The Washington times., 1901-09-23
THE FEAST OF YOM KIPPUR
Celebration of Hebrew Day of
AtOnement Begun Last Night.
Rabbi Stern Conducts Impressive
Services mt the Eighth street
Synagogue-Spcciai Music Render
ed-Hi.tory of the Great Festival.

| The Hebrew Day of Atonement, fom
| Kippur, which began at sundown last
night and will continue until sunset to-
, night was observed at the Hebrew Syna-
| gogue in Eighth Street last night. The
| service conducted by Rabbi Stern. COM
menced at o'clock and continued for
| more than two hours. The ceremony was
most impressive one. Throughout to-
| day, during the continuance of the fest-
val from 10 o'clock this morning until
o'clock this evening, n protracted service
will be held at the synagogue.
| AT the solemn service last night Rabbi
Stern conducted the ritualistic observance
of the day.
| A choral service was rendered by the
| choir composed of Mrs. Nellie Wilson
Shir-Cliff. soprano; Mrs. Esputa Daily.
contralto; John Nolan. bass. and William
| ID. Mcfarland, tenor. DIR. George w.
Waters was organist. At the conclusion
of the music by the choir. the regular
evening atonement service of the He
brew ritual was observed. conducted by
the rabbi of Jthe congregation. 1t was fol-
lowed by a solo by Mrs. Shir-Cliff, after
which the, lecture, also from the ritual.
was read.
| The service was a most impressive one
devout worship was made in observance
of the most sacred day in the Hebrew
| calendar
| After the lecture, which was given in
English. the choir rendered sacred music,
which is surg only upon the occasion of
the observance of Yom Kippur.
An additional service, deeply religious,
was also read by the rabbi from the
ritual, part of which was in Hebrew.
! The service was closed by the benedction
| by the rabbit The service, which lasted
until $40 O'Clock; was the same as that
which has bbeen observed by Hebrews
since the time of Exodus.
Rabbi Stern made an earnest plea to
his congregation for sacred observance
of the holy period today. He explained
that he had made arrangements with the
officials of he School Board whereby
Hebrew children will not be expected to
| attend the opening of the schools today
Hebrew school teachers will also be ex-
cused. The rabbi particularly impressed
upon the congregation the sacred nature
of the day. Untn sunset tonight the
Hebrew proprietors OF stores will close
their establishments. and work will be
entirely suspended. The day will be one
of fasting and prayer. Since q O'Clock
yesterday evening all of the more ortho-
dox Hebrews have strictly observed this
requirement of the Hebrew faith. al %
many families not so much as a glass of
down.
Services viii be held a. the Eighth
| Street Synagogue this morning. COM
mencing at 10 o'clock. Rabbi Stern will
remain in the temple until o'clock this
evening Simon Wolf will deliver an ad
dress al Il o'clock noon.
Yom Hakippurim, the word is more
accurately spelled was instituted subse-
quentiy to the three great Jewish festi-
walls which have come down from the
period of Exodus The occasion Is lin
ited 10 one day and was appointed FOR
time after the autumn harvest ana before
the celebration of the Feast of Booths.
which began on the 18th day of the sew
enth month. This was time when the
masses of the people were done with tneir
arduous farm labors and could spare the
time for the long trip to the city OF Je-
rusalem and the stay through the season
of prayers, penitence, and thanksgiving.
Both in Leviticus xXxin;23,2o, ana IN
Numbers xxx the first day of the sew
enth month. Tishri, is ordained as Sab
bath This is the Yom Hozikaron, the
Memorial Day of the jewish c2ienaar,
Church instituted at the same time as
the Tul. EiPuuT. or Eom Hakippurlm.
fle .e-4tr day ~ ths seventh mouth
I.#- which Corresponds in the EehreW
.....- 20 -.f.-lrrs..r -~7r set apart as
sHm t' ol. .-' --s
gr tea DAYS just past. beginning vi
D.. HAS ItH ana ending van me
close o. the E1u Hskippurims have been
observed among all orthodox Hebrews AS
a season of repentance ana sCoc works,
called the Ten Days of Penitence. Today,
the Day of Atonement, is a day of fast
ing. prayer and spiritual publication, and
as such Will be observed by Hebrews until
sunset tonight.
The day Is observed in accordance with
the command found in Leviticus: xvi:
And this shall be unto you statute for
ever: in the seventh month, on the tenth
of the month, ye shall fast and do no
Z all native
stranger that soiourneth among you, for
on that day ye shall be atoned for to
purify you; from all your sins before the
Eternal shall ye be purified. A Sabbath
of Sabbaths. this day shall be unto you
and ye shall fast; this is an ordnance
forever"
The day has become the chief express
sion of the Hebrew faith and maintains
with undiminished force its influence on
the minds OF the Jewish people.