Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-05-10
STATE OF


THE JEWS AT JERUSALEM.
Extract from the Travels Of Robert
Richardson, Nj. ID. along the Medi-
terranean, &c. recently published.
Many of the Jews are rich and in
comfortable circumstances, aud possess
a good deal of property in Jerusalem,
but they are careful to conceal their
wealth, and even their comfort, from
the jealous eye of their rulers, lest by
awakening their cupidity, some vile,
indefensible plot should be devised to
their prejudice. In going to visit res
pectable jew in the holy city, it is
common thing to pass to his house o.
yer roined foreground, and up an
awkward outside stair, constructed OF
rough unpublished stones, that totter un.
der foot, but it improves as you as.
cend, and at the top has respectable
appearance, as it ends in an agreeable
platform in front of the house. On
entering, the honse itself is found to be
clean and we'll furnished the sofas are
covered with Persia carpets, and the
people seem happy to receive you.
The visitor is entertained with coffee
and tobacco, as is the custom in the
houses of the Turks and Christians.
The ladies presented themselves with
an ease and address that surprised me,
s, recalled to my memory the pleasing
society of Europe. This difference Of
manner arises from many of the Jew
ish families at Jerusalem, having resi-
ded in Spain or Portugal, where the
females have rid themselves Of the cru
ell domestic letters Of the east, and on
returning to their beloved land, had We
ry properly maintained their justly &C.
CURED freedom and rank in society.
They almost all speak in broken Ita.
liam, SO that conversation goes on with
out the clumsy aid of an interpreter.
1t was the feast OF the Passover. & they
were all eating unleavened bread;
some of which was presented to me as
a curiosity, and | partook Of it merely
that | might have the qualification OF
eating unleavened bread with the sons
and daughters of Jacob in Jerusalem.
1t is very insipid fare, and no ore would
eat it from choice. For the same rea.
son went into the synagogue, of which
there are two in Jerusalem, although |
only visited one. The form OF wor-
ship is the same as in this country, and
/ believe. in every country which the
Jews inhabit. The females have sepa-
rate synagogues in Europe, and in the
Christian churches all over the Levant.
They are not, however, expected to be
frequent or regular in their attendance
on public worship. The ladies gene
rally make point of going on the Sun
day, that is, the Friday night, or Sa-
turday morning, after they are mar.
ried and being thus introduced in
their new capacity, ence year is con-
sidered az sufficient compliance on their
part. with the ancient injunction, to
assemble themselves together in the
house of prayer. Like the votaries Of
some Christian esta blishment, the Jew
esses trust more TO the prayers of their
priests than to their owD.--The syns.
gogues in Jerusalem are both poor and
small; not owing to the poverty OF their
predecessors, but to the prudential mo.
tives above mentioned; yet it was de-
lightfui to mix with them in their de-
votions, and to see performed before
your eyes that ceremonial worship by
the descendants Of that very people to
whom it was delivered by the voice Of
God. l should look at the ceremonies
of pagan temples as matter of little
more than idle curiosity, but the cere-
monies Of the Jews dip into the heart
This IS the most ancient form of wor-
ship in existence: this is the manner
in which the God OF heaven was wor>
shipped by Abraham and bis descen-
dants, when all the other nations in the
world were sitting in darkness and fal.
ling down to stocks and stones. TO
the Jews were committed the oracles
Of God this is the manner in which
Moses and Elias. David and Solomon.
worshipped the God Of their fathers.
This worship was instituted by God
himself, and in Jerusalem, his chosen
and appointed city; and, on the rock
of Zion, Gods holy hill, to sing q
psalm of David, in company with the
outcast race of Judah, winds to extacy
the heart
The Jewesses in Jerusalem speak in
q decided and firm tone, unlike the he
stating and timid voice of the Arab
and Turkish females. and claim the
European privilege of differing from
their husbands, and maintaining their
orup oniniops. Thev ara fair and uaaa