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Page 13 At .anta’S favorite ▼ „ HOTELS N THE hi ART of the city *• **■ ■ HENRY GRADY 1000 Rooms of Comfort ,, Private Bath, Circulating Ice ic Fan, Radio and Mirror Doors to the usual accommodations, njoy the food in our Dining L offee Shops (open 24 hours), reasonable, too. IIBoth Hotels v. Department Stores and Fi- tnct. •^Affiliated Hotel \m IMPERIAL Peachtree at Ivy 1 SO Rooms and Bath l or Information or Reservation Address THE MANAGEMENT FOR— BEAUTY COMFORT SERVICE Specify DISTINCTIVE AWNINGS Vanuf actured by ANTA TENT AND MNG COMPANY nd Office: East Point, Ga, °nes: Fairfax 1483-1484 iginal Etchings ‘derti European artists UNFRAMED >ne Wain. 7678, or write ^thern Israelite, Atlanta. The Southern Israelite THE YESHIBA AND HEBRON (Continued From Page 4) blue, is compared to the Kissei Haka- bod, the Heavenly I hrone. Entranced, there creeps involuntarily into my mind an imaginary vision of the Heavenly Hosts, as the King of Kings, arrayed in robes of majesty, sits in dread lone splendor, with diadem bedecked, en circles by His Host of Cherubim and Seraphim, shimmering and radiant, ex- ultingly acclaiming the sovereignty of the Lord. “Coming to the Yeshiba?” 1 am rudely aroused out of my reverie by the voice of my fellow student, a grad uate of the City College of New York, who, unable to resist the call of the Yeshiba, echoing far and away over the Atlantic, set sail for Palestine’s shores and threw in his lot with this happy crowd. Smilingly 1 accept his proffered arm, and we make our way to the Yeshiba. There the scene is one of unusual activity, as the youths are engaged in their daily task, the exposition of some complicated text. His yarmulke, or skull cap, perched on the hack of his head, his eyes trans fixed to the open getnara on the form before him, giving vent to his feelings by singing aloud some lively refrain exclusive to the Yeshiba, the Bachoor presents a most striking tableau. In a far corner sits the Mathmid, whose name is mentioned with awe. Possessed of untiring energy, he has spent the past ten years in persistent study, wasting not a moment in idle thought or speech. The second Vilna Gaon, some call this youth, to whom the entire Babylonian Talmud is an open hook. In the opposite corner, two voluble youths are apparently engaged in con flict, as heatedly, flushed of face, each endeavors to impress upon the other his respective version as being the cor rect solution to that vague and baf fling text, disproving his colleague’s sophism. A small crowd is gathering,' eager to witness this battle of wits, the clashing of master minds. Thus our youthful warriors train, till time calls them to more responsible deeds. The Rosh Yeshiba, the world-famous Talmudical authority, Rabbi Moshe Mordecai Epstein, and one of the greatest Gaonim of the age, delivers his Talmudical discourses twice weekly. For about an hour or so he weaves his way through a regular maze of the most intricate passages of the various tractates, proving his extensive knowl edge in both Palestinian and Babylo nian Talmud, taxing the concentration powers of his hearers, whose minds are strained to their utmost tension. No obscure allusions or intricacies of construction seem to baffle him. and he displays a remarkable dexterity in conjuring with the Tosaphists, dispos ing of the numerous questions of the various commentaries in a manner that has set him down unanimously as a genius of the age. In addition to the Rosh Yeshiba. who deals principally with the intellectua side of the student, Reb Leib, the Baal Moosar. a man of powerful personality and wide experience, both practical and theoretical, attends to the moral needs of his flock, and these two mighty shepherds are responsible for the men- tal and spiritual development of the boys. . . . At given periods, chiefly on the eves of New Year. Day of Atonement, and New Moon, the whole Yeshiba repairs to the Patriarchal Tomb and ascends the permitted seven or eight of the numerous steps that lead to the inner vaults. Only strict adherers of the Moslem creed are allowed to proceed farther, the late King Edward VII, then Prince of W ales, in 1862, being the first non-Moslem allowed by spe cial permit to enter and inspect the interior of this awesome edifice. There, under the guidance of the local gen- darrnerie, who are present to avert