The San Francisco call., 1897-09-28

Inc SlCpnaI'S voice Will tneSe attain
-Talmud b. Rosh Hashana, 16 a.
Yesterday was a day of general rejoic-
ing among the devout Jews, it being their
day for celebrating the festival of Rosh
Hashana, the Hebrew New Year, and
solemn services were held in ali the local
synagogues. The month of Tishi, the
first OF the Jewish calendar. began Sun
day at sundown, and was ushered i'll with
solemn and most impressive cere emonies.
1t is customary with the orthodox Jews TO
keep up the festival for two DAYS. but with
the reformed Jews, among which is The
congregation Emanuel, there is but one
day of fasting and prayer. a feature OF
the services is the annual blowing of the
shoptar or cornet, otherwise the rams
horn, which is one 10 awaken in the
minds Of the worshipers a due sense Of the
soiemnity of the occasion.
In the morning the synagogues were
reopened and services, consisting OF music
and sermons by the rabbis, were held. At
the Temple Emauu-Ei music was rem
dered by a special choir under the direc-
ton of Professor E. J. Stark. The music
consisted mainly of melodies taken from
lied and fit ed 10 modern music without
losing any of their original character or
IA, cinatinp beauty. The SolOists engaged
for the occasion were: Miss Daisy Cohen.
soprano; Mrs. L. Reynolds, contrai;O;
a. Werner, tenor, and S. Homer Henley,
DassO.
RABBI Voorsanger discOursed eloquently
on The Transfer of David's Power 10 His
Son." drawing comparisons between the
religion OF David and Solomon and point
ing out the example OF David. who under
stood the wisdom of the aye and directed
all eyes TO Jerusalem a, the one to be 1o-
lowed instead of Solomon, who cons idered
himself so wise tina. for a time ne forget
his God. Later III life however, Solomon
came to his senses and acknowledged
that he hal done wrong and became truly
penitent.
David" " be said, twas the founder of
literature and above the companionship
of men. He sought the association OF the
Lord, and by that association gained the
loftiest wisdom, making that of man an
sbsurdity. He has exempIitied the human
ambition of man ana exhibited power
OF enterprise that has been practiced by
his 10 lowers with good results"
AT he Geary street te empIe the regular
ritual service as laid down in the Hebrew
text book was read by J. L. Isaacs of E rk-
eley, after which Cantor Joseph Rabino-
wiiz read u additional service, assisted
by a special choir, which rendered much
bic assistance.
Rabbi Levy then preached an eloquent
sermon, taking his text from Deuterono-
my xxxii:7: "Remember the days of old,
consider The years of many generations
ask thy father and be will show thee
thy elders and they will tell thee"
In glowing words the rabbi pictured
the DAYS OF Old when festival meant
great deal-days of awe-when the sound
of the shOphar IN spired mems every action
with tear and reverence. He spoke also
of the changed condition of modern times
showing that everything physical ana
visible shift, and that nothing we possess
abides with US forever. He then asked if
nothing n ad remained unchanged, and i'll
reply pointed TO the Jew, who to-day had
left the great world OF commerce 10 take
care of itself and gathered in assem- biages
to woTshiE-a testimony that while every
thing else may change God remains un-
changeable.
In the Bush-slreet temple Rabbi Myers
trea ted the Congregation Oha bali Shalome
to the novelty OF =. sermon in verse, beauti-
fully worded and we'll ndered- The SER
mon was divided into four parts, begin
ming with the invocation:
Hail heav'n-sent holy New Years Day.
To thee gladly greetings pay
To elcOne thee our hearts combine,
ur thankful hearts to j1y restored,
Within this Temple of the Lord
A three-fold message thou dost bear,
Which blasts OF rumps 10 u declare
What solemn thoughts each blast compels!
Al every sound our bosom swells,
OuT soul is stirred by every note
That issues from the Shopbar's throat
At the synagogue of the Congregation
Sherlth Israel the services were most COM
pIete ana were pronounced the best ever
rendered in TINS synagogue. Under the
able direction of Professor ii. J. Stewart,
the choir disCoursed music in perfect tone
and harmony. Cantor Davis voice was
never heard to better advantage.
Rabbi Ni4to delivered the discourse, TAX
ing as ms text, Job vi:8: 80, that |
might have my request and that Goo
would grant Inc the thing that | long
for" lie said in part: mo unframed
man knows that Tor which he should long
or that which he should hope Tor from
God. Il IS the fashion OF people to place
their reliance upon the material advan-
iages OF position and to nope and pray for
worldly Influence ami wealth. Judaism
with lis domestic philosophy took man
as he is and by gradual processes >ought
to elevate him above the frailty OF COM
mon desire to the comprehension of
spiritual need and to the realization OF
the fact that divinity was resident in his
own breast"
The musical programme arranged by
Cantor Davis was as follows:
"En Komocho," by cantor and choir; "Sho-
phar Hymn" cantor and choir; Return, o
Loru," cantor and choir; anthem, 20 God
When Thou AppearesP (MozarD, choir SO.
prano solo and chorus (Hiller); "Unsane
Tokef," cantor and choir; "Kedusha" (sulzei),
cantor snd choir; psalm 81" caoir; Psalm
150' lLevanaowsky), choir; duet, soprano and
alto (Rossin); "En Kelohenu," arranged by
Cantor Davis; "Adon OIom." cantor and
choir.
The Congregation Nevah Zedekh is at
present without a pastor, Dut this fact did
not prevent them from hearing a sermon
on Israe.'s day of rejoicing, as Rabbi
there.