The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-19
The Feast of Passover.

The Feast OF Passover.
At sundown this evening commences the Jewish
Feast of Passover, and will continue for eight days
the first and the last two of which are observed
sacred whereas the intermediate four days are bui
little distinguished from the ordinary working
day. AS we gave full description of the festival
as observed among the Jews of this country in ou1
article on the subject last year, We will this year
present to QUIZ readers an account Of the manner
in which Pessach is kept by the orthodox Jew Of
Central Europe We find it in Chambers Papers
for the People" and can vouch, from our own per-
sonal observation for the truth of every word con-
tanned in it.
The writer states that he had an invitation to
witness the festival at tue honse Of fine old Jew
at Bolwiller, near Basle, in Alsatia. He says:
My host received me on the threshold with the
classical salutation, Alechem Salem Peace be
with you,' and was soon in the midst Of his nu-
preparations. These consist of the most extern
siVe washings and cleanings every cup to pc
used must be boiled in water, the floors are wash
ell and sprinlled with red and yellow sand; the
masses :or Passover cakes, are knoaded BY robust
girls, on immense tables near the flaming stove;
others take it from the bright copper bowls roll it
out into round cakes, prick and bake it, Enor-
nous chaplets of onions are hung round The
kitchen, and shining tin plates are ranged by
0ozens on the shelves, to be used only at the
Passover. White curtains adorn every window;
the seven-branched lamp is brought out; the mis-
rach, piece OF paper on which this word, mean
ing east, is written, is reframed and hung on the
side Of the room toward Jerusalem, in which di-
which tho master Of the house passes the first
two night. is fitted with cushions.
Our conversation was interrupted by the three
knocks OF the Scit,deklogfe7, who comes to each
house to call the faithful to prayer; We followed
him Immediately, and found che synagogue splen-
didly illuminated, and when the service was over
ca b family returned home to hold the sede',
the most characteristic ceremony OF tho festival.
The table in the dnng-room was covered with q
cloth, the lamp lighted, plates, were set. but no
dishes; on each plate small book was laid, called
the Haggad0 in Hebrew, consisting OF the chants
and prayers to be used, and illustrated with en-
cravings Of the departure OF the IJraelites from
Egypt. My host took the sofa at the head Of the
table, his wife and daughter on one side, his
sons on the other all dressed in new clothes, and
their heads covered. At the end Of tho table no.
ticed an angular-faced man in far-worn clothes. I
found he was sort of a beggar who al ways par
took OF Herr Sa.omon's festivals In the middle
of the table, on silver dish, were laid three Pass
over cakes, separated by napkin, above these,
on smaller dishes. was medley Of lettuce, mar
mslade favored with cinnamon, apples, and al-
mucds a bottle Of vinegar, some cheryil, hard
boiled egg, horse-radish, and at one side bone
with little flesh on it. All these were emblems;
the marmalade signifed the clay, chalk, and bricks
roah; the vinegar and herbs. the bitterness and
misery they thon endured; and the bone the pas
chal lamb. Each guest tad a silver cup; the mas
ters was of gold; on side table were several bot
ties Of Rhenish Falernnn, the red recalling the
cruelty of Pharoah, who tradition says, bathed in
the blood Of the Hebrew children.
The master of the house opened the ceremony
with the prayer of blessing; the cups having first
been filled to the brim, thin the eldest son rose,
tool 4 ever from another table, and poured water
stretching out their hands to the centre dish, re-
peating these words from tho Haggada: i.Be-
hold the bread of sorrow our fathers ate in Egypt
Whoever is hungry let him cohe and eat with us.
Whoever is poor let him take his Passover with
u.s. Tho youngest son asks his father in Hebrew,
'What is tho meaning Of this ceremony and his
father replies, 'We were slaves in Egypt, and the
Lord our God has Brought US out with mighty
hand and q stretched out arm.' All then repeated
the story Of the departure from Egypt IN Bible
arranged in the dish. By the side of the masters
cup stood ono of much larger dimensions, which
was now filled with the best wne:i is set apart for
the prophet Elijah, the good genius of Israel, an
invisible guest it is true, but always and every
where present at high festivals.
Thus ends the first part Of the seder: the eve
mug meal is set on the; table, good cheer and
cheerfM conversation: follow. At q certain time
every one resumes his former position, and the
table is arranged as at the first. Horr Salomon
returns to his cushions, and half Passover-cake
covered with napkin is laid before him, which
division typi6es the passage OF the Red Sea; he
gave pioce Of it to cach..-A prayer followed,
and he then desired his eldest son to open! the
door,. The young man left his place, opened the
door into the corridor very wide, and stood back
as if to lot some one pass. The deepest silence
prevailed; in a-few minutes the door was closed,
the prophet had assurodly entered, he had tasted
the wine which was exclusively set apart for him,
and sanctifed tho house by his presence as Gods
delegate. The cups Of wine are now emphed for
the fourth time; the 115th, 10th, 118th and 150h
Psalms are sung with their traditional infleNons;
aud each rivals his neighbor in spirit and voice;
tho women even pre permitted to- join on this eve
ming, though prohibi tied at MI other times.
Thus ends the religious part of tho festival, but
tho singing continues the Gbations become more
and moro copious; at nine the women retire, and
leavethe mon, until the influence Of the Rhenish
wine reminds them it is time to separate. The
usual evening prayer is never offered on this night
and hefolloWing one; they are special occasions,
when God watches, as formerly in Egypt, over all
the houses of the Jews. The ceremonies We have
described are repeated on the following day, which
is great festival ALI the people 60 early to the
synagogue in their new clothes. Dinner is prepa-
ed at noon and the afternoon. is devoted to call
ing on friends, tho desert remains on the table,
and plate and glass OF wine arc presented to each
guest, with the hospitable salutation, sBarGch-
haba, Blessed be he who cometh.