The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-21
,D'715
THE FEAST OF ESTHER.

Yesterday, the 18th day of the 18th Jewish month
Adar Tor this being leap year, of the 18th montl
Veadar), was the fast of Esther; and to-day ii
known as Purim, or the Feast of Esther. The
institution of the festival is thus chroncled ii
Esther tx. 90:
'sAnd Mordecai wrote these things, and sent let
ters unto oil the Jews that in all the provinces
Of the King Ahasuerus both nigh and far. IL
| stablsh this among them, that they should Keel
the 14th day OF the month Adar. and the l5ti uaS
of the same yearly. As the da's wherein the Jews
rested from their enemies and the month WINCH
was turned unto them from sorrow to Joy, ano
from mourning into good day: Yo7n 1oo GOOD
day., is the Hebrew expression for festival or holt
day] that they should make them days OF feastlns
| and JOY, and of sending portions one to anothel
and gifts to the poor And the Jews gpo9rtoGK eo
unto them: Because Haman the son OF Hammc,
datha, the Agagite, the enemy Of oil the Jews had
devised against the jews to destroy them, ana nau
p that is tho @ to %nsqeo tnG@ 5ev eaeG
these days PUR1M, after the name of Pur.'
P,u1ne, the name by which this festival is uni
versally known, We thus SEQ, signifies ''the feast OF
lots," and is the anniversary Of national deliver
ance. It has over -een season of rejoicing with
the children Of Israel through all the centuries OF
their dispersion and persecution. Tho leading
features of the ceremonies connected with its cele-
bration are the same everywhere, however it may
differ in minor details The day preceding Purlm,
the fast of Esther is one of the six regular fast
days Of the Jewish year. It is rigidy observed by
all the devout and orthodox members Of the con-
gregation Of Israel, and neither meat nor drink is
tasted on that day, from the rising OF the sun
until after the stars have become visible to the
naked eye. In tho evening all repair TO the syna-
gogue to hear the minister read the Me9aUah 1.-THE
Book of Estherl which is read in its original He
brew, from parchment scroll, in chanting reel
tative. The congregation, with their books before
them, follow the precentor, repeating certain
verses after him. according to time hcnored GUS
tom.
Next morning Ii. e. to-day] these services ut tho
Synagogue are again repeated, and the remainder
of the day is then spent in rejoicing. There is
not 8 member, perhaps, anywhere Of the house
hold of ABRAHAM who on this day sits down to a
poor dinner. This we're against his principles.
dinner parties, balls and masquerades are very
much in vogue on Purim. Mindful of the injunc-
ton of Holy Writ each sends presents to his
neighhors, whether rich or poor, and with deli.
cacy worthy Of al praise, and of imitation, tho
thoughtful and benevolent Jew takes this oppor-
tunity OF sending substantial aid to him who is
less blessed in this worlds goods. On Purim this
may be done under the plea of ''sending portions
one to another"
In deeds of ch arity, in active, thoughtful cal
culating benevolence, the Jews not only preced
ed every other people, but probably still main
tain this re-eminence. Benevolent socie les for
various purposes date far back into the Middle
Ages among many of tho Hebrew congregations
of Central Europe, long before the birth of the
much vaunted nineteenth century philanthropy.
These charities, both private and public lie.
through agents OF organizations], are looked upon
as matters Cf course, and not heralded abroad as
munifcent acts Of ''priucely liberality."
To tho young people, the masquerades are gen.
orally the most attractive part of the customs con-
nected with Purim. 1t is the only day of the
year when oil Of set purpose intent to be merry
and gay. s'The feasting and gladncss" are pre-
scribed in the book of ESTHER, but, We think, the
are Juper-addition derived ON tho
Christian carnival tho two festivals very frequent
ly being syhchroroua. Masquerades appear to
offer great attractions in time of general rejoicing
as witness the carnival in Catholic Europe the
saturnaia of Ancient Rome. and the mn,''n'el -
Christmas III rnr,=A-I. Il --as G-sx~Aore, natiTal
for the more hilarious Of the younger Jews to on
graft this custom, copied from the surrounding
nations, upon the foast o. ESTHER.
There is q story, we believe, Of Rabbi who was
so carried away in his zeal for the proper () OBJ
servance of Purm, that he said (but this was long
ago, before Father MATTHEW, and before the inven-
ton Of whiskey,) that persons on Purim should
drink until they shall be unable to tell the difference
between the blessing Of aIoRDEo1 and tho curse OF
HAMAN. But this custom, We arc pleased to be
able to say, is Of those more honorcd in 30
breach nan in the observance; and there is, per-
haps, no people on the globe less addicted to
strong drink than are the Jews. OF course there
will be found individual exceptions, but as rule
our assertion holds true the world over.