The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-23
JOY IN The TEMPLES
Hebrews Celebrate the Feast
Of TabePnacleS.
END OF PENITENTIAL SEASON
Third Great Festival of the Jewish
Religion Ii Celebrated with Music,
Songs, and Sermons in All Syna-
gogues-Stgnifcance of Day and It's
Observance in Ancient Times.

Triumphal music, songs Of Joy, and ser
mons and prayers of thanksgiving ush-
cred in the Feast of Tabernacles at the
various Jewish synagogues at shutdown
yesterday.
The men, women, and children Of
Israel, after the long penitential season,
fiocked TO their houses of worship ia
large numbers and joined in the feast Of
thanksgiving. which will be continued
to-day.
Special menus were offered to their
regular patrons by the proprietors Of the
Jewish dining-rooms scattered through
the city. and to add to the joyousness
of the day a YiddiSh company gave a
dramatic performance before a packed
house AT the National Rifles Armory last
night
The Feast of Tabernacles is the third Of
the great festivals in the Jewish re-
ligion. on this day all males in ancient
times were required TO make pilgrimages
60 the temple at Jerusalem. Originally
the festival lasted seven days, but in the
course of time its duration vas extended
10 nine days Tn the Bible il is variously
styled: The Feast Of TaberHacles.- 'ths
Feast Of mgathering.' the Feast. and
Feast OF the Lord
Origin of the Feast.
It is agricultural in origin, from the
name. from the ceremonies accompanying
il. from the sermon. and from the oc-
cIsi0n Of its celebration. II was more
particularly a Thanksgiving for the fruit
harvest, bat coming, as fl did. az the
completion of the entire harvest. it was
regarded likewise as a general thauksgiv-
ing for the bounty of nature in the year
that had passed.
As enumerated in the AIshuah. the
features Of the feast are the following.
The lulab, the willow branch; the Hal
lei, the rejoicing. the sukkah. the IL
baton OF water. and the flute-pIay-
ing. the fcstivity connected with the
lbatOn Of water on the second even
ing of the feast The Iulab was
used every day Of the seven except
on the Sabbath. unless the first day q
the festival fell on the Sabbath. During
the chanting Of the Psalms the lulab was
waved Willow branches. gathered daily
from a place called Neza, or Colouja, were
used To adoTD the altar. around which a
procession marched once in each OF the
first six days. and seven times on the
seventh dav. 10 the sound Of trumpets. 10
commemorate the scven-day encompass
uout of the walls of Jericho-eaCh man
taking his festaI bouquet in his hand and
recitns the Psalms. "HalIe" was re-
cited every day.
The Sukknh of Old.
The sukkah. or booth. was to be a
structure especially built for the festI-
val. matched so as to be a protection
against the sun. while allowing the stars
10 shine through it ut night. Il was TO
serve as a permanent place Of dwelling
for the seven days. and all males were
obliged 10 reside in it, unless prevented
by I'D health or other cause. The H1ation
of water was ceremony to which grave
importance was attached This custom
is traced 10 the very ancient practice Of
drawing and pouring out water at reli-
gious services. It is regarded as symbolic
of rain.
At Above Sholom. orthodox syna-
goguc. Rabbi DIT Silverstone delivered
the sermon, Cantor Llebsohn chanting
the services; Rabbi Hummel ofiiciated at
Adas Israel, and Rev DR.. Simon rabbi
Of Eighth Street Temple (Reformed).
preached to his charge.