The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-07-28

to readers OF the Bible. But very few are
acquainted with the trouble and expense
entailed on the orthodox Jews who adhere
to the canon law as inculcated by the
'Mishns, particularly the portion entitled
'Helchas Passachim,' wherein is given the
formula for the Passover. for the guidance
Of all true believers II is not the inten-
ton Of the writer to enter into the minutia,
but simply to show the hysienic tendency
Of the laws Of cleanliness. as enforced in
the portion of the oral law to which refer.
ence has been made.
We may premise that the Scrptural or
written law, on which the rules, as enforced
by the Mishnaic doctors, have been based,
are to be found in Exodus, chap. xiii. 7:
'Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven
days; and then there shall be no leaven
with thee, neither shall there be any learen
in all thy quarters The portion of this
text marked in italics forms the data for the
minute observances of those laws on which
We shall treat and in order that they may
be literally and spiritually obeyed, there is
list in the 'Helchas Passochim' of every
imaginable substance that may be subject to
fermentation: so that the rabbins in their
catalogue include under the term leaven
every vegetable and animal substance which
modern chemists in their tables speak of as
capable Of uiaous and acetic fermentation.
As soon, therefore, as the Feast of Purim
has passed, it is a custom, from time i'm
memorial, for the females Of every Jewish
family, rich and poor, 10 commence the an
nual cleaning.f Every nook and corner,
every drawer, box, and cupboard, every
room, from the attic to the kitchen, and
every article of furniture in them, is cleaned
for the purpose Of removing all accumula.
tons, whether Of dust or other extraneous
matter. because such accumulations are con.
sidered by the Doctors of the Talmud as
subject to species of fermentation, or as
generating impurities, which they deem de-
pendent on similar law. Every room
and cupboard is limewashed; and every
shelf is scrubbed, TO remove even any stain
or extraneOus impression, from the proba.
bility that such stain has been produced by
fermented matter. Thus the rabins, under
the express command Of religious obser.
vances, have enforced such rigid cleanliness,
that the house Of Jews are rendered pure
and healthy by the preparations for this
annual festival. This may in some meas
ure account for the known longevity OF
lsraelites--the writer of this having known
many who attained the ages 100, 10, and
12O, whilss few die, comparatively speak
ing, very young. These facts are worthy
Of attention, as they have been in opera.
lion for many hundreds OF years before SAM.
larry reforms were thought OF, and before
scientific men had ascertained that the want
of radical cleanliness in the houses Of the
poor often generated malignant fevers and
other disorders.
In most European cities the Jews have
been enforced TO reside in some obscure and
huddled locality, where one might expect
them to be more liable than the average of
the population to ievers and other ailments
supposed TO arise from filth and want Of
fresh air. 1t appears, however, that the
Jews are in fact less visited by disease than
the generality Of their fellow-citizens.-
This, while attributable in part to their su
penor temperance, may well be believed TO
be owing in no small measure to their
one month Of annual publication and the
consequent cleanliness. 1t may not be
altogether undressing to add, that the
plates, dishes, teacups and saucers, knives
and forks, saucepans, kettles, spoons, &c.
which are used during the year, are not used
for the Passover; these things being kept
from year to year for this one week, or else
ne,c articles are purchased. In cases where
poverty precludes the possibility Of chang.
ing everything, there are certain formulas
showing how to purify them with boiling
water, or with fire, or both, so as TO deprive
them of any fermentable matter which
might otherwise, as in some kinds Of porous
earthenwaIe, be absorbed.
The houses Of the middle-class Jews,
when the annual preparations for the Pass
over are completed, present a novel and
most Clearly aspect. Every shelf, dresser,
table, tray, and cupboard, is covered with
beautiful white napkins; and as each Jew
has pre.knowledge of the pains and PEN
alties consequent on not removing all things
subject to fermentation, there is experienced
a sensation of purity which reacts on the
mind, and disposes the sincere Israelite TO
express an intense gratitude to God, as i'll
he had been actually manumitted slave,
and felt for the first time the pure air of
ffeedom.t To these facts may be added
the constant ablutions prescribed during
this month by both the written and oral
laws, rendering cleanliness Of person a re-
llglous obligation; whence also arises clean
illness in culinary preparations. In short,
II is manifest that the Injunction of the law
giver, even while one is disposed to smile
at the literalness with which il is followed
out, has been attended, through that very
llteralness, with effects OF a most salutary
as well as extraordinary kind.
sThe 'Mishna' Is digest of all the laws and |
usages extant among the Jews, and was published
some hundreds Of years since 10 preserve uni |
iormity In the communities of this people, |
however they might be separated in many
lands.
fSome idea may be formed Of this annual un- |
when It's known that Purim COM |
nences on the 18th day Of Adax (see the book |
Df Esther;) and the Passover commences on the |
l4th day Of Nissan Exodus, chap. xii. &C. |
Hence whole month Is occapied in these i'm.
portant additions.
1.-THE pains and penalties for retaining any fer |
nented matter (leaven) on the Passover, involve
not only moral and social excision, but also po-
itical excision.