Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-04-10
LEGENDS OF the SYNAGOGUE.

old fashioned communities, one OF
the most inveterate is the belief
that the synagogue is a meeting
place for the dead as well as for the
living. The notion, in all proba-
bility, dates from very ancient
times, for a curious legend of the
Medrush records how one Of the
rabblns of old tried to force his way
! into the cave Of Machpelah-where
the patriarchs are tabled to have
had a synagogue of their Own-but
was stopped by Eliazer OF Damas-
Gus, the steward of Abraham, who
said his master was engaged IN
prayer, and could not, without dan
ger. be disturbed. BE that, how
ever, as it may, no orthodox Israel
ite under any circumstance ever
enters or attempts to enter a syna-
gogue without giving three prellm-
mary knocks at the door, in order
to warn the dead of the approach
of living co-religiOnist, and thus
afford them time to vanish ere any
one disturb them. Unlucky is he
accounted who ventures to intrude
without so doing; and thrice un-
lucky is he deemed who should, per-
adventure, look with mortal eye
upon the meisim,' or congregants,
from the grave.
In Russia, Poland, and Gallcla,
no female ever enters synagogue
alone, and the gossips Of the Juden
viertel, or Jewish quarter, explain
the why and wherefore of this. 49,
They tell how, many, many years
ago. the Rabbetsen the chief
rabbin's wife, that is-Of Sluezk,
rose early one morning in autumn,
and started for the synagogue be-
fore daybreak-as is the wont OF
Old-fashioned Jews-in order to at
tend the propitiatory service held
during the week that inter
venes between the new year and
the Day of AtOnement; how the
wind blew out the candle in the
lantern she carried and how, on
entering the synagogue, she was
surprised to find the place lit up
and the mems seats filled with de-
vout worshippers. And then, re.
Quiring a light, she called to the at
tendant down stairs to bring her
one when, 10 and behold hand
was stretched from beneath the
gallery, a mysterious and ghOstly
hand, reaching forty feet up, and in
this hand was the light for which
she had asked. Two hours after
ward she was found by the living
worshippers, who came later, in
sensible on the floor. And to the
end of her days, runs the tradition,
she was blind, she who had mad
vertently looked upon the dead. To
this day, no Jewess enters syna-
gogue by herself. If alone when
she reaches the 'shool, she remains
outside until male member of the
congregation arrives. When he
has passed in, then, and then alone,
will she follow him into the sacred
edilice.
Stranger even than the foregoing,
is the legend of the Leyite OF HOrO-
duo a fantastic narrative carefully
handed down from the middle ages.
Late one dark winters night the
Chief Rabbi of HorOduo had been
sitting with his favOrite pupil, young
Elijah, the Levite, in the stuiiy,
'Bes medrash,' or college adjoining
the synagogue. 1t was time to
cease study, and with many a bless
ing the disciple was dismissed. His
way home lay past the house OF
prayer. AS he went by, he noted,
with amazement, that the ediiice
was lighted up within. Instead OF
passing on with head averted, he
went close up to the windows, as he
should not have done, and peered
in. The 'shOol' was full; cram
full of worshippers, full of meisim,
dead ones, congregants from tlC
grave, all engaged in prayer. The
readers platform was occupied by
the precentOr-jnst as among the
living-and the scroll Of the Law
was open on the reading-desk in
front of him. AS the Levite listen
ed he heard the solemn monotone
Of the minister as he chanted the
portion of the week. Then, to his
horror and astonishment, his OWL
name was called, called to the read
ing of the Law, o summons no Jew
dare disregard. Could he disObeJ
the call 2 And yetto enter at mid
night alone among the congrega
| ton Of the dead He would consult
his master. Rushing back to thu
college he hastily recounted the cir
cumstances to the rabbin. Go in
my son. was the advice of th'
teacher, so in and walk CAREFUL!
along the aisle so that you toucl
none of the dead ascend the plat
form, take your place by the read
er's side, recite the customary bless
iDgs, hear the portion of the Levitt
read, and then depart carefully a
before. But Of one thing beware
DO not descend the platform on th
same side as sou ascend. Go NJ
by the stairs on the one hand, bu
, 90 down by the steps on the other
Trembling with fear, the youn