Connecticut western news., 1910-10-13
FESTIVITIES OF THE
 JEWISH PEOPLE
This is the Month When Important Festivals Are
 Observed by Them.

Observed by Them. Tom Ripper Begins To-day and Will
 be Followed Later by the Feast Of
 TabernacIes and the Great Feast of
 Ingathering Among All the Jewish
 Race.
 This month begins series of import ant Jewish holidays and wherever there is a Jewish family these days will be observed. They began with the Jew ish New Year, an occasion of very solemn character. It was celebrated all over the ,inhabital globe, among all professors of Jewish faith. It is a Mosinc festival, known in the scriptures as "The Memorial of the Blowing of Trumpets'' originally festival of pubic joy and rejoicing, but in time the ideas changed and the festival has grown to be looked upon as an occasion upon which the Lord sits in judgment over individuals and nations.
 The Jewish festival, the Day of Atonement, Tom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, falls this year on to-day, October IS. In Leviticus XVI 29 and XXI 26-32 it is termed "A Sabbath of Solemn Rest"
 The purpose of the Day of Atone ment is clearly indicated by it's name. It is intended to complete and crown the work of the penitential season, be- gun on New Years, by finally recon cling the soul with the Almighty. Im- plicitly believing and trusting in the Divine forgiveness the Israelite be- lieves that his contritions, if it be really sincere, will atone for him, will make him one once more with his Heavenly Father The day is therefore devoted to supreme effort at penitence, to a mighty endeavor after communion with the Almighty. It is spent, in prayer and meditation
 It is kept, too, as fast, in obed- fence to the command given to .'affiict the soul,'' which is understc cd as, a synonym with fasting. The reformed life is the chief aim of the Day ;, of Atonement All the external elements of the days observance are intended to promote this supreme purpose. The act of fasting Is partly to serve as 8 co1F nhoo nd 4 hoo O reflex influence. scz
 For hunger and weakness are sup posed to tell upon the conscience;,r ;,rto mortify pride, break down obstinacy, cast men down before God in humilia- tion and contrition. But fasting with the Jewish people does more than that. Taking. the worshipper away from such carnal occupation as eating and drinking helps to fix his thoughts upon the needs of the soul. It makes the day one of physical abstinence and self denial, but also of corrssponding- ly increased spirituality.
 | Still later in the month, comes the feast of the "Tabernacles. which falls on October IS. It last eight days and the last day is called the Day of Solemn Assembly"
 In Exodus this feast is termed "Ths Feast of Ingathering. Tn Leviticus it says: "Ye shall dwell in booths seven days-that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when l brought them out of the land of Egypt" .#..
 The historical significance of the feast may be gathered from that pass age while it's agricultural characters is suggested by the other name, "The Feast of Ingathering.
 The Israehte, who, in obedience of the Divine command, left his house for the week of the festival, and took up his abode in booth or tabernacle, and lived through as it were an i'm. portant epoch of his peoples history, thereby replenished the springs of, Jew. ish sentiment. l By this he was also taught to re. member that just as Israel in the wild. srness was protected by God. so he is still guarded i'll his earthly pilgrimage That Gods love is ever with his chil. dren lies protecting cloud in the les son. <.
 The holiday comes in the autumn, al the time when the husbandman ir Palestine had safely garnered the pro. duce of his lands. It was the time for thanking God as the giver. And so the lesson of gratitude for bless ings he has had and of responsibility for the right use of them becomes, al this time of the year, written upon the heart of the Jewish worshiper.