The Washington herald., 1907-09-15
YOM KIPPUR NEARING
Many 0ld-time Customs OBJ
served by Jews.
SACRIFICE OF THE KIPPURAH
Head OF the Household Swings VO-
tive Fowl over Ills Head as He
Sent with Money to some Poorer
Israeiite-Tyvo Other Large Candles.

one OF the feW 0IQ-tiAc customs which
still prevails among orthodox Jews in
Washington Is the sacrifice Of the kip
pursh or votive fowl When, on the day
preceding the great white feast, next
Wednesday, the mother Of an Orthodox
family goes marketing for the holiday
meal, which joyfully concludes the hours
Of abstinence. she includes among her
purchases. as a general rule, a particu-
iarly fine chicken.
An other poultry she quickly hands
over 10 the schochet (rabbinically or
dained butcher that It may lie in water
and be drenched with salt the required
number Of hours after being slaughtered,
according TO the Talmudical laws.
But this one bird she carries home alive
and huttering restlessiy. Now and then
she lifts the I'D Of her basket with an air
OF pride 10 show some passing acquaint-
anca what an uncommon choice kippurah
he has procured this year. However.
she does not linger long 70 chat, for she
knows well that her husband is apxious-
Iy awaiting her return. as he must per
form the ceremony while yet fasting
COnfeSseS All His Sins.
Arrayed in his prayer shawl and skull
cap. he gathers the entire household
about him. and, grasping the struggling
fowl by the feet, proceeds TO recite
prayer appropriate to the occasion. He
next enumerates every infraction Of
IsraeTs law Of which he has been guilty
during the past year. At the mention OF
each particular lapse he whirls the de-
voted bird rapidly around his head and
beats it against the floor saying: And
for that siu be thou my eXpiation." The
mother repeats the process. then the Oid-
est son and daughter in turn. and so on.
till every one Of the group who has
reached the age of thirteen years has
made q clean breast Of hts OF her short
comings and shifted the burden upon the
fowl.
All younger persons being considered
rcligiousiy irresponsible, according 20 the
Jewish belief expiati0n Is made for them
by uroxy. the father acting for his sons
and the mother for her daughters. 10
conclusion. the head of the family fer
vently prays that all misfortune or sOr-
row destined for him or his during the
corning twelve-raOnth be visited instead
upon the head Of the vOtive fowl. a
few supplementary whirls Of the fowl
and an extra hard thump or TWO finish
the ceremonial
Must Give Money with Fowl,
II any life remains after this somewhat
strenuous treatment the bird is slaugh-
tered and sent 20 some poor Israelite who
cannot afford to buy such luxuries. But
gift Of money or of other food. equal.
az least. TO half the value Of the chicken.
must accompany the donation, lest 1t
might seem that the sacrifice had been
made to do duty also as mitzvah
Charity.
So in the case Of the memorial lamp
which burns from sunrise 90 sundown
of the holy day. great care is taken that
no ray be used for any profane purpose.
The sacred light dedicated 70 departed
souls is generally liz in the plrior or
best room. which Is scrupulouslv avoided
for twenty-four hours. an extra candle
being placed near IL 20 make amends Tor
any stray beams that may possibly es-
cape.
Although among the Reformed He
brevs. gas. ell. or even electric lighting
is used. the strictly Orthodox stiIl cling
70 the traditional wax candle OF their am
csst0rs, and nothing else is considered
proper for their synagogue. Many OF the
families. when providing candles for home
use. get an extra one, which they send 20
be placed anywhere about the sacred edi-
fee, as an acceptable gift
Two Extra large Candles.
But there are TWO extra large candles,
for which Is reserved the post Of honor.
They are the offering of the oldest and
most plous woman Of the congregation.
assisted by a chosen few, whom she
deems worthy to assist IN this good work.
1t is regarded as a high favor to be so
chosen. and no little JOY fills the heart
OF the elect when. a week before the
Dav Of Atonement, which falls on We'd
nesday of next week. they are invited
TO the home Of the venerable dame whose
high position in Orthodox circles is as
impregnable as that Of Mrs. Fish among
The smart set
Reverently ana with covered heads,
prayers are reCited while the huge cakes
OF beeswax are slowly melting Then
the wicks are cut 10 required lengths.
and the process Of rolling and kneading
the softened wax is begun. All present
are permitted to share IN the mitzvah.
but when finally two gigantic t2pers
some five feet high, are turned out, they
are in some measure considered as the
peculiar property OF the high priestess
or "gobete" (doer Of deeds Of kindness), ,,
who has presided over the work. AL the
rest are merely acolytes. She Il is who
watches them burn with never-failing
interest all through the atonement ser
vices, and receives with assumed modesty
the many compliments which are whis-
pered 20 her under cover Of the huge
prayer books, during a lull in the en-
treaties for pardon for sins Of omission
and commission.
PrOudest Moment of All.
Perhaps the proudest moment Of the
whole day is when. at the conclusion Of
the last prayer, when all about her are
exchanging congratulations upon the
great fast being happily ended, the very
rabbi himself, the chief man of the con
gregation. comes up ard takes her by
the hands and says: sister your candle
shines forth like your great piety. May
you have health and strength to make the
sacred candles for us next year,"
To which she replies fervently, And
may the Almighty grant, dear brother
that you be here to light them next year"
All odds and ends Of the candles which
are left unconsumed are carefully gather
ed up and put away, TO be melted again
for future YOm kippur use.
The pious brethren, as well as the sis
ters, however. can share in the great
mitzvah Of peacemaking. or reconciling
all who during the year have been at
variance from any cause whatsoever
The blessings vouchsafed the peacemaker
at any time are magnificent at the
atonement season, and there is a gen.