The Denver Jewish news., 1922-09-27
Day of Atonement

The Day of AtOnement, or YOm Kip
pnr as II is named in Hebrew. falls
dine this year Monday. October 2nd.
and is observed by the Jewish people
| in all parts of the world with nnyary-
ing s0lemnity from sunset Sunday eve
ming, October list. until snndown of
October 2nd. No other holiday of the
Synagog is invested with such import
ance as is attached to this day of soul
searching and repentance. 1t is per-
haps the most distinctly Jewish h0li-
day of the Synagog. one that is most
pervasive and states in fullest meas
ure the ultimate goal and purpose of
Israers striving. The Messianic full
fillment of the Jews as well as human
ity's destiny is forevisioned in the
liturgy of this service.
The ceremonial observance Of the
Day of Atonemenf requires the wor-
shipper to withdraw from all worldly
cares. and. fOrgetful of the workalay
affairs which have occupied him during
the year, give himself unto God In
thoughts of prayer and repentance. The
devOut tarry in the synagOg froip
morning till evening. abstaining from
food and drink, so that by afflicting
their souls they may the better purge
themselves of sin. Under the severe
discipline of this intrOspcctiOn and fast
ing the worshipper exercises II larger
degree of sclf-cOntrol in his relations
with humanity and thus becomes re-
conciled to man and God.
Set high as. Iife's great throbbing
star, the ideals for which the Jews
have lived and died are on, the Day
of Atonement again proclaimed. In
the poetic ritual of the service. some
passages of which are acknowledged to
he of unparalleled sublimity, this conf
dence is vouchsafed that hl men and
women as well as the children of the
house of Jacob are factors and pro-
cesses in the hands of the Creator of
the Universe who fashions the careers
of men and women according to a di-
vine plan whose ultimate goal is the
establishment of an era of peace and
good will among men. To Impress upon
each individual wOrshippcr the respOn-
sibility of his life and action and make
him duly conscious Of his Importance
as nm agent in furthering the purposes
Of God on earth. is among the many
lofty conceptions unfolded in the litur-
gy OF the Day of AtOncment.
Yom Kippur has n long ancestry. and
like many of the holidays and cere-
m0nials of the Synagog has undergone
changes during the centuries of I'M
broken historical existence in which
the Jews have sOjOurnpd among mcn.
In the Mosaic Code. for example. on
this day the high priest In the Temple
performed the important function of
expintion for the sanctuary, thp priest
hood and the people.
In contrast to this prirstly monopoly
of service with its external forms of
expiatiOn. the rabbis OF the Synagog
clothed this holiday with the mantle
fallen from the shoulders Of the pro-
phets of Israel and invested 1t with
the doctrines of Gods mercy and pa
ternnl love. 1t Is due to the teachers
of the Synagog that the Day of .Atone-
ment was Invested Of its sacrificial
features as those detailed in Leviticus
10 :2-:4 and Ezekiel 45 1920. Accord
ing 10 their preachment the conception
of atonement was altered to enforce
on the worshipper the truer verdict
that all repentance must Ike effected in
the heart and soul of the sinner. the
individual wOrshipper. Only thru his
own efforts could genuine recon
ciliatiOn with God and man bc oh
tained.
One phase of the ritual in the mod
ern synagOg Is devoted to the remem-
brance of dear ones called to their eter-
nal reward. The memorial services
usually. held in the afternoon of the
Day of Atonement are solemn and i'm
pressive and are intended to remember
not only those members of the Jewish
community who have passed away hut
to commemorate all good and noble
men and women who have, served the
cause of humanity and increased peace
in the world.
Please secure dtails concerning SER
vices i'm your city from local rabbi.
U. s. A. GIRLS.