THE LAND OF SUNDAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19505, 13 June 1925, Page 6

THE LAND OF SUNDAYS.

THREE IN BACH WEEK. ALL EQUALLY RECOGNISED. JERUSALEM’S RECORD. Where in tho world is there a city with, anything like Jerusalem’s record for tho observance of tho Sabbath Day? What other city is the proud possessor of two Christmases, two Easters, and four New Years, anti three Sundays in the week, all equally recognised? Although Christians claim Jerusalem as their “Holy City,” they are only a part of the vast multitude which regards it as a sacred place, writes E. W. Poison Newman in tho London Daily Chronicle. It is holy three times over. It is just as sacred to the Jews, who flock to its synagogues and “wail” at its “Wailing Wall.” It means, just as much to the Moslems, who worship in the Mosque of Omar and venerate tho Temple Area. As there are three distinct faiths in Jerusalem there are also three Sundays in tho week. There is the Christian Sunday, when all Christian shops are shut anl all other shops are open. Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath, when all Jewish places of business close their doors. Friday is the Moslem day of prayer, when the faithful go to service in the mosque and little work is done. SUNDAYS IN SHIFTS. While this system of Sunday in shifts- is convenient for the forgetful housewife, it causes many complications in everyday life. In Government offices, where officials of all three faiths are employed, the departments are short-handed for three whole days in tho week. Tho. entire organisation is crippled from Thursday evening until Monday morning. If you want to interview any particular official you must first discover his religion. You then work out when ho will be in his office. The High Commissioner, being a Jew, never works on Saturday; he is, however, at work again on Sunday. The Chiei Secretary, a Christian, is in his office on Saturday, but not on Sunday. A District Officer of the Moslem religion is never to bo found on Friday, but is in duty on both Saturday und Sunday. Consequently there are only four days in which all three can meet to discuss anything. Jerusalem has two Easters, separated by 13 clays. The second is that of the Greek Orthodox Church, and is famous for the ceremony of the "Holy Fire.” In the same way there are always two Christmases, also separated by 13 days. But when it comes to New Year’s Days the number is increased to four. After January 1 comes the Greek New Year. Tlx'n there is Muharram, the first day of tho Moslem year, which crradually travels through the seasons. Sometimes it occurs in winter and other times in mid-summer. The Jewish year, on the other hand, usually begins in September, but lias no fixed date in our calendar. All this causes many pitfalls. In Jerusalem a man’s religion is of more consequence than his nationality.