The Denver Jewish news., 1923-09-13
The Great Decree

Ht ttillttfitltl La. -tht
Noraim, or terrible days-which com
prise the period from Rosh Hashanah
to Yom Kippur are with us now. They
are days of serious import in the minds
of all faithful and observant Jews. for
they constitute the period in each re-
curring year when the true believer
completes the discipline which leads up
to the great Day of Atonemcnt.
The days are terrible days. not be-
cause of any pains or penalties they
bring with them. They are terrible be-
cause. in consequence of the spirit in
which this period Is met and its obii-
gations observed the issue OF pardon
and OF forgiveness. according to the
old tradition. hangs in the balance un-
til the end of Yom Kippur. If the OBJ
server, by sincere repentance earns the
favorable Judgment of the Almighty
the Judgment nobly expressed in the
declaration: Il have forgiven according
10 my word''-he has achieved II per-
feet utonement. which. if followed up
by Il life of righteousness and good
deeds. will abide forever.
There is no mystery in this scheme Of
repentance and atonement. Grand and
lofty in its very simplicity it stands
alone in its purity and clarity. In all
the ages of Israels troubled history IL
mas proved~n beacon of Righteousness
throughout the year. No doubt there
have been those from time to time who
have abused the promise which Iom
Kippur holds out. Human nature being
what it is, they have essayed to take
tie chance"- of doing pretty much as
tllcy pleased throughout the year in the
hope that they would be able to put
themselves right on the Day of Atone
mcnt, and the period Immediately pre-
ceding it, There are always such peo-
ple in every Omination-foolish folks
who. because they find ii so easy to
fool themselves. are wont to think that
they can even mislead the Searcher of
all henrts. Eat. drink and be merry,
fer tomorrow we die was the motto OF
the reckless Epicurcans Of the olden
DAYS. Sin profit and enjoy for Hom
E.inpur is coming has likewise been
the theory on which many have shaped
their conduct during the greater part
of the year. The sin and the profit may
net be of a venal or deep degree of cul-
liability, but merely the reckless
thouchtlcss. materialistic pursuit of
pleasure and advantage with but little
rerard for consequences. Or it may
violate most of the injunctions of the
Decalogue itself. In any event the
victim of his own impulses and desires
makes Il woeful mistake if he thinks
that such course of conduct can avail
him anything on the great fast day
when the account is made up and the
Judgment rendered.
Yom kippur is not II day that can ac-
Complsh much for worldly people
whose chief interest in life is regard
! for their own pleasure. comfort or con-
venience. 1t can accomplish little for
those whose ideas of righteousness and
Justice are bounded by the prohibitions
of the criminal code 1t can do nothing
for those whose scltishness is so in
grained that no amount of repentance,
temporarily indulgcd in during the
pcnitential days, can lead to a change
Of conduct permanent, sincere and per-
| sistent. 1t is only those who humbiy
tapproach the Almighty at this season,
bare their hearts. and in contrition and
reverence not only promise to return to
the sway of Righteousness, but implicitly