Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-12-15
ACCEPTED into
JEWISH FAITH

B'nai Zion synagogue Friday was
the scene of a unique and impressive
ceremony. in which young woman
accepted into that faith. The young
convert was Minnie o. Williams of
Dubois. daughter of DR.. A. M. Will
liams. deceased.
The ceremony took place after the
close of the regular Sabbath evening
services. Rabbi Zeisler announced to
the congregation that the young wo-
man had appeared before him with the
request that she be accepted into the
Jewish faith. As is we'll known, he
said,t the Jews never solicit nor encou.
rage members of other religious beliefs
to join them In the Faith of Israel. III
this instance following custom the
minister had advised the petitioner to
remain in her own faith. with her own
people, reminding her that God as a
most merciful Father of all mankind
would surely not denJ salvation aud
bliss of eternal life to any one of his
children who live upright and virtu.
| GUS lives.
The request was nevertheless repeat
ed on another occasion and again the
minister felt bound according to jew
ish traditions to deny the request as
| done in the first instance with the
same advice.
For the third time the petitioner
called on the mi mister with the same
| request. After careful inquiry into
the case the Rabbi felt satisfied that
nothing but lofty reasons stimulated
the petitioner to seek shelter in the
Jewish church. Accordingly, Rabbi
Leisler explained, there was nothing
left for the congregation but to accept
the faithful into its fold.
At this point the petitioner was CALI
ed before the altar and asked:
Have you received instruction in
our faith, are you acquainted with the
characteristic tenets of Israel? The
answer was. 'yes.
4 Which, then, is the doctrine upon
which the faith of Israel Is based?
The answer was:
1.-The One Sole God. who is the Fa-
ther of all mankind.
Then, before the altar with her right
hand upon the Scroll of the Five Books
OF Moses she assumed the obligation:
81 vow here in this Temple of Israel
before the Elders of this congregation
and its members. that SO help me God
| will live and l am ready to die in
the Faith of Israel will serve the
Que Sole God.the Hope, Rock and Re-
deemer of Israel, with all my heart
and with all my soul. May the God
of Israel whom l beseech with ferv-
ent heart accept my prayer. may l be
permitted to lead life to the honor
of Israel aud mankind.
Having taken upon herself the OBJ
legation of the Holy Law the young
woman was informed that she must
forever stand in the community as a
responsible Jewess. The Rabbi then
delivered the charge. which indeed
was most beautiful, after which he ex-
tended to her his right hand and form.
ally welcomed her into the Jewish
fold.
Then with his hands raised above
her head he invoked the divine bless
ing: Almighty Father of mankind,
Thou Great God of our forefathers,
bless our sister, enroll her as we name
her today under the name of the Sister
of the Great Law Giver, Moses, "Mi-
RAM. Then raising his voice the
Rabbi proclaimed impressively "Mi.
riam, my sister, may the Almighty
bless thee -
AS soon as the services were con-
cluded the newly accepted convert was
welcomed by the entire congregation,
some time being consumed in hand
shaking. She is handsome and a very
intelligent lady and seemed to adapt
herself to her new situation very
gracefully.