Every Hebrew, no matter how seldom he visits the syna- l goSue during the year, unless practi- cally out of the fold, Is to be found | there on Yom Kippur, fasting and praying. The children of the orthodox congregations hold service in the syna- gogue all day, but the more progress sive and reformed congregations ob- | serve only one-half the day,
 In the orthodox synagogues the ark pulpit and scrolls, which at other times are covered with silk or velvet of pur- pie, blue or some other color, have white coverings on this day. The rab- bis and old men wear white gowns and are ill stockinged feet. The services begin about six o'clock Thursday, when the children, with sad looks on their faces and with Bibles under their arms, can be seen floeking to the syna- gogue. After many have assembled the chantor or singing minister goes to the Beamah or pulpit and there holds service by singing the mournful melo- dies, which are said to have been sung in the days of King Solomon.
 With his back toward the congrAga- tion he begins to chant, his rich voice rising and falling in mournful tones, while his listeners, rocking their bodies back and forth fervently answer the responses. After singing thus for I about five hours he rests, and the Tho rah or scrolls are taken from the ark and short chapters from the laws of Moses are sold at auction by the pas tor. It is considered to be a great hon. or for the one buying one of these chapters. The highest bidder goes to the Beamah and there recites the chap ter he bought As much as one hum dred dollars is sometimes received from these sales and it all goes to the main tenance of the synagogue.
 About two hours in the afternoon is taken up by sermon, which is deliv- cred by the rabbi in attendance. The account in Genesis of Abraham's will lingness to sacrifice his son Isaac at the command of God is read at the ser vice and the wailing sound of the sho- far or rams horn is heard as holy convocation. In some of the syna- gogues the more modern cornet Is used as substitute for the rams horn. It requires some skill to bring clear note from the rams horn, and when proper ly blown pleasing sound is emitted in a somewhat mournful key and differ ent from any produced on artificial musical instruments. The shofar is blown three times on this day. At the last part of the service all the men fal on their knees and ask of God for the last time to forgive their sins and en- roll their names on the list to live an other year. This is the only time oi the year the Hebrews say prayers or their knees.
 The holiday ends with the prayer that whosoever blesses a Hebrew may be blessed, while he who curses a He brew may himself be cursed. A very interesting thing to observe while 1T the synagogue is the Samesh with g bottle of ammonia mixture, which walking back and forth, he sprinSles on the handkerchiefs of those who look drowsy or are sleeping, thus helping tt keep them awake.
 After the services are over an at. tendant advances toward the rabbi holding silver cup containing wine which the latter takes and blesses Then all children who care to partici. pate are permitted to drink from tht sacred vessel. When this is ended al go home, men and women with pale faces and tear- stained eyes, with al unsteady step due to the weakness caused by fasting. A number of ole and weak women faint each year in thu ! synagogue on account of trying to fas all day. A feast fs had at each house after the holiday is over