The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-28
THURSDAY WILL BE 4 JEWISH HOLIDAY Tom Klppur, a Day of Very
 Rigid Fasting SERVICES IN SYNAGOGUES Learned RabbPs Discussion of New Year's customs--Interesting sym bolIc Interpretatlon-Mystic
 Number and Ram's Horn'
SERVICES IN SYNAGOGUES

Last Tuesday was the Jewish New Year and as Tom Kippur. the day of atone ment, occurs ten days later, tnis most strictly observed holiday will fan on Thursday next. It will begin Wednesday at sunset Tom Fdppur is day Of rigid fasting and in all synagogues and tenn ples, both of the orthodox and hperai Israelites. elaborate and impressive ser- vices will be held.
 The eminent Jewish scholar, the Rev. Emil G. Hirsh, in writing of the New Year and the day of atonement, says:
 Seven Is the holy number of the He- brews there Is ground for the suspicion that when gradually the announcing or the new moon by means of trumpet sounds ceased In the case of the other months, It was continued in that of the seventh, on account of the holiness of its ranking number. In this way the memorial of the trumpet" came to be connected with the New Years day Or, perhaps, something may have occurred of which we know nothing shortly after the return of the exiles, to give the day its memorial char acter.
 There are critics who hold that the dedi- cation of the new wall around Jerusalem may have been the event fin memory or which the trumpet continued to be sound- ed on it's anniversary day. But this is even all a matter of more or less happy conjecture. Positive is, however this that only in the post-bibical documents Is the festival known as the head of the year" Its most peculiar rite is this very blowing of the horn.
 Symbolic Interpretation.
 That this custom has given rise to rich variety of symbolic interpretations stands to reason. It is held to recall the revelation of God on Sinai also accom- panied by the blasts of the Shophar-to use the Hebrew name of the instrument Again, it is associated with the ram, substituted by divine Interpretation for Isaac on Mount Moriah. It Is emble- matic of Gods kingship heralding His divine rule to man, symbol of the homage due to God from His mortal sub ject Or 1t Is construed to be an appeal to the sinner to repent of his evil ways, the "brolxen' notes being indicative of tho contrition that should possess his heart. It is also an appeal to God to temper justice with grace. For it's rabbinical conception, the day Is also the great day of judgment. God sits in judgment over the deeds of all mankind. Two scrolls are open before him-one of the living, the other of the dead-into which, ac- cording to merit or divine wisdom. the heavenly arbiter of human fate records the names of men. On this day the de- cree goeth forth whether life or death, plenty or poverty, drouth or abundance of rain, peace or war; shall befall men and countries. In this the student of As syrian conceits will have no difficulty to recognize Assyrian influences. For the Assyrian new year was also considered to be the day when the gods convened to determine the lot of the mortals.
 Mystic Tendencies.
 Legal micrology of the rabbis and the mystic tendencies of devout hearts found ample opportunity to exercise their in- genuity in fixing the number of the trum- pets blasts necessary and their char acter Originally costly trumpets were used in the temple at Jerusalem. the rude rams horn seemed to be utilized in the synagogues of the outlying districts. But as said before, the rams horn is the one now deemed requisite by the ortho- dox. though in the reformed temples gen. orally the custom has arisen to have an appropriate Psalm sung to the accom- paniment of trumpets in lieu of the shrill notes finally prescribed by the rabbinical authorities. Satan's interference with the proper execution of the signals is dreaded by the superstitious, and certain formulae and prayers are, in consequence, recom- mended. with a view to thwart the designs of this prince of accusers. on that day more than on any other interested to lay his charges before Gods throne.
 All kinds of cuts, Age-HerAla 1e gTaving Department