The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-17
FEAST OF ROSH HASHANAH.
The Hebrew New Year VIII BE Oh
served September 2:.

Ihe Hebrew New \ ear VIII BE Oh
served September 81.
With the advent of autumn e.otr year
there come the festivals and celebrations
attendant upon the opening of the Hebrew
religious year. 1t is often observed that
the doors of merchantile establishments.
faith. are closed and newspapers often
contain accounts of the elaborate and i'm
pressive services held in the synagogues.
The Hebrew New Year begins on the first
day of the seventh month, Tishri, of the
calendar. and this year that day falls on
September 23 next Sunday This Is known
as Rosh Hashanah. the Day of Memorial
and after ten days of penitence and pre-
paration for the publication from sin. 1t
is followed on the tenth day of Ti5hri,
by the festival of Yom Kippur. the Day
of Atonement.' The latter is the most
important of all the numerous festivals
that are so plentifully sprinkled through
out the Jewish holy year.
Rosh Hashanah. or, as 1t is sometimes
called. Yom HaZikarron, and which is the
beginning of the new year. is Of ancient
origin and has been celebrated by the Le-
levers in Judaism throughout the ages,
and under conditions of joy, sorrow. and
the Exodus The first day of The seventh
month was chosen as a time when the in
gathering of the harvest was completed
and the people had time to go to Jerusa-
lem for a season of prayer. penitenee, and
thanksgiving At this time It was merely
a feast of thankfulness, for the fayors
received during the year. and was of min
or Importance in the list of holy eele-
brations. Later on. however, it attained
greater significance. Mention is made in
certain books of the Old Testament of
the first day of the seventh month being
ordained as a Sabbath. =
1t was on this day that the exiles re-
turning from Babylon under ZerubSabel
became re-established in the fatherland.
And il was on this day that Ezra began
the organization of the, new community.
In consequence of this reorgan.zltion the
first day of Tishri was regarded as the
first day of the secular year. The re-
ligious year continued to begin at an
other date, the Egyptian month of Alb.
However. when the Jewish people began
to mingle with other races. ard finally
when they became a race without a
country. they adopted the calendar in
use by those nations, and gradually the
religious year beginning in the month
of abb, was replaced in religious signii-
canoe By the year beginning the first day
of Tishri. The day, as its name sugg asts.
was established as one of memorial. AMI
in ancient times was signaliZed by the
blowing of trumpets to call the people
together to have them renew allegiance
! 10 the law. The spirit of the occasion is
| one of penitence and prayer. an occasion
/ of remembrance of the Obligation p aced
upon the people. an obligation of right :
! eousness, the doing of justice and the
refraining from wrong. The reward is
ore of spiritual freedom, and in the me
| dieyal days was a manumssion from he
| thraIdom of idolatry and superstition
! that caused the downfall of the barbaric
1 nations In modern times 1t has become
/ a festival when the lesson Of the ages is
| memoriZsd by the holy conyo cations OF
\ Israel The period of time intervening
| between Rosh Hashanah and Iom Kippur
/ Is known as the ten days CT psnitence.
! This is a period which somewhat resem-
/ bles Lent. It is characterized by deeds
of benevolenee and cfcrity. ard especially
/ reconciliation with offended brethren by
| mutual concessions. by a revival of fra
| ternity, good will TO men, and spiritual
| preparation for the ordeal of recon-
| Citation with the Almighty.
Yom Kippur the last CT the days OF
penitence. Is a day Of .Asting. II origi-
mated through a command which appears
! in Leviticus of the Old Testament, which
| charges the faithful to fast and abstain
from labor of any kind that they may be
purified from their sins. An occurrence
that adds to its social and political sig
nificance occurred in the foTty-eishth year
7 after it had been established. At that
/ time. according TO the Levitieal law, the
! trumpet sounded to proclaim freedom
/ throughout al the land and to all the
| people thereof and thus the jubilee year
was ushered in.
| The Day OF Atonement with its behest
| Of reconciliation with God and its duty
! of reparatiOn toward men, embodes the
kernel of the Hebrew faith. and stands
pre-eminent as memorial of its cardinal
| teachings.
The orthodox branch q the Jewish
| Church devotes two days to the celebration
| of each of these festivals. but the Re.
/ formed Church. which is in the majority
! in this country gives but one day to each
( Services in the synagogues will begin with
| the celebration of the Day of Memorial CT
! Rosh Hashanah next Sunday night The
! festival really lasts from sunset Sunday
! till that time the next day. but OF course
| the service Is not continuous. There will
! be service Sunday evening and Monday
morning Business will be generally sus-
pended by those of the faith. The services
/ are solemn and impressive. Great atten.
! tiCn Is paid TO the music. During the Ter
f, Days of Penitencc regular services will be
! held. The festival of YoHl Kippur occur,
! this year on wednesday. September 3, and
the celebration win begin Tuesday at sun
set and continue till the corresponding
| time Wednesday. A strict fast is suppoS-
| ed to be observed during mat time. Visi-
| tors are always welcome to attend the
services. which are highly interesting and
extremely beautiful in their impressiyeness
! and solemnity.