A VISIT TO A JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 42

A VISIT TO A JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.

A writer in a Home paper gives the following account of a visit to a Jewish synagogue during the Hebrew New Year festivities : — Having obtained an invitation, I presented myself at tho door of a synagogue, not a mile from Houndsditcb, about 8 a.m. I was most courteously received, and was shown to a good seat by the beadle, or church officer, as we should call him. The proportions of the building were fine, and compared favourably with many English churches. The rostrum or platform was In the centre of the building, and was raised some 3ft or 4ft. Six parallel rows of oak pewa ran down each side of the synagogue, and several more crossed the space behind the platform. The reader, in white surplice or robe and white satin skull cap, was chantIng in Hebrew as I entered, and two more were Beated behind him on the rostrum ready to take their turns, the elder of them — a very corpulent man — appearing to be in command. For the first hour very few people were present, but at 9 o'clock the house began to fill, so to speak. Each worshippsr had hia own numbered pew and locker, where he kept his books of ritual and bis mantle. The mantles were about 30in wide and 3yds long, finished ofE with long fringe, and crossed at either end by several coloured bands, usually nine, though my informant told me there was nothing significant about the number or colours of the bands. Each male worshipper (who of course kept his bat on) caught hold of the silken shawl or mantle at both ends, kissed it in three places, covered bis face with it for a few seconds, and then put it round his neck. The female portion of the congregation, according to custom, sat upstairs away from the men. A startling crash drew my attention to the chancel. I discovered that someone had drawn the large curtain from before the 11 ark." This, I was told, was made of the same species of wood as the original ark of the Covenant. The doors of the ark were next opened, and disclosed several rolls (books) of the law. These were encased in silk bag 3, the central rods, which protruded, were made of fine gold, the pointers being adorned with precious stones in" addition ; and, my informant added, " the books are all hand written on parchment and are several centuries old. They were presented to us, and we value them very much." A goodly congregation having now assembled, a small procession was formed, the leader of which took one roll, or book of the law, from the ark, and marched with it back to the rostrum, where, he set it on the floor. The choir, dressed in black surplices, or gowns, and wearing black velvet Edward VI caps, now mounted the platform and sang — in Hebrew, of course. An intercessory prayer for the Eoyal Family was then offered with great fervour, in English, the congregation responding loyally. Another hymn was sung, and then the " blowing of the cornet " took place. The " cornet " mentioned in Scripture was made from a ram's horn, and had no keys. Three separate 11 calls " were repeated a great many times, and then the procession reformed, took the law back to the ark, the door being shut and the curtain drawn, the rings again making a crash. The worshippers were most devout, and many churches I could name might well copy the Jews in this. Even the little boys sat quite still for three long hours — an almost impossible feat for the average English boy. No one seemed in the least disturbed by the frequent arrival of fresh worshipper?. When the pews were filled up I was struck with the resemblance which the gathering had in some respects to the House of Commons on a full night. Everyone was wearing a tall hat, and the number of people who were present would just about fill the House, the Hebrew responses sounding to me as intelligible as certain remarks which 1 have heard honourable members utter in concert. I passed out and handed the attendant the prayerbook which he had kindly lent me, thanking him at the same time for his courtesy, the like of which I had never experienced in any other church.