The sun., 1880-12-12
TnE JEWISH sABBATH.
supper and Dinner with Jewish Family
Ceremonies nnd Incidents:

ulluuie Vi tub COuNoTbhllOu INV WihuOM puucb
ratified and the boom Of tho sunset gun was
heard in tho distance. Excusng himself for
minute. tho gentleman rang bell at his side.
and to n neat-lookinR servant who answered
the summons. remarked: Come. Kitty. my
girl. lay the tablecloth: 1t is Shobbas." The
girl returned almost Immediately and spread
spotless cloth on the parlor table. upon which
ehe then laid two loaves Of bread and covered
them with a napkin.
That's our preparation for Sabbath" he
said. You know with us 1t begins at sunset on
Friday and lasts till sunset on Saturday"
4" But why the tablecloth and the two loaves ?"
asked the reporter.
THE tablecloth is kept In use during those
twenty four hours" was the reply. to distn-
guish this day from others; 1t is an oldfash-
ioned custom among us. The two loaves are
embematlc OF the double portion OF food which
the Jews are supposed to indulge In on Sab
bath, that being to them a day OF JOY and rest.
You may remember to have read in tho Bible
that when. during the wanderings Of the Israel
ties in, the desert. they were fed with mama
from heaven, they were ordered to gather a
double quantity on tho sixth day, 80 asto have
enough to last over the Sabbath The two loaves
represent our double portion OF MAMMA"
The reporter asked II there were any other
which his host replied by inviting him to stay
and pass the Sabbath with him and his family.
that he might Judge for himself. The invitation
A few minutes later Mr.. Us wife entered the
room. and. having greeted the writer and bade
large silver candesticks containing wax cam
dies; which she lighted and placed on the table.
Tse what We es sa5bsh RFhys
said MIR. H., and the lighting of them is called
making sabbath in and now we will say our
prayers" Before beginning service. however.
MIR. u. sent up stairs for his son and his little
aaughter who came IN to Ioln in the ceremony;
his father and the writer their hats. Mr.. z.
passed the writer prayer book. printed on
one side in Hebrew and on the other in English
read the English translation"
Sitting round the table the party proceeded
to read tho Sabbath evening service. Mr.. z.
read aloud in pleasant voice. and the re;
sponses, were made by the other members Of
reference principally to the observance OF Sab
bath in the olden, days. with frequent injuncc;;
tons tions to keep keep it holy. The reading % occupied m
his ne snd ods 5 hs5
they having. in turn. exchanged the same greet,
ing with their mother the bell was rung. and
Kitty was told to bring In supper.
Tho table being laid. the male members OF tho
party once NOR, put on their hats, while Mr.. y.
pronounced in Hebrew the Sabbath henediction.
ediction uttered, he poured out a glass of
sherry. and, having tasted it himself, passed it
to his wife. who in turn handed it to the writer.
he cut a piece OF one OF the two loaves hidden
under the napkin and broke it into five small
pieces. over which he sprinkled little salt:
The bread and salt was passed round. and
every one at the table ate some Then. the gen.
The fare was plain, but excellent and typi-
cally Jewish. 1t consisted OF ilsh fried in oil;
roast chicken and salad, and some excellent
Dutch cheese. Olives and saltwater pickles
were the only side dishes. and the reporer was
with the Jews. particularly with those OF Ger
man birth. Everybody ate heartily, and the
conversation; in which n present took part was
OF serious but pleasant character. Mr.. y. ex-
pressed his opinion in regard to the anti Jewish
charactersticaily: 1t Is a great compliment to
us, and will serve to bring our merits as cit2ens
more plainly than ever be ore the world" Mrs.
Il. was inclined to regard the movement AS a
purely social one. and declared that whatever
there is OF anti-Jewish prejudice is inspired by
the women: n suggestion which. her husband
laughingly remarked. was probably inspired
at Long Branch during, the summer.
hats. and Mr. z. said grace in Hebrew. his wife
and children joining heartily in the responses
especially in one which referred to tn, rebuild
that ho could not ask h i'm to smoke, as 1t
was contrary to the Jewish religion to touch
fire in any form on Sabbath. This led to an
interesting discussion OF Jewish manners and
customs. which lasted until the reporter TOOK
his leave promising to meet his host at syna-
gOgue in the morning. and to return home with
him after service to dinner.
Punctuallv at on the following morning the
eoGue. Mr.. z. was already in his place. with
his son by his side, both wearing white silk
srarfs round their shoulders. The services had
begun. A tall, thin young man. with pro-
nounced Jewish face. was chanting the pray
every few minutes by vociferous responses
from the congregation, or. at least. tine male
part Of it; The ladies' who sat by themselves
in the gallery, did not seem to take an active
part in the proceedings:
After time the ark. facing the reading desk.
was opened, and scroll OF the law written by
hand in Hebrew figures on parchment and
enveloped in red velvet covering. WAS taken
1nwrappsd unI na g IL and the minister having @ rst
held it up so that all might see ii. began TO read
He called up one Of the e9ngregaiion. who
time. when the scroll was covered and after a
whispered consultation. the gentleman who had
| ceremony was repeated seven times. Mr.. u
was the third person called, and he explained
to the writer that the. whispered consultation
was for the purpose OF informing the minister
how much each person desired to offer " to
| the congregation in return for the honor Of
being called up to the law"
| After tho scroll had been returned to its rest
| ing place very short and pale young gentle
man assembled the pulpit and preached very
commonplace sermon. to which the congrega-
| tion paid very lutte attention. many OF them
reading their Bibles during its delivery. After
| the sermon there were more prayers and a
| hymn, in which everybody, even the little boys.
| Joined vigorously. and-the service was over.
and shock hands with the ministers. and bade
| them Good Sabbath" and nearly every, one,
| on leaving the synagoRue. turned round ana
| bowed profoundly toward the ark.
The writer walked home with Mr.. u. and his
| family and on entering the parlor. found the
table laid for dinner. This proved to be- very
| important affair. When all were seated the
| servant brought the gentlemen tn heir hats which
| they put on, and Mr.. H. pronounced n Hebrew
benediction over tho bread. and. as on the pre-
| vious evening. broke Off a piece and sprinkled
| y with salt, everybody present eating OF 1t.
| Dinner was then served. 1t consisted of a to-
| mato soup. broied salmon. lamb outlets. roast
| chicken, aud vegetables Of numerous kinds.
| Tho wines were excellent and the pastry was
| worthy of Delmonico. Mr.. a. assured his
| guest. however, that everything had been pre-
| pared according to the Jewish dietary laws.
| The lamb whose outlets had formed the entrse
| had been killed by a shOchet or eccles astical
| butcher. tho chicken had had its throat cut in
| the orthodox way. and the pastry had been
made without butter. as jews do not eat meat
| and milk together.
| Alter dinner the gentlemen again put on their
| hats, and grace was said by Mr.. u. as on the
| night before. The afternoon was passed in
| such pleasant conversation that the writer
| hardly missed his customary post-prandial
| cigar. The hours passed rapidly. and in what
| seemed an incredibly short space OF time the
| boom OF the sunset gun was heard again. MIR.
Il. turned to his guest and. TAX ing out N watch.
said. Now for the closing act"
The gentlemen put on their hats. and Mrs.
| u. lighting wax taper and putting q silver
| cup filled with wine on the table, all gathered