The Washington times., 1908-10-05
Great Feast of Yom Kippur
Is Being Celebrated
Here.
OBSERVANCE ENDS
THIS AFTERNOON
Is One of Oldest and Most Re-
markable Rites OF the
Jewish Faith.

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day OF Atone
ment, one Of the most remarkable feast
DAYS in one Of the worlds old and re-
n arkably vital religions. which was eel
ebrated a thousand years before William
the Conqueror landed in England, before
Julius Caesar fell beneath the blows Of
his assassins, was celebrated once again
today, or, perhaps, it must be said is be-
ing celebrated, because, while the day
began at sunset Sunday, its celebration
will not end until the game hour tonight.
It is on this day. THAI the orthodox
Jew atones for all the sins that he has
accumulated during the passage of the
year, and it is on this day that he prays
with all his heart and soul to the One
God of his faith for forgiveness from
those sins.
Through all the hundreds of years,
when the Hebrew was almost without
l. country, when thousands Of his race
lad scattered over the earth from Eu-
rope TO China. when among a score Of
nations, they were a people oppressed,
this feast Of Yom Kippur has been OBJ
served and that observance, as much as
any other one custom perhaps. has help
ed to keep the Hebrew steadfdst to ms
religion, wherever ne has gone.
Its Origin.
The day is probably the outcome Of
religious conditions, as they existed dur
ing the BabyIonian exile Il the Hebrews,
although many % the features Of the
days observance. date back much fur
Their than that. When the Hebrews
came back after that exile, the day grew
TO be the greatest in their calendar
In those ancient days the whole cere-
mony reVOlVed about the high priest.
who had, according TO the tradition, pre-
pared himself for the great day by fast
Ing and by separation from human com
partnership for the seven days preceding.
On the Day of Atonement, clad in
white and not in the splendOr Of his
office. the gorgeous robes Of his priest
hood, he entered the temple and con-
fessed his sins. He then chose two
goats, and by lot, chose one of these
for a sacrifice The one selected was
killed and its blood sprinkled on the
veil in front of the holy Of holes in
the temple.
The second goat, on which the high
priest had rested his hands. while con-
Tossing the sins of the whole people,
was given over to trusted men and led
outside the city, where it was released
into the wilderness
How Changes Come.
In the centuries that swept Over
and famine. carrying with them the
iron hand Of the Roman, the inexor-
able Mohammedan, even the crusader
from Europe, the Hebrews changed
from a wild people. almost nOmadic, 10
a people Of settled abode and certain
occupation, and so his observance Of
this greatest Of all his feasts changed
with him. The sacrifices were laid
aside after a while, and as other years
slipped by, the Jewish race learned tC
believe in a more personal responsible
ity to God than had been the case
IN the early days.
The goat led away into She wilder
ness, carrying the sins of all. the high
priest COnfessing the sins Of a whole
people, have been replaced now by the
prayers which every Orthodox Jew
sends up today before a God 10 whom
he must answer in person.
The feast ends tonight with a pros
tratiOn by the whole congregation in
any Orthodox temple, when all in q
last silent but whOle-sOuled, fervent .ap-
peal ask for the divine forgiveness
When "Lifneh 3 ehlech" rings out from
the altar, all rise believing that Coo
has forgiven them their years sins.
In Washington, DR.. Simon is Officiat-
ing at the Eighth Street Temple. Rabb
SilVerstOne at the Orthodox Ahav Sho-
lem. The Adath Israel Congregation !;
observing the feast in their new place
of Worship.