The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-09-14
'ATONEMENT DAY TO
Be OBSERVED HERE
HATTlEsRuRe JEWS TO cELE.
HRATE THE OCCASION BY
MEETINGS.

The Day Of Atonement, one Oh tne
most important days in the jewish
calendar, will be observed by Hatties-
burg members of that faith next Fri
day evening, when the initial service
for that occasion will be held. On
next Saturday, the entire day Will be
devoted to it. The ritual of the day
is public and congregational. Its sig
nificance, however, is personal.
The day brings the people together,
because they share the limitations OF
human nature and because they are
equally aware Of the fact that our
careers, whatever they may be to 9TH
ers, satisfy or dissatisfy ourselves in
accordance with our moral or i'm
moral interests. This holy day gives
opportunity for earnest thought on
our inner life. The difficulties men
encounter in the course. of busy
year may prove, after self-examina-
ton, to be not "decrees" Of God but
instances of their shortcomings. The
ancients frankly and humbly called
them "sins."
The "reminiscences of centuries
cling to this day of days and make
it's lessons suggestive and impressive.
In ancient times priestly solemnities
invested it with dignity and the per-
'secutions of later times gave it pathes
and intense fervor. 1t is always a sal
utary experience to face the facts of
life as they are, to realize that there
are illusions and decisions, to bring
home to ourselves the truth that we
work under the limitations of mind,
heart and will. Men who feel their
responsibilities will neither ignore
this reminder nor evade the appeal.
They will frankly avow the shortcom-
ings of their common human nature
in the midst of their fellowmen. The
Da yof Atonement is not for selfish
privacies, as little as for penitence
which is merely penance. 1t is for
moral uplift by which we may ac-
quire moral strength. The first act
of moral health is humanity.
I The ritual of the day expresses
openness, sympathy and desire to
attain to a moral will. And so do the
customs of the day. Fasting is meant
as a discipline of self-control, the
sponsor of many virtues. Concentra-
ton upon the problems of character
makes it easy and noble. Public con-
fession of sins is an act of will, an
assertion of the best in ones self
The day brings men together in a con-
seriousness of their common mortality.
Judaism makes men genuinely demo.
cratic; 1t makes them realize that
that they are equal before God.
One phase of the ritual of the day
is the thought and memory of the
dead. Each man thinks of the void
that has come into his career through
the loss of kindred and of the obliga-
tions he has because of it. And all
think of the Eminent Dead, of the men
of efficiency and world-enfluence, who
have served and advanced the good of
the world. In this too there is evidence
of the democracy of Judaism. What
ever their origin or place, the great
and good are mentioned with appre-
citation.
The Day of Atonement is day for
inner peace, and accordingly, the
Jews re-assert their loyalty to peace
for themselves and for mankind. BY
the assertion of the better self they
broaden it into goodwill for fellow.
men. Know myself, and if thou dost,
thou wilt understand, feel with and
respect thy fellowman. This is the
basis of Justice and Peace.