Norwich bulletin., 1913-01-08
HEBREW LOVE AND TRADITION
Enterannsy Described by Herman Aofsin 2nd Before Wo mems Association of Universast Churrh-Ihe Feasts Leap Year. Education of Boys and Status of Marriage and Divorce.

An address on Jewish Traditions the topic of an interesting address by Herman Alofsin, zd, the feature Of the largely attended meeting held by the Mission circle of the Church of the Good Shepherd Tuesday evening.
 There was a short business session at which the president. Mrs. J. E. Cobo' presided There were several hymns. Miss Carrie Champlin presiding al the ture. and prayer was offered by. the pastor, Rev. J. F. Cobb. A delightful solo was rendered by Miss Mary hs. Rogers. For the. rollcall the watch word was Brotherhood. Mrs Cobb presented the speaker of the evening, who held the close attention of his audience with his interesting address.
 MT Alofsin spoke in part as fol- lows:
 The traditions and lore of Jewish life, modern and ancient. cover pe- riod of 5.67S years since the date Of creation. My aim tonight is to point more prominent features of the ob- servance of the traditions which will give you a better insight into and greater understanding of the heritage az given to the chosen people Of God. The Jewish people are proud of their be- liefs and traditions, and 1t is their tenacity to the faith or the older days that gives them their spirit of endur-
  entiy and consistently to maintain their own racial integrity, for the Jews have been scattered all over the face of the earth, since early days, under and they have had, without a govern ment and without country during all the years, a cohesive nationalit which no disaster has destroyed, no misfor- paired. "Other peoples in the history of the world, who were the greatest, have risen and run their course. but In the Jew you have a nationality which despite all the narrowing experiences and vicissitudes of the centuries has not only survived but fourished and advanced: which, without losing or compromising itself, has inspirited it- self into nearly all the other nations of the world. and whose auickening and vital energy is beating today in the pulses, unnoted and uncredSted. of many millions of people" The last words are from the mouth of Bishop Greer, who is known to all of you.
 Orthodox and Reform.
 As you are undoubtedly aware, there are different types in the Jews. To- day the division may be made into two classes: the orthodox. who worship in their synagogues. and the reform, who conduct divine worship in their tenn ples. The latter. who grew up in the last century, diseardir~ many of the old ideas and rituaIistic forms of the orthodox, I shall deal only with the old class of Jews. and the orthodox in giving you descriptions of the cele5ra- tiens as observed in the synagogue.
 First Holiday of the lear.
 About a week ago we celebrated the first holiday of the year. Doubtless 1t would surprise many of you t9 know that have two New Year celebrations this year The 1st of January has all ready passed, but on Oct. 1st of this year I will celebrate as one of many Jews in this country the beginning of the year b674. Today is the 2sth day of the month of Tebeth, 5673. As the New Year marks the beginning of the calendar, I will begin at this point,
 The first festival I take up is New Years day, befn" the first day of the seventh month, Tisni which comes about September or October. Twenty eight days before New Years day it is the usual custom in the synagogue for one of the congregation chosen for his integrity and piety to blow the rams horn which announces the com Or shcfar is blown again on New Year's day in oration of tho Biblical passage which tells about A Abraham offering his son Isaac upon the altar It is believed when God hears the sound of the rams horn that ke will answer the prayers of his pec- pie according to his promise that all his seed should be saved.
 II l3 eOHS1OeTeQ one or the great days of the year and no servile work of any description is engaged in on that 6ay, for it is believed that on New Years day the Heavenly Father sits in judgment on his people and. according to the Jewish recepts laid down in the Ta1mud that God in scribes in the great book of life the names of those who are to survive the coming year. and therefore it is GUS tomary at this season to hail one an- a+f he inscribed in the book of life for hap py year.
 Yon kinnur.
 Perhape The greatest day of the year is Tom klppur, or the day of atone the New Year. On the eve of Tom Kippur the family gathers around the table and partakes of a bountiful meal and every member of the family above the age of 13 is required to spend the day of atonement in fasting and pray CT at the synagogue. This is known as the day of expiation for on this day God seals the book of judgment and only through repentance, prayer and charity can the evil be averted." Dur ing the first ten days of the year 1t is believed that the one on high looks down and judges, and every Jew dur ing this period is wrapped LID in re- ligleus thought more than usual Think what 0 service this is. from o'clock in the evening until '- s at night Prayers are read and chanted after which the congregation is dismissed until the early morning of the next day, when they are resumed until