The Jewish advance., 1879-08-01
NO. 60.


sinews from the fesh). This city is
fess Mahomedanism. Followers of
All are dressed alike, speak alike, and
conform to the habits prevailing in
China On the first day [ invited some
men of lsraelite descent, and who are '
known as Taou-ki -kin-kedou. I asked them
how they and their families were called,
and it appeared to me their names were
like those of Jews, only that they were
pronounced very corruptly. [ inquired
what religion they followed, and they
told me that they professed the religion
OF Moses. When asked them the name
of the God they worshipped they told
me 1e-cho-a-cha" (Jehova), pro-
nunciation which apparently has been
adopted to avoid a profane utterance of
that ineffable name [ then asked them
whether they had a scroll Of the law of
Moses They told me We used to
have several sefarim (scrolls), but for
eigners who came here, and of whom we
did not know whether they were Israel
ties or not, took them from us, alleging
that they merely wished to inspect
them, and that they would return them
to us. But when they once had posses
sion Of them they kept them" 1t seemed
to me that these scrolls were purchased
for very high price from the poor of
that town. If any one of those people
should still have scroll Of the law he
would not be willing to show it to
stranger. | was informed that two hun
dred of their families had removed to
Pekin, and had taken with them three
scrolls. 1t was mentioned to me by
some of my informants that in this town
they had formerly very fine synagogue
which was built on a model of the Tenn
pie in Jerusalem, and had existed for
several centuries. In certain part of
the synagogue court, they used to burn
incense by day and by night. A part of
that building was called Bethel (the
House of Cod. Only Cohanim (de-
/ .scendapts of Aaron) of66ciated there on
Sabbaths, festivals and new moons. Men,
women and children used to assemble
in the Synagogue on days of the new
moon. Here the Jews made votive Of
ferings, burnt incense, and chanted
hymns and religious songs, which were
accompanied by the beating of drums,
and by other instruments. On such oc-
casions the Jews feasted and made
merry, distributed gifts among the poor.
and suspended at the doors and windows
OF their houses, as also at those of the
Synagogue, blue and purple streamers
Of silk. On the nights of new moons
and festivals every Israelite's house was
Illuminated
Between the years 1910 and 1856, the
Synagogue was completely ruined.
Since then it had never been repaired
because the majority of those descend
ants of the Israelites are poor, and also
because they do not feel the need of a
synagogue, since they have forgotten the
Law and it's commandments When the
last of their elders died, the knowledge of
the scriptures completely ceased among
them. By order of the Government
scrolls of the law were exhibited in the
open market-place, and an advertisement
in Chinese was inscribed by the side,
to any one who would be able to explain
Jews made similar offers in other places,
but to no avail. This caused them to
despair OF their synagogue, which was
completely abandoned, and of which not
one stone was left upon another They
Nele oIueIeu uOG W duOpC dnOCn0r roll-
gion before the arrival of persons who
could read the Law, and who might re-
introduce amongst them the knowledge
now fallen into oblivion.
[ Visited the site of their ancient syna-
gogue, and found nothing but stones
which were traces of the entrance yard.
The avenue appeared to have been about
10 ellis in length, by ellis in width. The
foundation was covered with refuse, and
evidently consisted of stone The stone
Intel contained Chinese inscription in
large characters The words were eli
fasusze Taou-kin- kedou" (which means
- the House of God and the religion of
those who extract the sinew from the
flesh y, The place occupied by the
synagogue is wretched spot, covered
with mire and pools of water. Here [
saw a stone pillar, 3 ellis in length, by |
ell in width, with a Chinese inscription.
stating that persons who are not of the
lsraelite religion, should not enter this
place. | asked my Jewish friends from
whence their ancestors had come to set
tie here. They could not say that their
fathers came from the West, and had
been exiled from their land because