The Washington herald., 1911-10-02

Beginning with sunset yesterday and
continuing until sunset tonight, the Jews
Of this city, and Of all the world, OBJ
serve the Day Of Atonoment-Yom
Kippur-the most solemn feast OF that
ancient religion. Services began last
night and will be continued all of to-
Above sholem Synagogue, and Rabbi
Simon and Stern oficiate at the Eighth
Street Temple, Rabbi Silverstone at the
Above Sholen Synagogue, and Ribbi
Glushak at the Adas Isreal Synagogue.
And this is the tale Of Yom Kippur:
''Ye shall purge your souls; ye shall
cleanse yourselves from a years accu-
mutation of SIM Such is the under
lying principle of this day of all days
in the Mosaic calendar.
Visit to Strange Land.
A stranger dropping in upon an ortho-
dox assemblage on the night Of ''Ko
Nidra,'' finds himself suddenly trans
planted, as it were, from a hum-drum
everyday life and materialism to the
land OF the Shehezerade. He is con-
fronted by ceremonials and customs of
the long ago, strange to the present
times. Before the observer unfolds It
self a living testimonial of an unshaken
adherence to a faith that has led its
professors through many centuries of
untold privations and prosecutions.
Seeing their faces, which reflect their
fervor. unified in prayer as they say
their "Shemah Israeli" Hear, oh Is
rael, the Lord thy God is One God
me can readily understand what it is
that carried monotheism to the heathens
and saved the little band through all
centuries.
Women in Galleries.
Entering the orthodox synagogue, the
visitor has before him a sea of white
robed and white-capped men Cwomen
must worship in the galleries), and there
is strange and morbid fascination about
this custom. White, to the Jew, is not
only the emblem of a sinIess life, but of
death as well. The most highly priced
gift of bride to her husband on their
wedding day is a white robe-the proto-
type of the surplice of the priest-and~ a
white cap. More pretentious folk add
lace and silver bands, tassels, and orna-
ments, giving the whole an Oriental set
ting. This set is worn by the orthodox
Jew on Yom Kippur, and when he dies
they are his shroud, his "tachrifim," and
the lesson of their use on the day of
atonement is obvious-'Menmento Mori."
The ultra-rigid tenets of the rabbinical
era compel the orthodox Jew to remain
standing in his pew during the entire
twenty-four hours devoted TO prayer on
I ON Kippur, and quite a number actual
ly do 50, in a devout effort to chastiSe
the body, though weakened by a total abb
stinence from food or drink during the
entire period. as well as purge the soul.
Recording Angel Busy.
According to the true believer, the ten
days from Rosh Hashana CNew Year,
to Yom Kippur are busy times for the
recording angel; for, on Rosh Hashana
the record of every Orthodox Jew for
the year Just ended is closed, and his
good and bad deeds summed up during
the intervening days, until on Yom Kip
pur his fate is sealed, whether he is to
live or die, to be unhappy or happy, to
face war or peace, floods and disasters,
or a fat year and good harvests, &C.
The services on Yom Kippur, to him
who understands and appreciates their
true meaning, are sublime. They are
huge litany; a confession of sins and
prayer for forgiveness. The ceremonial
used is Identical with that used in the
temple of Jerusalem, all excepting the
actual sacrifices, which are nowadays
omitted. but mentioned in prayers.
The ''Sanen Tokef," with its many
chants and songs by the canter in a
hah Oriental minor key. over the climax
of the day is reached: ''Weanachno
Kohrim, umishtachwim umohdim" comes
in stentorian voice from the altar, and
one and all bow low, kneel and fall
PROSTATE in a last supreme effort of
silent supplication and communion with
tAeir Lord, until, like a promise of re-
demption, peace, and renewed kindness
of the Father, the 'Lifneh MehleCh"
rings out, joyfully bidding all to rise
once more before their king" who has
received and accepted the pledge.
Such is the tale of Yom Kippur.