Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-30

OF that scot as chief raAbi, provided the
charity funds were distributed equally or
pro rata among both scots. But the ASH
kanax1m would rather have the "halluca''
than the ONCE and the right to vote. and
would not listen to the proposal. Therefore
the most OF them could not share In the
election. This, however, did not prevent
them from taking an active part In the
preliminary campaign and from contribute.
ing to the c1amor and confusion that at
tended the halloting. Indeed. the excite.
ment became 20 great that the mayor was
compelled to call on the commissioners OF
police and the commander Of the military
garrison to assist him In preserving the
peace.
Two Candidates.
There were two candidates from the
Sephardim faction-the Rev. Jacob Mayer
and the Rev. Samuel Elyashar, son Of the
late chief rabbi. who performed the duties
during the last two years Of his fathers in
cumbency, while the latter was too i'll to
he in his Office. The election il indirect and
complicated. The Ottoman subjects OF Jew
ish faith over twenty years of age voted
first for twenty rabbits and sixty laymen
to compose 1.-The general council for Jewish
AFFAIRS to serve two years as q sort OF
legislative body and as advisers to the chief
rabbi. This council corresponds to the
electoral college Of the United States and
selects the chief rabbi from among its own
number. Before the election; however, as
III TIC CHIteu States, Iuc CduQluateS IOT the
general council were. nominated and dis
cussed, SO that their preferences for chief
rabbi were quite as well known as the pref
erences of the electors for President of the
rectly between candidates for the general
council who were supporting Jacob Mayer
for chief rabbi and those who were support
ing Samuel Elyashar.
Immediately after the vote was counted
and the result declared the successful can
didates met at the Camnitz Hotel and pro-
ceeded to ballot for chief rabbi. Each of
them wrote the name Of his choice upon a
guarded by Faidy Effendi, the Moslem
mayor of Jerusalem. At the recent election
five of the successful candidates for the
general council were absent. and of the
seventy-five votes cast seventy-one were
for Jacob Mayer, two for Samuel Elyashar
and the other three scattered. Jacob Mayer
was then proclaimed chief rabbi of Jeru-
salem for life. and the leaders Of the two
rival parties promptly congratulated him
and assured him Of their cordial support.
The Rev. Solomon Mani, acting chief
rabbi, then officiated at a solemn service
and pronounced a blessing upon his sue
cessor, upon the Sultan of Turkey and the
pasha of Jerusalem. DR.. Mayer then de-
livered an address, assuring his constitu-
ents that he would serve them to the best
of his ability, and concluded the service by
blessing the congregation and praying for
the sultan and the local authorities. When
flying his election, arrives from CONSTANT
nop)e, he will be installed in Office with
elaborate ceremonies, in which the Moham-
medan officials will participate.
The Customary Ceremonial.
1t has been customary, upon the accession
Of a new chief rabbi, for the Turkish gov
ernor to proceed to his rabbinical residence
and formally deliver to him the keys Of the
city of Jerusalem as the representative Of
the ancient owners Of the land. The chief
rabbi meets the party at his threshold, ac-
cording to the custom of oriental hospital
ity, and invites the governor and his reti-
nue. into the house, where, with the assist
ance of distinguished rabbis and members
Of the Jewish committees, he entertains
them after the ancient Jewish fashion. At
the conclusion of the feast when the Off
Gals depart, the chief rabbi returns the
keys to the governor with his thanks, ask
ing the continued protection Of the Turkish
authorities on the ground that the ancient
church has no army to defend the Holy
City. At the same time he hands to the
governor q purse well filled with gold,
contributed by the wealthy Jewish residents
oS