The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-02

DAY OF BLACK FAST
Orthodox Hebrews Observe
Today as One of Mourning
CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM
Nebuchadnezzar and Titus OBJ
served by Fasting

Every orthodox Hebrew in the world
observes today as the saddest day in
the history of that people. 1t is known
as the Fast Of Alb, or the Black Fast,
and represents two OF the events consid-
cred by all Hebrews as the blacklist
day e their calendar.
The Black Fast is observed each year
as the anniversary of the day Of the
two distinctions Of Jerusalem. The first
destruction was that by Nebuchadnezzar
which resulted in the Hebrews being
taken into captivity by the Babylonians
The second was the capture Of Jerusalem
by Titus, emperor Of Rome, when the
Hebrews were scattered throughout the
world.
The ninth day of Alb is like the day
Of atonement The month of Alb CORE
spends to the latter part Of July ar the
first Of August in the English calendar
The day is observed from sunset of the
eighth day to nightfaH Of the ninth.
Where there is a synagogue the day IS
observed by the entire congregation.
There is no synagogue in this city, but
the Hebrews Will observe the day as
scrupuloysly as If there was one. The
services will be held in private homes
The rooms viii be darkened, just
enough light TO allow the reading Of the
books prescribed for that day. No food
win be taken and the entire day VIII be
spent IN reading the story of the de-
in,
The services consist in reading the
book Of Lamentations and dirges describ-
ing the fall of Jerusalem and the scat
4ering Of its people. These are conducted
in a low, mournful tone by one selected
as a cantor. The more devout put ashes
on their heads and moan and sob. for
TO them the catastrophes Of hundreds of
years ago are those Of yesterday, and
this sense of personal bereavement is
one of the features Of the day.
The Black Fast did not begin last
night, as Saturday is the Jewish Sab
bath, and this cannot be a day Of
mourning. The ceremonies here viii be
simple, the members not going to any
extremes, as they have no synagogue,
but the day will be observed The He
brew is not allowed TO read anything
but that Of the destruction of Jerusa-
lem. The scattering Of the people gives
mourning. while any other passages are
supposed TO give JOY. Lamentations tells
the entire story Of the Hebrews captiv-
fly and their scattring to all parts of
the world by order of the Roman en-
peror. a book called Kinoth is also
read. 1t reviews the ancient fire Of the
Hebrew race. It's story is that old
persecution. the wrongs suffered at the
hands of the Roman Iegiouaries which
began the endless chain Of Hebrew per-
secution which paused so recently at
Kishmef and may begin again in any
Russian city tomrrow. Small wonder is
st that the recitation OF such fearful
wrongs has been the lot of the Jewish
people and arouses within lem a latent
grief.
The Hebrews of the reformed church
will not observe the day It is not their
custom and would not be I'm accordance
with their belief that the scattering of
the Hebrews was blessing rather than
a curse. They have illusions about the
return TO Palestine Zionism is not their
dream. 1t is their belief that dispersal
OF the nation was the dissemination of
their religion. that it gave to them the
opportunity 20 teach 10 all the world
the message Of their true religion.