The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-21
..D'7,5
TIE FEAST OF ESTHER.

yesterday, the 18th day of the 18th Jewish month
Addr Tor this being leap year, of tho 18th montl
teddoT), was the fast of Esther; and to-day il
Known AS Purim, or the Feast OF Esther Th
institution Of the festival is thus chroniclcd i,
Esther il. 20:
And Mordecai wrote these things and sent let
ters t unto all the Jews that were in all the province
stablish this among them, that they should keer
the 14th day of tue month Adar. and tho 18th Ga1
qestoa oe Sng HeE AS tho a wherein the Jew
was turned unto them from sorrow to ioy, anC
nom mourning m into good day: Yone 7ou, good
day. is the Hebrew expression for festival or holi
and Joy, and Of sending portions one to anotlo oi
ana CUTS to the poor. And the Jews undertook tx
90 MS they had begun, and as Mordecai had writtor
unto them Because Haman the son of Hamme
devised against tho jews to destroy them and had
them r. the o them and
these days Fcn1a1, after the name of Pur.ss
Pu1ins the NJ by which this festival is uni.
vors"ly known, we thus see signifies sstbo feast oi
lots, aud is the anniversary of national deliver
ance. 1t has ever ,een season Of rejoicing will,
the children Of Isrre through all the centuries Of
their dispersion and persecution. The leading
features of the ceremonies connected with its cec.
bration are the samo everywhere, however it nav
differ In minor details. The day preceding Purim,
the fast Of Esther, is one Of the six regular ssst
days OF the Jewish year It is risidly observed BY
al the devont and orthodox members Of the CON
gregaton Of Israel, and neither meat nor drink is
tasted on that day, from the rising of tho 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 AegaUah rthe
Book Of Esther] which is read in its original He
brew, from q parchment scroll, in o chanting rcc,-
tatlve The congregation, with their books before
them, follow the precentor, repeatinE certain
verses after him, according to time honored Gus
tom.
Next morning Ii. 9. to-lay1 these services at tho
Synagogue are again repeated, and the remainder
OF the day is then spent in rejoicing. There is
not q member, perhaps anywhere. Of the house
hold OF ABRAHAM who on this day sits down to a
poor dinner. This were against his principles.
.hnner parties, balls and masquerades are vcry
much in vogue on Purim. Mindful Of the iniunc
ton Of Holy Writ, each sends presents to his
neighbors, whether rich or poor, and with deli
caoy worthy Of all 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 tho plea of tsscnding portions
one to another" F,s Ga
In deeds of ch arity, in active, thoughtful, cal
culatlng benevolence, the jews not only preced-
cd every other people, but probably still main
tain this pre-eminence. Benevolen5 societies. for
various purposes date far back into the Middle
Ages among many of tho Hebrew congregations
of Central Europe, long before the birth of tho
much vaunted nineteenth century philanthropy
These charities, both private and public re.
through agents or organizations] are looked upon
as matters Of course, and not heralded abroad as
munifcept acts of <sprince1y liberolitvn r.
To the young people, tho masquerades are gen.
orally the most attractive part Of tho customs con-
nected with Purim. It is the only dav Of the
year when all of set purpose intent TO be merry
and gay. ''The feasting and gladness" are pre-
scribod in the book Of ESTHER, but we think, the
masquerades are asuper-addition derived ON the
Christian carnival the two festivals very frequent
~ being synchronous. Masquerades appear to
offer great attractions in time of general rejoicing
witness thA oA-.Ai->1 1s...~.>,,
saturnalia Of Ancient Rome and the mummeries OF
Christmas in England. It was, therefore, natural
for the more hilarious Of the younger Jews to en-
graft this custom, copied from the surrounding
nations, upon the feast ofsEsTHEn.
There is a story, we believe, Of a Rabbi who was
so carried away in his zeal for the proper (?) OBJ
servance Of Purim that he said (but this was long
ago, before Father MATHEW, 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 MoRDEoA1 aud the curse Of
HAslAN: But this custom, We are pleased to be
able to say, is of those more honored in tic
breach tnan 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 tho world over.