Seattle’s Jewish Community Celebrates Rosh Hashanah
Local Hebrews observe the New Year with a service at the new synagogue at Eighth and Seneca streets.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Israelites of this city observed their Rosh Hashanah, or New Year, yesterday by giving a fine service in the new synagogue at Eighth and Seneca streets. The house of worship, which was crowded, was prettily decorated, and over the ark in which are deposited the scrolls of the law was hung a beautiful white satin canopy in place of the one used on ordinary occasions. The music was exceptionally fine. On this day, since the Hebrews have no country of their own, the prayers have been impregnated with a sadness typical of the misery and persecutions of the race. Just previous to the close of the morning service, the Rev. A. Brown, the rabbi, delivered an address in English appropriate to the occasion. He alluded to the past of the Hebrew nation and pointed with pride to the beauty of the future. He also blew the shofar, or horn, warning the congregation that the Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, would soon be at hand. Most of the Jewish business houses of the city closed in honor of the occasion.
“On this day, since the Hebrews have no country of their own, the prayers have been impregnated with a sadness typical of the misery and persecutions of the race.”
This article offers a rare glimpse into the early religious life of Seattle's Jewish community at the turn of the century. The mention of the 'new synagogue' at 8th and Seneca marks a foundational moment in the history of Seattle's religious geography.
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