Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-23
REOPENED FOR SERVICE
PROGRAM OBSERVED AT EIGHTH
STREET HEBREW TEMPLE.
Sermon Delivered Last Night by Rabbi
Simon on "The joys of
Worship"

There was very large attendance among
the membership of the Washington Hebrew
congregation at the dedicatory exercises last
evening at the Sth street Hebrew Temple.
The ritualistic portion of the services be-
gan promptly at s o'clock and was Con-
Quoted by Rabbi Stern. Rabbi Abram
Simon deli cred the sermon. The exercises
were much the same as the regular Friday
evening services at the temple.
THE Joy of Worship was the subject Sc
lected by DR. Simon for his address. His
text was taken from the nlnety-hfth Psalm;
20, come, let us sing unto the Lord; let US
raise the voice to the rock of our saliva
ton" DIR. Simon told of what a JOY 1t was
to enter new home after undergoing eX-
tensve Improvements. He spoke or the
love of worship, and said that the JEWISH
synagogue had In fateful moments afforded
the Jewish people their chief source OF com
fort. The Jewish people, he said. always
entertained a deep-seated pleasure IN Wor-
ship. Their religion had al an early day
not only avoided the extreme emotlonallsm,
but excluded also that OF gloomy ratalism
and bigotry.
Through this course the Jews had reaped
all the benefits and joys OF worship with
out drifting into excuses of any sort lie
touched upon the loyalty of Jew TO his
synagogue, for in every age the synagogue
had been the rallying point of Judaism, the
fountain head of all inspirations and as
pirations.
THE Jew" he said, lis judged not by his
club or social body, but always by. his syn
agogue, and If the synagogue and Us repre-
sentatives are a strength to Judaism ana
a fitting mouthpiece and example Of the
race and faith he stands for. !. behooves
the members thereof to stand py the syna-
gogue and strengthen its hands
Appeal to Young Men
The speaker eXnorted the young men of
the faith to follow out the teachings of
their fathers and remain loyal and true 10
the Jewish faith. He took occasion 10 say
that the joys of success, the joys of the
Jewish philosopher, scientist and states
man, in having accomplished some great
feat for mankind, were nothing COM
pared with the joy he felt in worshlping
within the confines of his synagogue, which,
he said, was the fountain head of ali that
was good, true and worthy in Judaism
The usual hymns were sung by the choir,
after which large number OF memoers
who had not seen the newly finished IN
terror were given the opportunity TO view
the improvements. The synagogue was Wis
tied last evening by a large NUMBER OF those
not of the Jewish faith, who came 10 hear
Dr. Simon's sermon, ard these. too, re-
manned after the services to inspect the
structure.
Among the improvements probably the
most striking is the new ark of the cove
nant. 1t is beautiful structure made of
Sienna marble, the top of which is finished
In a SculptureO OF COOKIE SHSllS, an
emblem that bears peculiar significance
to the Jews and Gentiles alike, and was
used not only by the ancient lsraeiites but
by the knights Templar as We'll The doors
of the ark are made of carved oak while
above the large rear window, in the form
of crossed triangles, the ten command
ments, written in gilt Hebrew letters on
the wall.
A decided change has been made on the
first floor which forms the vestry room of
the structure. Formerly the room was very
large, and each class during Sunday school
hours had individual room for study.
The vestry room has been made slightly
smaller and the space divided into smaller
rooms. The space to the south is so ar
ranged that large folding doors can be
closed opened, just as desired. In the
rear of the building are the offices for Rabbi
Louis Stern and Rabbi Abram Simon. All
over the structure the handiwork of the
fresco artist and painter can be seen. Sew
eral windows have been cut in the west
wall of the edifce, which insures plenty of
light and additional seating capacity.
The Decorative Work.
The decorative coiors are of a hue that
fits in nicely with the general architectural
style of the building All OF the walls have
been frescoed, as have the domes of the
structure. In the center dome the artist
has obtained many beautiful cloud effects.
The columns throughout the room will be
of an old ivory color and will be in perfect
accord with the general tone. The arches,
and there are many of these, will all be
finished In crcam-cOlored tintS.
The sum of $4,000 was expended on the
recent improvements. The members of the
Hebrew congregation constituting the build
ing committee were Messrs. Jacob Eiseman
chairman; William Hahn, Max Fischer,
Benjamin Solomon and julius Sondheim.
In the course of his sermon last evening
Dr. Simon took occasion to pay a compH-
ment to the members of the building COM
NIT IN hay in1r Itch nod
The improvements were completed within
four months. The work was in charge of
Smith & Rupertus OF New York.
Mr.. Jacob Eiseman, chairman of the
building committee, has been treasurer of
the Hebrew congregation for ten years.