The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-12
They Arc Strictly Orthodox and Con-
form I'm Every Way to the
Rules Of Their Religion.
THEIR MATRIMONIAL AGENCY
SOME MARRIAGES ARE BROUGHT
ABOUT IN SHORT ORDER.
How Money Is Collected To Aid Those
i'm Distress-Customs that Smack
of the Old World.

Eddy street in this city is a small. densely
populated thoroughfare, not much wider
than the average alley. and is situated just
west of Illinois street 1t extends from
Merrill street TO Norwood. For many years
this street has been entirely inhabited by
Russian Jews. and has been very properly
called the Ghetto of indianapolis. In
fact, it was a colony OF these Jewish i'm
migrants that first settled on Eddy street
in the early seventies. when the old fac
tory was built for the construction of rail-
way frogs. and most of the men in the
neighborhood were employed in il. In this
shop some OF the rich Jews Of the city first
accumulated their wealth. The business Of
this factory has long since been discontin-
ued and the former inhabitants of Eddy
street. their means have permitted them,
have moved to other parts of the city and
have become scattered throughout the
town, until this quaint old street is fast
losing its ghetto type and is taking on the
indications of street where poverty rules.
Where gentle families were wholly un-
known before. they are now beginning an
invasion.
Nevertheless the few remaining Jews are
son about town, for there are few of them
that speak English, and they live entirely
to themselves, only going about town
enough TO carry on their vocations, which
are generally those of peddlers and junk
dealers. Those who now live Eddy
street adhere rigidly TO Jewish doctrines
and are noted among the Jews all over
the city as being strictly orthodox. Few
their boards. as it is against their religion.
and they also wear their hats while at
tending church and in each others houses.
WOMEN OF THE GHETTO.
The women in these Jewish quarters don't
count for much further than being hon.
ored and respected. All of the training at
school and all ceremonies at the church
are given mostly to the men and boys, who
at an early age begin TO have the Jewish
religion instilled into them. At church the
women do not sit in the main boSss11-V1r--
building with the men, but have a sepa-
rate gallery inclosed by a high railing over
which they can barely see. There is a
public bath kept by an old man and his
wife which is expressly for the use OF
women and according TO their religious
custom they are required to use it before
each holiday; for the use Of this bath the
keeper receives % cents. The bathhouse
consists of large tank which must be
built to hold a certain amount OF water.
and the whole affair must be constructed
according to certain rules. and IL is the
duty of the rabbi to see that these are
complied with.
This community on Eddy street has.
through it's own energy, been able TO build
and support besides church. a school, or
talmintory as il is called for the pur-
pose of educating the children. who are
quite numerous. in the Jewish faith. This
school is held after the hours OF the regu-
lar city schools, and at the present time
the School Board is contributing some TO
it's support night school is held in this
same building for the purpose of teaching
the English language 10 those who want
to learn it. The pupils in this night school
range in ages from nineteen TO sixty, and
the average attendance each evening Is
about twenty. while the attendance at the
day school is from twenty-six 10 thirty
each day. This school is where the boys
begin their training in the prayer book,
which when ii is completed covers seven
books or the Jewish Bible proper. Every
morning, however, these youngsters are
required TO say their prayers at home and
during the ceremony they use two straps
of leather one of which is bound around
the head and the other around the arm
seven times. Attached TO the end OF the
strap which goes around the head Is
hollow block OF leather which contains
portion Of the prayer the youth is reciting.
When the boy becomes thirteen years OF
age he takes his first communion, which Is
similar 10 that of a number of other re-
Iigions, and from this time on he becomes
a man in the church. Before this. however,
his father is responsible for his sins.
THE SYNAGOGUE.
The synagogue which these people at
tend is situated at the corner OF Merrill
and Eddy streets. 1t is an old. quaint
looking frame building and has been stard-
ing for more than twenty years. The in
side Of this place presents even a more
quaint appearance than the outside. IL
is devoid OF furniture generally found in
churches and the benches and altar are
excessively plain. Behind the altar. how
ever, is a large case painted white that
contains rolls Of parchment on which are
written portions Of the Jewish Scriptures
These are only taken out on holidays and
on the Sabbath. The rolls are imported
and the reason that they are so expensive
is that the characters on them are made
entirely by hand and they are also very
difficult 10 read. there being only a few
in the city capable OF doing il except. OF
course. the rabbi. When this case is opened
and the rolls taken out everyone I'm the
church rises 10 his feet. IL is also deemed
by the congregation quite an honor 90
open this case and the members bid any
where from 20 cents 10 s. for the privi-
lege. There is also over the altar a per-
petual light which was placed there when
the church was dedicated. and at that time
a woman Of the congregation paid a large
sum for the honor OF lighting H.
These people are so closely allied 60
their religion that from shutdown Friday
until shutdown Saturday everything is per-
fectly quiet. All OF the various little shops
are closed and their proprietors and their
families do nothing during this time except
go 20 church. I'm fact they observe their
Sunday so strictly that there is no cooking
done in any of the houses until Saturday
night. When the sun sets Friday evening
the men all dress in their best clothes. the