The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-02-07
CEREMONIES OF JUDAISM.
THEIR EXACT SIGNIFlCATION.

THEIR EXACT SIGNLFlCATION.
| THE UNIFORMITY OF JEWISH RITES
FRATERNAL BOND AMONG THE RACE
OBJECT OF THE CEREMONIES-THE
|. RITES OF THE sABBATH-THE PASS
OVER AND THE HAGGADAH SERVICE
THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLEs AND
ITS RITUAL.
From the New York Times.]
The rites and forms and characteristic OF
the religious observances Of the Jews afford
striking Illustration of the wonderful vital
ity of a people, which, though scattered
over the world for period of eighteen cen
turtles, have everywhere preserved distinc-
tive features unparalleled in the history OF
the human race, and which the vicissitudes
of the time have been unable to obliterate
or even materially impair. While with the
progress of humanitarian principles and
the freedom which has lately obtained in
religious thought, many old ideas, doctrines,
and customs have been abrogated by large
and influential portion of the Jewish people
in Germany and America, yet the mass of
tuV COtAhuliity tiAOuSShOuu tiiC WOli0 DIV IA
many respects as orthodox in their views
and observances as their fathers were 1000
years ago. Wherever the orthodox Jew may
wander among his brethren of the faith, he
hears the same prayers recited in the same
language as he did in his own home; the same
rights, customs, and forms prevail as he was
familiar with in his childhood. Though he
may travel in foreign lands, and among
strang races and nations, though unac-
qus.inted with the language Of the countries
he visits, yet no sooner is he among his
brethren than he feels be can understand
and be understood. The sacred language
is for him universal language; the cere-
monies of his faith are so many passwords
ard signs, and tokens which he will recog-
nize, and which will gain him admission to
all the privileges of the fraternity. What
ever may be said with respect to the feeling
Of clanishness which is thus engendered, it
is certain that these idosyncrasies have con-
tributed in a great measure to the preserva-
ton of the race, and have prevented it. not
withstanding the systematic persecution to
which it has been subjected, from either be-
ing swallowed up in the vortex of time, or
from so matchmaking with other races as
to lose all marks Of its original character.
1t is not astonishing, then, that so high a
place has been assigned the rites in the
Jewish system.
The ceremonies of judaism are those out
ward observances intended to render the
people familiar with the spirit of religion,
and to remind them perpetually either OF
some religious truths or of events in their
past history, in order that the remembrance
thereof may be handed down to posterity.
The principal events which the ceremonial
law commentaries are The Exodus, or de-
liverance of the Israelites from the Egyp-
tian bondage; the Divine Revelation, or
PRONUNCIATION Of the law on Sinai; and the
destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem and
OF Jewish nationality. The observances OF
the Exodus are the Sabbath, the Passover
or Feast Of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast
of Tabernacles.
The Sabbath Day, though regarded as the
sign Of Gods power in Egypt, is really one
OF the fundamental statutes of Judaism. 1t
is the oldest religious institution. for it is
oeval with the Creation, and God Himself
is represented as resting or the seventh
day from all the work which He had made.
Symboically, the Sabbath day is type OF
what good mans life should be every day !;