The San Francisco call., 1897-09-27
PORTALS Of
A NEW YEAR
ARE OPEN
4" Rosh Hashono" Ushered
In With Impressive
Ceremonies.
JEWISH NEW YEAR AT HAND.
Divine Services in the Syna-
gogues With Sermons by
the Rabbis.
SERVICES IN EMANUEL TEMPLE.
DR.. ]. Voorsanger Spoke of the Year
to Come and the Year That
Has Gone.

Impressive scenes were enacted in the
synagogues throughout the city last even
ing when the first day of the Jewish year
was nshered in with solemn thoughts and
serious reflections. The advent OF this
day seemed to i'm press on the hearts OF the
Isrealite the mingled feelings of awe and
fervent 10y 'Sanctified by the word OF
holy revelation, halowed by the attrac-
tive voice of venerable tradition and en-
deared by the beloved memory OF ancient
custom the day was blessed.
The synagogues presented beautiful
appearance. The ark of the covenant, in
which rests the manuscript scrolls of the
law was ornamented with white satin,
and the cantor stood in blaze of light
from the candelabra. Following the sun
set services, the Temple Emanuel was
filled with those who listened to the words
OF Rabbi Voorsanger, who spoke OF the
significance OF "Rosu Hashono."
Seemingly the portals OF the new year
were opened with song. The music rem
dered during the festival was prepared
and presented to the temple by Cantor
Rev. Z. J. Stark. Following the impress
sive opening services Rabbi Voorsanger
said in part:
again the hour-glass is overturned
the sands of year are colnted. Time,
with ruthless scythe in hand. has moved
down the weeds and grasses that sprang
up within it. We salute the incoming
year, and at this moment, my people, it
gives me happiness TO salute you. l pray
for your happiness. | humbly ask of
Deity to send you peace to vouchsafe the
cOnsum nation of your hopes and ambi-
tions; to be with you and your loved ones
1t is fitting that the first utterances
should be addressed to Him, for if there
be any degree OF consciousness within US,
with respect to the eternal spirit, it is
strongest within US just now, that the
minutes are journeying on and a year is
mum bered with the dead years OF the
past.
ITO most men a years experience is
abundant. Its hundreds of days and N ore
all bring their measure of action and
in them they also see the stars and con-
stellations revolve, occasionally in contact
with each other, again crossing and re-
crossing each others paths. Much can
happen in 4 years time that is OF the
farthest reaching int1 t1uence upon human
career. Life and death, we are acc Istomed
10 the thought that these eau always
come. subject 10 the Providence that or
dains them.
IF it be true that even in our own life
time we forget the facts crowded in our
days or hours, if we witness our personal
or national experiences reduced to mere
memories, dismissed in the recital with
but a word or two, how can we adequately
understand the panorama of change in
which, with trembling hearts indeed, we
see the centuries themselves step off like
minutes and disappear in the clouded dis
tance, which is the past? | confess the
thought is too awful for comprehension.
In that dreadful past as In the dreadful
future. made terrible by the long success
sion of years In which change was and
change will be, l can discover but one con-
sistent-fact of which l am conscious-God,
the beginning and end of all things"
Those on the altar with DR.. Voorsaager
were the president OF tue temple, r.
Peixotto, Vice pre- sdent ]. Greenebaum,
and Cantor Rev. E. J. Stark.