4. Amendment, ‏עזיבת החטא‎. The regret should be followed by a firm resolve to abandon the way of evil, and not to sin again, even if occasion be given for a repetition of the sinful act.

There are five Services on the Day of Atonement: [[408]]

(1) Evening Service, ‏מעריב‎;[108] (2) Morning Service, ‏שחרית‎; (3) Additional Service, ‏מוסף‎; (4) Afternoon Service, ‏מנחה‎; (5) Concluding Service, ‏נעילה‎.[109]—The [[409]]confession of sin, ‏ודוי‎ is the most essential and characteristic element in the Services of the Day of Atonement.

In the Morning Service we read Lev. xvi., and Num. xxix. 7–11, on the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement; in the Afternoon Service, Lev. xviii., on forbidden marriages. The Lessons from the Prophets are: in the morning, Isa. lvii. 14–lviii. 14, on our duties on the fast-day; in the afternoon, the Book of Jonah, illustrating the effect of sincere repentance, and Micah vii. 18–20, on Israel’s repentance.

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Historical Feasts and Fasts.

Besides the Festivals commanded in the Torah, we celebrate also in the course of the year anniversaries of certain days both of joy and of sorrow. Of the former kind are ‏חנוכה‎ and ‏פורים‎; of the latter, the 9th of Ab and four other fasts.

‏חנוכה‎ Feast of Dedication.

On the 25th of Kislev we begin to celebrate eight days of ‏חנוכה‎ or Dedication, in commemoration of the victories of the Maccabees over Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria. Antiochus had attempted to force the Jews to idolatry, and to make them abandon the worship of the true God. The Jews, led by the Maccabees, resisted, and, armed with faith in God, gained the victory over large armies of the enemy. The Temple, which had been defiled by the heathen soldiers, was again purified, and the Service of God re-established. [[410]]For lighting the continual lamp (‏נר תמיד‎) pure oil was wanted, that had not been touched by the heathen. Only a small cruse of pure oil was found, which was believed to be sufficient for one night; but it sufficed for eight days, by which time a fresh supply could be procured.

The Feast of Dedication commemorates the victory of the faithful over the faithless, of the true religion over idolatry, of light over darkness, and is celebrated—