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The Southern Israelite
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Executive Offices: 161 Spring St., N. W.
Published In Atlanta Monthly by
THE SOUTHERN NEWSPAPERS ENTERPRISES, Inc.,
M. STEPHEN SCHIFFER, Managing Editor
Subscription Rates: 15 Cents Single Copy, $1.50 Per^Year In Advance.
Entered as second class matter at the Postoffice at Atlanta, Ga.,
under the Act of March 3rd, 1879.
All communications for publication should reach this office not later than
1st and 15th of each month.
The Southern Israelite Invites correspondence and literary contributions, but
the Editor Is not to be considered as sharing the views expressed by t e
writers except those enunciated In the Editorial columns.
NEVER TOO LATE
One of the most beautiful and impressive of our Jewish holi
days has just passed, one that embodies the true spiritual essence
of Judaism because it is the hope that our heritage will be a living
inspiration through the allegiance that our Jewish youth pledge to
their religious faith. The young men and women who participate
in the Confirmation ceremony are inspired to feel the spiritual
significance of their confirmation and to realize their tremendous
responsibility of upholding the traditional loyalty to Judaism.
The sincere confirmants leave their service with an honest
desire to practice the vows of faithfulness to Judaism that they
volunteered to accept, but we cannot fail to see the grave possibility
that in the busy life that the normal person leads today the most
honest intentions of these young people to strengthen their reli
gious ties may be absorbed by the many material interests that are
almost inevitably to occupy their thoughts. But there is no reason,
whatsoever, that their religious consciousness should come to a
standstill at the end of their Sunday School career, for that should
be only the symbol of a foundation for a more earnest devotion to
Judaism. It is not an easy task for parents and religious teachers
to cope with this situation, but it is nevertheless up to them, as
well as to our Jewish lay leaders, to see to it that the religious
interest and enthusiasm of their youth do not end with their con
firmation exercises. The synagogue and religious schools have not
proven to be the only religious institutions, for Judaism is a “life”,
and our youth must be lead to appreciate the significance of the
connection of their religion not only to the Temple services, but
its introduction into social, cultural and intellectual activity.
Probably one of the most effective factors in helping to en
courage sincerety toward their religious life for our young women
has been the Junior Council. This group furnishes an important
means whereby they are reminded of their Jewish contact, not only
sociably but in the light of service to their own people. The organi
zation makes their religion a part of their everyday life, aside from
their attendance at Temple worship. The same type of organization,
the Temple Brotherhood, endeavors to aid the young men to uphold
their confirmation vows by impressing upon them their religious
responsibility through group interactivity. The value of these two
organizations is unlimited in developing and broadening the re
ligious interest that confirmation instills in our youth.
Is not such achievement worthy of our attention, is it not
worthy of action on our part to co-operate with these national
organizations to inspire love for Judaism in the hearts of our
youth? So far we have responded to the need for a Junior Council,
but as yet we have not awakened to the realization of what a
Temple Brotherhood will mean for our young men.
We ought certainly to feel it a privilege to encourage them
toward a broader religious contact. It seems that our Jewish com
munity has underestimated a very urgent need, but it is our hope
that each and every one of you will feel it your duty to consider this
matter and offer suggestions or criticisms that might help.
Shabuoth—The Feast of Pentecost
The celebration of the Feast of Pentecost, known in Hebrew
as “Shabuoth”—the Feast of Weeks—began on Thursday evening,
June 13, 1929. According to the Bible, this festival is to be ob
served one day. Throughout Jewish history, the Feast of Weeks
has assumed a dominant place in Jewish life. It commemorates the
event on Mount Sinai, when the children of Israel received the
Ten Commandments—an event which caused the Jewish people to
become a spiritualizing force throughout the generations. For this
reason, it has always been celebrated with great joy and gladness.
In ancient times, when the Jewish people lived in Palestine
and were tillers of the soil, the Feast of Pentecost was celebrated
as a nature festival. In Palestine, the harvest season begins with
the first month of spring when the barley crop is reaped, and con-
eludes seven weeks thereafter with the reaping of the wheat har
vest. Thus, the last day of the harvest season became a day of
great festivity. On that day the Jewish people made a pilgrimage
to Jerusalem and offered the first fruits of the wheat harvest with
thanks and praise to God.
With the change of environment and circumstances after the
Destruction of the Temple, the agricultural background lost its
meaning for the Jewish people. A new concept began to be em
phasized and developed around the Festival of Weeks—a concept
which gave it spiritual strength to survive to the present day and
carry a signal message even to our present era.
According to the Bible, Exodus XIX, the children of Israel
received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai on the very day
on which the Feast of Weeks is observed. Thus, when the agri
cultural background for the observance of this festival was no more
of vital significance, the Jewish people continued to celebrate it
as a day which marks the anniversary of their birthday as a spirit
ual people endowed with a noble message to the world. Moses had
freed the children of Israel from physical oppression and slaver}*;
but this is not sufficient to make a people truly free. The spiritual
bondage must be removed before a people can become a spiritual
people. This Moses achieved when he gave the children of Israel
the Ten Commandments. It is this message of spiritual freedom
that the Feast of Weeks strives to convey to us today.
The Confirmation Service, which is one of the main feature?
in the observance of this holiday, re-emphasizes and enhances the
idea of spiritual freedom. At this Service, the Jewish youth makes
a public proclamation to continue in the paths of the principles
which Moses gave to the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.
Fwt of Either
Purim
Roeh Chodesh Nissan
First Day of Pessach ...
Eighth Day of Pessach
Roeh Chodesh Iyar
La* B'Omer
Roah Chodesh Sivan
Shavuoth
JEW ISH CALENDAR
5689—1929
Roah Chodesh Tammux
hast of Tammux
Rosh Chodesh Ab ™’*
Tiaho B'Ab
•Rosb Chodesh Elul
-...Monday. March M
-..Tuesday, March »
Thursday, Apri H
Thursday. April 25
Thursday, May *
Saturday, May L
Tuesday, May
Sunday, June 9
Friday, June 14
Saturday, June
Tuesday, JttJ* *
Thursday, July 2J
Wednesday, August*
Thursday. Au*u«t »
.Friday, September, •
Rosh Hashonah
Fast of Gedalia
Yom Kippur
Suceoth
5690—1929 .
...Saturday, October
— .Monday, October »
Monday. October l*
Saturday. October »
Shemini Azreth _ OrtSbS »
•Ro,h chodesh che.van 4
*osh Chodesh Kisler TWAm December 1
hirst Day of Chanukah TTe*e»t* r * 7
E Holidays begin in the evening preceding the dates daelgnated.
•Rosh Chodesh also observed the previous day.