The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-03-30
n ID

The Jewish PASSOVER is unquestionably the
oldest festival in observance among the civilized
people Of tho earth. Il. was ordained over 1000
years ago, to commemorate the exodus Of the
children Of Israel from Egypt. Kingdoms and
empires, peoples and dynasties, have sincs come.
upon the worlds stage, and again passed away,
leaving scarcely trace behind-while the Pass
over is as carefully, rigidly as universally OBJ.
served now, as it was in the palmiest days OF the
Mosaic economy. The Iews hsse epassbd through
innumerable vicssitudas since then; they have
been held of low esteem, they have been peresou-
ted: thoir- .ery e.Ssence oitsn threstgneu; 20:
through it all they have preserved their identity,
and the integrity Of their religious creed, ordi-
nances and ceremonies -conspicuous among which
stands the feast of Passover.
Tho divine authority for the feast is to be found
in the twelfth chapter of Exodus: where, after CIV
ing directions about the slsying and eating OF the
paschal lamb, the inspired writer says "Seven
days shall ye ost rnleavened bread: even the first
day ye shall put away leaven out OF your houses" !"
"And in the 1rst day thero shall DO an holy con-
vocation, and in tho seventh day there shall be
an holy convocation to you; no manner OF work
shall be done in them, save that which every man
must eat, that only may be done OF you." 'Seven
DAYS shall there be no leaven found in your
houses"
This is nearly all Moses Gays on the subject;
but Tradition has handed down innumerable mi
mute directions for the striot fu6lment OF the
foregoing command. These traditionary rules
soon acquired tho force OF law; and the Israelite
'of to-day scarcely knows the difference between
the law of Moses and the claws Of the Elders;"
they are all equally binding.
LEAvES (hanaetz) is the great bugbear OF the
pious Jewish housekeeper at this season. She
takes time by the forelock, and commences brush
ing, scrubbing and securing, nearly month be-
forehand, 80 as to ensure thorough cleanliness,
and an entire absence of possible crumbs Of bread
oven, This OF course involves immense labor, and
no little expense. Fresh sets Of cooking utensils
must be used; 80 with al china and glass ware,
table cutlery, and whatever else is needed about
house. These articles arc used for Passover only,
and then put away and locked up. till the mex. re-
turn of the season. No bread can be used, made
with any kind of 'rising." The German and
Polish Babbis will not permit any grain except
| (upleaveped bre&d), while the Spanish and Por-
tuguese doctors authorize the use of rice and
maize also. This -four is carefully ground, in
presence and under tho superintendent Of some
reliable Jew, appointed for this purpose. The
dough is then made OF -four and water simply, and
after being well worked with the hand, rolled into
thin biscuit, and quickly baked. This is the
staple article Of food for eight days. For although
Moses only enjoins the observance OF seoHl, the
Talmudists, who were ford Of putting what they
callod "a hedge round the Law" added au
eighth, in case any one should make mistake
aiont tho commencement OF tho festival, he
should stil be gate inasmuch az there is 3 day OF
grace given. Nothing can hotter illustrate the
authority attributed to these Subsequent tradi-
tonal enac 'uents, thRn this, Of adding an aidl-
sonal dar , the several feasts. Il is acknowledge
cd by all that it is not required by the Law Of
MOSES; that it is only precautionary measure;
which, with the present accurate knowledge OF
astronomy, md carefully caiculstod almanacs
can not reasonably be contended to be nov neces-
eary.
However. VIC must not allow ourselves to be en-
ticed into pe-ple1ed questions OF controversy.
The Passover commences this evening at sun
down. being the 18th day of the lirst month
| (Nissnn), Anro Mundi $685. To-day is observed
as fast, in ccmmemoration OF tho Staying OF the
firstborn in Egypt when all tho frst-born OF Is
reel were preserved alive. All We say here OF the
rites and ceremonies, connected with this least,
of course has reference only to such Israeltcs rs
are orthodox j. o., believers in the fai'n OF their
fathers, aud, moreover strict observers OF the
various customs and ordinances, deemed essential
to constitute euch orthodoxy. The spirit OF tho
ago has not even passed this ancient people by
untouched. Still what VIC bore dcscri6n holds