Las Vegas optic., 1912-09-20
MORE ABOUT THE.
JEWISH fast,
YOM KIPPUR
BIBLICAL AUTHORITY FOR THE
OBSERVANCE OF DAY TO-
MORROW

When the first stars appear in the
heavens this evening they will usher
in the day holiest to the Jew in his
entire religious calendar. From that
hour until the evening Of the follow
ing day, the devout Israelite will give
himself entirely to God, and to the
purifying Of his soul by repentance.
1t will be day spent by him in medi-
tation and prayer, with no thought Of
the world, its profits or pleasures.
1t is the great White Fast, when, abb
staining from all food, from sundown
to sundown, the people Of Israel "af-
sfIict their souls" for the sins of the
past year.
The holy day is mentioned in the
Bible in a number Of places; Levitt
Gus XVI describes the elaborate priest
ly ceremonial of atonement; ibid
XIII, 1852, it appears in the list Of
festivals where the "affliction of the
SOU" (fasting) is ordained; ibid
XIV, 3, announces that on the Day
of Atonement, each fiftieth year, the
trumpet sound shall usher in in the
jubilee year; while Numbers xxx,
I'll, describes the sacrifices Of this
sacred day. From these references
and later accounts in the Talmud we
get picture Of this Day Of Awe as
| it was celebrated in Biblical times.
The holy day on the tenth day of Tisn-
ri was observed BY abstention from
food and drink and by an elaborate
ceremonial in which the high priest
was the central figure. He besought
forgiveness for his own sins and those
OF his own household, then for those
of the wider household of priests, then
for all the people OF two goats, he
slaughtered one as sacrifice "for
the Lord" and and set the other aside
"for Azazel." The blood Of the sacri-
fees he sprinkled upon the curtain Of
the Holy Of Holes, TO purify it from
the sins Of the people.
From this Biblical ceremonial which
throughout seeks for forgiveness of
the community as a whole, the Day
Iof Atenement has been somewhat
changed In Rabbinic Judaism and id
the modern service and emphasizes
also repentance, and personal prayer
for the forgiveness Of each individual
SHINING soul. Tt completes the peni-
Itential period OF ten days that had
begun with the New Years Day
The celebration of the Day of
Atonement begins in the synagogue
with the evening service, called Kol
Nidre from its opening formula, which
refers to VOWS concerning the indi-
vidual and his conscience. With its
strongly marked melodies and songs,
this service assumed in the course Of
time a very impressive character.
Throughout the following day a CON
tinuous series of services is held,
which toward the middle of the after
noon is heightened in impressiveness
by most solemn commemorative
service for the dead. This is follow
ed by the NeiIah or closing service
in which the main ideas of the day
are especially emphasized; repent
ance conditioning forgiveness and
Gods sealing the decree of man for
the ensuing year The service ends
with solemn Invocation of Gods
name, the Shema and the seven-fold
exclamation. the Lord, He is God"
AS signal of the close of the sacred
day, the trumpet (shofar) is blown
once, and the devout worshiper turns
homeward from Gods house with the
assurance that in reward for his
true and sincere repentance the sins
of the past have been forgiven.
Services for the Day Of Atonement
will be held tonight in Temple Mon
tefiore, at s o'clock and tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock Memorial
services will be held tomorrow after
noon at $3.50 o'clock. Rabbi Samuel
Peiper will preach at these services.