Evening star., 1903-10-01
THEOAYOF ATONEMENT
Anniversary Observed by
Hebrews Of the City.
FASTING AND PRAYER
SPECIAL SERVICES HELD AT TIE
LOCAL CHURCHES.
Annual Address at Eighth Street Syn
agogue by Mr.. Simon Wolf
Other Exercises.

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Attonemen1'
has been universally observed by the me-
brews throughout the city of Washington
today. with special exercises held IN the
various local synagogues. In the orthodox
churches the special services began as early
as $50 o'clock this morning. Inc oo-
seryance will be concluded at sundown this
evening.
This festival marks the close Of the sea-
son Of repentance of the members OF the
race for the year 1864. Business men
affiliated with the several Jewish churches
closed their establishments during the oay'
and the Hebrew children In the puohc
schools were given permission to Dc absent
from their studies and recitations In oroer
that they might also join in the general
observance of one of the Oldest institutions
of the race.
Those persons who have strictly observed
the traditions of Yom Kippur have spent
the day in fasting, prayer and other abne-
cations. Material affairs were put asioe
and the attention Of the members or the
race has been turned'to other things.
Services were held at the Eighth street
Temple, beginning at $3.50 O'CLOCK me
early part Of the morning was devoted TO
the chanting of prayers, reading or Scrip
ture and various other religious exercises.
conducted by Rev. Louis Stern, minister OF
audience present at all the services.
At 12 o'clock Mr.. Simon Wolf delivered
the annual address to the congregation.
For the past ten years on each Gay %
atonement he has delivered an address to
the Eighth treet congregation, Oh whlch
he is a member.
Mr. Wolf spoke briefly on matters OF
local interest to the members or the he
brew race, and then reviewed the events
of the past year affecting the Hebrews
of the world. His remarks were listened
to with the closest attention and interest.
He said in part:
Of Local Interest.
There are three matters OF local 13l-
portance that must be considered before
any of national or international character
pass in review. First, the United Hebrew
Charities, which in the past year has, as
in preceding years, contributed so much to
the amelioration of deserving poor and such
of our co-reigionists who were stranded
in our midst again calls upon US TO not
only renew our contributions, but. IT posi-
BILE, to double them. The number of ap-
plicants has increased and 1t taxes the en-
ergy and intelligence of the board of man
ayers to meet the wants.
Few of us except those that are inti-
mately acquainted with the workings of
Hebrew charities can conceive the amount
of tact and diplomacy and generous heart
beats required so as not to wound and to
prevent pauperism and mendcancy.
I'VE are most fortunate in having at the
head of this band of workers one who has
devoted his whole life in this direction and
who works day and night, in winter and in
summer to discharge the duties incumbent
not only on his office, but duties that are
discharged in other cities by Superintend-
ents and managers. Therefore, the least
that do is in showing our ap-
probation of the splendid work done by
Mr.. Isaac l.. Blout and his committee OF
coworkers.
Second. The Hebrew Orphans Home at
Atlanta, Ga, to which we have been send
ing large numbers of our orphans, reliev-
ing the local charities from this charge,
needs additional funds to carry on Its no.
BILE and ideal work. Outside of the annual
contributions Washington has never done
anything to show It's appreciation of what
the home has accomplished and Is doing.
Indeed many of our citizens have absolutely
refused to do anything, forgetting that al
though the home is situated in Atlanta, for
all practical purposes 1t is the same as If
1t was located here, and therefore L trust
that the Jewish women who have recently
shown their ability to do good and success
full work will take hold of this matter, and
in the very near future arrange to have
some affair that will net a handsome
amount to aid in maintaining the Hebrew
Orphans Home at Atlanta.
The Reform Movement.
Third This congregation is a member of
the union Of the American Hebrew congre-
BdtollS. II tHc pam VI liIC icioihi
movement conceived and carried out by the
lamented Rev. DR.. Isaac NJ. Wise We use
the prayer book made by the rabbis edu-
Gated at the college of the union, and,
therefore, 1t is absolutely necessary that
our Jewish community should subscribe as
literally as possible toward the Isaac M.
Wise memorial fund The college is now
presided over by the Rev. DR.. K. kohler,
man of worldwide scholarship and Jewish
learning and who will add additional luSter
10 ia Of IaWS and Judaism Every
city and indeed, small towns of the United
States have already shown their good will
toward this fund, and therefore l urge one
and all not to show Indifference when a
committee appointed for that purpose will
call on them. There will be particular
hardship entailed upon any one. The SUBJ
scription can be paid in five installments.
Thus, IL any one subscribes S2j, he need not
pay more than S. year. and other sub
scriptions in like proportion. This is really
matter in which our honor and our best
endeavors are blended, for we cannot ex-
pect to maintain the high standard that we
now enjoy In reform Judaism unless
maintain the college and endow 1t to such
an extent as to make its future a certainty.
Having considered our local needs, !
wish briefly to review the past year, with
its Kishineff and Gomel. So much has been
said on the subject of Russia and the perse-
cutions that part of her history that
very little additional can be stated, either
of interest or of hope. 1t was certainly ex-
pected that after the magnificent and splen-
did demonstration on the part of the civil
lied world after the Kishineff horror, espe-
cially of this great and blessed republic,
that Russia would see the error of her in
human crimes and cry halt to the muir
derers and thugs; but Gomel, with its re-
newed horrors, teaches us that nothing can
be expected of the Russian bear except the
tearing to pieces of Its victim.
Action Of American Government.
"And yet civilization and humanity were
notably advanced. and the moral effect Of
the action taken by our wise President and
no less wise Secretary of State has thrilled
and electrified the whole world, and the pc
tition secured by the energy and intelli-
gence of the Order Of B'nai Birth will be
lasting monument of the generosity, kind
ness and nobility of character of the Amer
lean people.
"As Secretary Hay said. no document of
national character outside of the Declara-
ton of Independence will be as significan mt
and as far reaching the petition signed
by the best men of the nation asking for
tolerance and equal rights in benghted
Russia. This condition of the Jews in Rus
sia is justly termed the Jewish problem of
the world. Other problems, such as those
| 1ta ~NI