any possible interference on the part of the perfidious Arabs, certain appropriate selections ot the Psalms are repeated ui a beautiful mellifluous chant, the echo striking a sympathetic chord in one s heart. The spectacle is indeed awe-inspiring, as, with bowed heads, in reverential homage, we stand before those huge walls, behind which all is enshrouded in hallowed mystery. Among the most interetsing features in the curriculum of the Yeshiba are the moral discourses held weekly by ket) Leib, Saturday evenings, in the gloaming. This time is held sacred by the hoys, being reserved for medita tion, and the scene is most impressive, as in the growing darkness the faint outlines of the youths can lie dimly seen pacing to and fro within the 'i eshiba. A heavy expressive silence reigns everywhere, and the rhythmical heating of the \ eshiba clock upon the wall is seemingly in harmony with the heating of those youthful heart s, so intensely Jewish. Ah! What deep thoughts harbor in that master mind; what indescribable feelings run through the fibre of his body, as in the gather ing dusk the taciturn youth spans the floor of the Yeshiba in deep philo sophical meditation, pondering over the fulfillment of his life mission and the miracles of the universe. Peace of mind and serenity of soul, robed in spotless purity, influenced greatly by the sooth ing atmosphere of the Yeshiba, are manifest. As I sit in my corner, a sensation of nearness to the Creator, of the Divine Presence, enters my soul and envelopes me in its folds. How rare is such a scene in this era of enlighten ment. Even outside of the Yeshiba silence reigns supreme, and save for the occa sional shrill hooting of the owl, wierdty piercing the stillness of the night, ail is wrapped and veiled in a mystery of silence. In the midst of all this, the Baal Moosar, with measured tread, makes his way to the center of the Yeshiba, where lie is immediately.sur rounded by the boys. Leaning upon a form, he proceeds with his discourse, working powerfully on the feelings of the youth, moulding his character as the potter mouldrth his plastic clay, and the youth is drawn involuntarily into a higher sphere, heavenwards, feel ing not the very earth he treads, his craze transfixed on the dim, stationary figure of the speaker, whose firm calm ness and magnetic influence arc domi nant. After the discourse the building is brilliantly illuminated by numerous gas lamps, and a great commotion arises, as the lecture is being told and retold by the older members to the younger, who have perchance lost a thread of Hie discourse, and could not, conse quently. follow the trend of that deep, moral lecture. Suddenly, a sharp clap is heard as one of the hoys, enwrapped in Talith. announces the commence ment of the evening service by simply heating with his open hand on the nearest form. The commotion ceases instantly, each one retires to his al lotted seat, and the service is repeated in great solemnity. At the termination of the service the Ilabdalah is repeated by the principal, acting vicariously for the whole Yeshiba. The Ilabdalah over, the boys, refreshed by the events of the past moments, begin the week anew, and a chorus of melody is heard as the magical strains of the “Tanu Rabanan” and “Amar Abaye” swell through the night, echoing over the distant hills, and Hebron listens atten tively and proudly to that soul-inspir ing music, the sweet voice of Jacob, that emanates from within the myste rious walls of the Yeshiba. Tallest Hotel in the World 46 Stories High The New MorrUon when completed, will contain 3400 CUeA|o , fl MO It It I SON HOTEL Corner Madison and Clark Sts. Closest in the city to offices, theatres, stores and railroad stations 1944 Rooms $2.S0 up All outside with bath, running ice water, bed-head lamp and Servidor. A house keeper on each floor. All guests enjoy garage privileges. c The Breakers On The Ocean Tront ATLANTIC CITY, N. J. Modern in construction, luxurious in appointments and convenient to all piers and amusements. American ok Eurotf.an I’i.an GARAGE ATTACHED In Philadelphia Choose HOTEL MAJESTIC BROAD ST. AND GIRARD AVE. PHILADELPHIA Only hotel in Philadelphia with a subway entrance from main lobby 400 LARGE ROOMS Single room, runiwig water For two S3.S# Singe room, private bath 13M For two SSS#-U*i Wire at Our Expense for Reservations! JNO. C. GOSSLER Mgr.-Dir.