Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-24
HEBREW NEW YEAR
Observance in This City of the Annual
Festival,
SERVICES HELD IN THE SYNAGOGUES
Discourses by Rabbi Stern and
Rabbi MendeI, Respectively.
REVIEW OF PAST EVENTS

Today is being observed throughout the
city by Hebrews as New Year, the COM
mencement according to the Jewish calen-
dar, of the year 5661, and business of all
kinds is totally suspended. The ceremo-
MES connected with the festival began last
evening at shutdown and will continue until
sunset tomorrow.
This holiday is called in the Hebraic
tongue "Rosh Hashanna," the beginning
of the year, and is time for great re-
joicing and merriment. Presents and con-
gratulatory cards are exchanged by the
devout Israelites, and the festival contin-
ues for week. The period which comes
eight days after the New Year event puts
an end to the general festivity. 1t is Yom
Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. The
more orthodox Jews observe this day with
great rigor Promptly at sunrise they en-
ter the sanctuary and remain there in
earnest prayer until sunset, abstaining from
all food and drink. The most beautiful
holiday at this time of the year is the Sue
Goth week, which directly follows the Day
of Atonement. This is the feast of thanks
giving for the bounties of the seasons
harvest
In the two principal synagogues in Wash
ington the services, began last night with
chanting the words prescribed by the ritual
and the reciting of prayers acknowledging
blessings received during the year just end
ing. The handsome and commodious edi-
flee of the Washington Hebrew Congrega-
ton, on Sth street between H and streets
northwest, was crowded with devout wor-
shippers. The service while simple, was very
impressive. The sermon was by Rabbi
Louis Stern, who delivered discourse APP
propriate to the occasion.
DIR. Stern's Address.
Among other thoughts expressed by Dr.
years in His sight are but as yesterday:
century but a drop in the ocean Of time.
The pages of history bear the unmistakable
imprint of the finger of God in the shaping
of past events. and time will reveal the
mysterious weaving of His wise providence
now, as ever. though our narrow vision may
fail to see or comprehend it.
God, our guide and our light in life, we
cannot go astray; God our light and our
hope in death, even death in any form
the death of one or of thousands-loses its
terror, for In life and in death we are with
God, and God with us.
1T Is this message above all others which
in this solemn'opening hour of new year
l would bring nearer your hearts. Could
you doubt for a moment its importance?
God reigneth Without this belief, how cold
and dark the universe, how vague and
meaningless life and its purpose, how
dreary and cherries our outlook; what If
we toll and labor, day after day. month
after month, year in, year out, unsustained
by that hope and faith which religion en-
kindles within the trustful heart.
What IL we seek our happiness solely in
things material, exchanging our humble
dwellings for proud palaces, our simple
mode of living for splendor and eXtrava-
gances: our quiet, peaceful home life for
an Unsuitable Indulgence in pleasuraple ex-
citement, but utterly fail to satisfy the
noble yearnings OF the Godlike, immortal
soul Let us not deceive ourselves. Sooner
or later we must awake to the conscious
ness that true happiness that heart can
never find that no longer is In touch with
its divine source, that has grown cold
and callous, selfish and conceited; that re-
fuses to see the light of hope and promise
beyond the narrow limits of our subunar
existence.
The music was furnished by a choir
composed among others of Mrs. Nellie Will
son Shir-Cliff Mrs Margaret Nolan Martin,
Mr.. John Nolan and Mr. w. u. Mcfar-
land
At the close of the religious exercises
greetings were exchanged, and DR.. Stern
was surrounded by the members OF his con-
gregation, all anxious to grasp him by the
hand and to wish him many years OF con-
tinued prosperity.
At the synagogue corner of and 9th
streets northwest the services began at
pm The sermon was delivered by Raobi
Morris Mendel and the chants used for CEN
turtles were used After a special invocation
the prayers in the ritual were recited.
The celebration continued today with i'm,
pressive services, both at the reformed ana
ort hodox temples. At the Temple or the
Hebrew CONGREGATION, Reformed, on Sth
street near H. Rabbi Stern conducted the
exercises. which continued from ~ O'Clock
this morning until 1880; inc temple was
filled with people dressed In holiday attire.
all being imbued with the joyous spirit OF
the occasion. A magnificent musical pro-
gram was rendered by the quartet com
posed Of Mrs Nellie Wilson Shir-Clir, MRS.
Margaret Nolan Martin, Mr.. John Nolan
and Mr.. Mcfarland. Rabbi Stern chanted
the ritual of the new year service On the
pulpit platform with him were presldent i:
L. Blout and Vice President William Wolf
of the congregation. Other officials OF the
congregation among the audience were
Treasurer Jacob Eisenmann, Secretary ..
N Meyer and the following members of
the board of trustees: Messrs. B. Soloman.
]. jacob, Myer Cohen. A. M. Fishel and
W. M. Frank.
Just before the sermon. and while the
choir was singing, the trumpet blast was
heard. The service at this point approach
ed the thrilling Rabbits Stern's discourse
was appropriate OF the ,s season SON., topic.
standpoints and delivered practical and
impressive sermon throughout.
At the orthodox synagogue, 9th and G
streets. services began at g o'clock this
morning. The music was splendid and. as
In the reformed church., the bugle blast was
a feature. Rabbi Mendel preached at $50
o'clock, his subject being Not What We
Want, but What We Need" This. too, was
a practical talk. with many conclusive ar
guments supporting the view point taken
by the rabbi. Services will be held in the
synagogue again this evening at o'clock
and tomorrow at am.
Events of Past Year.
The year which closed yesterday was
marked by great activity among the Jews
throughout the world, and especially in the
United States. In some cases Jews were
elected to high and honorable offices. An
imposing number Of new synagogues, 1t is
stated, were dedicated and large charitable
requests were made. Among the most lib
eral gifts were s125.OOO by H. L. Einstein of
New York; s75000O bequeathed by Capt.
julius Friedman Of San Francisco, SOC. 900
given by Meyer Guggenheimer Sons of
New York, $37 900 by Jacob Rosenberg of
Chicago, $4,000 by BENJAMIN Stern of New
York and So, 600 by Julius Wes of New
Orleans. Mr.. Jacob H. Schin furnished the
home of the Young Mems Hebrew Associa-
ton Of New York at an outlay of $25O00O.
In Baltimore Mrs. s. L. Frank gave $4,000
to the Daughters in Israel, and in conjunc-
ton with her brother, Mr. Albert w. Ray
ner established a fellowship for Semitic
studies in the Johns Hopkins University in
hon oR xI1s- l4x1 To fhn 6nvnn ffnp,