Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-22
FEAST OF SUCC0TH
Festival of TabernacIes Be.
gins Thursday.
CONTINUES EIGHT DAYS.
Period Of Historical Significance
Will Be Observed by Hebrew
Residents Of District.
CONTINUES EIGHT DAYS.

Commencing Thursday and continuing
through seven days with an additional
day known as the eighth day OF con-
clusion, Succoth. the Jewish festival Of
tabernacles. described in the Bible also
as the ''Hag Haasiph," or festival of
ingathering. will be observed by the He
brews Of Washington and throughout the
world.
OF special interest i'll observance of the
period will be the children's harvest festi-
val to be held in the Eighth Street Tenn
pie Wednesday evening at 7:45 o'clock.
The altar will be covered with the prod
ucts Of the fields and at the close these
will be distributed to poor families.
Both the names Of the festival, 1t is
said. are significant, as suggestive Of the
dual character and meaning Of the festi-
val-the one as historic, recalling the type
of structure, the portable booth or taber-
nacle, hastily constructed of the twigs
and branches of trees, in which the an
cient 1sraelites dwelt in their wander
1ngs through the wilderness after the
exodus from Egypt, and the other, plain
~ agricultural. carrying with 1t the
thought Of the harvest and all the senti-
ment OF JOY and thankfulness associated
Herewith.
providence OF God.
In either name or meaning, however,
the idea remains prominent to the Jewish
mind Of the providence and protection
OF God. The tabernacle is the symbol OF
protection. Sheltered in tabernacles in
those early days as Israel was, so the
members Of the faith are today reminded
or the watchful care OF God through all
trying and difficult experiences
AS Tor the harvest ingatherfng, that. of
itself, even more Immediately, invites
recognition OF divine bounty and good
ness. In this connection, it is to be noted
that the festival of ingatherIng, it is de-
ciared. is doubtless the original Of our
American national THANKSGIVING day.
Men OF the Old Testament type as the
flgrim Fathers were. with the Old He
Drew Scriptures as their favorite book of
study and guidance, there is very little
question that when, In the Plymouth
colony, they instituted the first Thanks
giving celebration they took the sugges-
ton from this ancient Israelitish festival
The festival Is marked by the orthodox
Jews by the erection on their premises
usually In their yards-of tabernacles,
IN which they take their meas and re-
cite the prayers Of domestic devotion ap-
propriate to the occasion. The first stake
FOR the tabernacle is driven by the head
OF the family upon Homecoming from the
synagogue five days previously. at the
close of the solemn fast day-the day of
atonement-yesterday, and that, too, be-
Tore partaking of any food-thus indi-
eating the joy experienced in anticipating
and preparing for the festival.
Tabernacles Works of Art.
Some Of these tabernacles are real
work Of art, beautifully constructed bow
ers OF branches and thickly intertwined
nd a1 MITE y, a
hung from the ceilings or relieving the
green OF the walls. and making the
atmosphere redolent of their aromatic
fragrance. The poor who cannot afford
SUCH tabernacies, dwelling as so many do
In congested tenement districts in the
metropolitan cities, still, it is declared,
make brave efforts to have tabernacles
OF their own. There are those living on
the top floors Of huge buildings, in attic
rooms next to the roof, who throw open
the trap doors admitting to the roof, and
across these lay the tW'igs and branches
bearing what little fruit and flowers
their limited means may allow. so that
their homes, too. may not be without
the traditional reminder Of the festival
season.
The Reformed Jews have abandoned the
custom Of dwelling in tabernacIes in
or adjacent to their homes. but adorn
the a'tars of their places Of worship with
the symbols Of the festival
"A further symbol Of the festival is the
cluster of four different plants, Indigenous
to Palestine-the palm branch, the myrtle.
the willow Of the brook and "tfe fruit
Of the splendid tree''-with which. so
Israel was ordered by the LeviticaI law
(23:40). to rejoice before the Lord
seven days" In keeping with this law,
In orthodox synagogues. when the ritual.
the 11sth psalm. is recited and the words
uttered. "Oh. give thanks to the Lord, for
He fs good, for His mercy endureth for
ever!' the reader takes the cluster and
waves 1t successfully to each Of the four
points OF the compass and then heaven
ward and earthward as an expression Of
the omnipresence Of divine beneficence.
Yearly Pilgrimage Festival.
The festival was one of the three
ancient yearly pilgrimage festivals when
every adult male member Of the faith
WAS hidden to journey to the central
shrine. with the further charge that he
should not appear there empty-handed
and should especially remind himself that
his manservant and his maidservant,
the STRANGER and the fatherless and the
widow should have the opportunity and
the means to rejoice with him in his
feast (Dent. 16:14). On this festival as
on all Jewish holy days, the unfortunate
and dependent are especially held In mind
an dparticular provision is made that
they might welcome the occasion in COM
fort and gladness Of spirit.