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GUIDE TO SERVICES cont'd
By Rev. Dr. Louis C. Gerstein High Holy Days The High Holy Day services are distinguished by their solemnity and the deep sense of contrition and confession expressed through the sacred words and moving melodies of the prayer. The beautiful strains of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur melodies are introduced during the preceding month of Elul when special penitential prayers are read following each of the evening services. These are recited during the entire month, in order to prepare the congregation for the sacred days ahead. There is a special penitential service of prayers read in the early morning at 5:30 preceding the eve of the New Year as well as on the morning directly before the eve of Yom Kippur. Special psalms and supplications are read at this time. These services are as moving as they are beautiful. On Rosh Hashanah, the Shahrith or morning service on the first day is introduced with special hymns, one written by Isaac Ben Levi Alisani, another by Solomon ibn Gabirol. On the second day, a hymn composed by Jehuday Halevi is read. Preceding the "barehu" there is another hymn added on both days, also composed by Jehuday Halevi. The sounding of the Shofar, the important precept associated with the New Year, is said to be for the purpose of "arousing the congregation from its spiritual lethargy." Preceding this most solemn part of the service, the reader approaches the Ark, which is opened, offerings are then made before it and following this, the beautiful selection written by Judah Samuel Abbas, that so movingly tells the story of Abraham and Isaac going to the sacrifice as a test of their faith, as chanted by the hazzan, the choir and the entire congregation. At the conclusion of this section, the reader covers his head with the tallith to help insure complete religious concentration, the verses are read, introducing the ceremony of the sounding of the shofar and then the shofar is blown. The three parts of the Musaf service are the "malhuyioth" proclaiming the kingship of God, "Zihronoth" recalling the great faith of our forefathers, and "shofaroth," which today is the call for religious dedication. Each section is concluded with the appropriate soundings of the Shofar except on a Sabbath day when the blowing is postponed until the following day. When the final "teruah gedolah" is blown during the "kaddish" that follows the standing prayer, it marks a fitting climax to one of the most sacred services of the entire year. The conclusion of the service is similar to the end of a Sabbath service except for the difference in the melodies of the hymns such as the "En Keloheinu" and the "Adon Olam." < Previous | Next > |
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