Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-17
THE PASSOVER RITES.
JEWISH DOORS LEFT OPEN FOR
 THE EXPECTED MESSIAH.

Burning the Remnants of Leavened
 Bread-RelIgious Services, Rites and
 Ceremonies-Solemn Recital.
 In the evening, two nights before the be- ginning of Passover week, in all orthodox Jewish families, certain preparatory meas ures are taken. The father, as head Of the family, makes his tour of thorough inspection of his domicile, seeking for remnants or leavened bread, first invoking blessing upon his task, and then preserving solemn silence until the conclusion of his search. Care IS taken that there shall be some scraps left for him to find, and that he shall know where to look for them, but the form of search is care fully preserved, and his wife makes very sure that no other fragments are left but those intended to be found, which are always mere crumbs. These are gathered in spoon. To them is added the half mizvo left over from the Passover of the preceding year, and all are carefully wrapped in a clean bit of linen and laid aside until the forenoon of the succeeding day-Aref- -Pesach- when, about 10 o'clock, the little package is put in the fire and burned.
 From the time when those remnants of leavened bread are burned, through the whole of the succeeding seven days no other bread is eaten than the matzos, or thin flakes of dry baked, crisp, unleavened dough, and the orthodox Jew is not supposed to have in his possession any of the things that may not lawfully be eaten by him during that season.
 The requirements of the truly orthodox with reference to the preparation of the matzos are very rigid. A committee is ap- pointed from each congregation, whose duty it is to buy in the field before it is harvested, if possible, the grain that is destined for con- version into the unleavened bread. If this cannot be done, they select the best grain ob- tainable from the merchants Tho grinding of it into flour must be done in a mill that has been thoroughly cleansed from every contaminating speck of other four, and when this work is completed the product is carefully barreled and sealed to be kept until required. In the preparation of the mizvos about which there is peculiar sacredness the grinding of the grain into flour is ire quently done in 0 hand mill that is kept for that purpose and no other. For every step in it's progress from the field to the baking oven the flour is sanctified to it's uses by pre- scribed prayers uttered over it. The baking should properly be done by each congrega- tion in it's own bakery, the quantities re- quired for each family having been ascer- tained in advance In practice in this coun- try, however, the matzos are made generally in large bakeries owned and controlled by Jews, who scrupulously observe in their preparation every requirement. of their law, and this is looked upon as sufficient. In the making of the dough, the flour is simply mixed with pure water to the required con- sistency, without salt, leaven of any kind, or any other foreign substance, is rolled very thin and baked dry.
 On the next evening, after religious ser int fho OorVyoc yUhi Q should attend, each family retires to it's home, and there solemnly celebrates the com memorative feast with which the festival be- gins. Upon the family table is set a great plate-of silver, if possible-covered with a clean napkin, on which are laid three matzos, the peculiarly sanctiied cakes of matzo bread set apart for this especial use, and to this end particularly consecrated by the rabbi's prayers. Upon another plate appears the shank bone of a shoulder of lamb and an egg, both roasted upon coals; in a third plate some lettuce and celery, or chervil and parsley, some horse radish and watercresses; cup containing salt water or vinegar; small plate of apple sauce and almonds; and glasses of wine, one for each person present, and still another, that stands ur6ouched throughout the ceremonial. as a / mbol of the welcome ever ready for the ,ng hoped for Messiah. Each person p. osent is re- quired to drink four glasses or cups of wine during the progress of the rites. All mem- bers of Jewish household, from its patri- archal head down to the humblest servant, sit together at this Passover feast, for all are equal before the God to whom they offer their thanksgivings for his infinite mercies to their race; all are children of those who were by him brought out of bondage.
 And the things thus displayed on the table have their emblematic significance. The horse radish and other sharp or bitter herbs recall the bitter servitude in Egypt; the un- leavened bread, the nasty preparation for flight to freedom in the desert; and other meanings attach to each of the other articles, as, for instance, the apple sauce, of the con- sistency of mortar, which is a reminder of the clay from which the Egyptian task masters compelled their ancestors to make bricks without straw.
 The head of the family takes his place upon a chair, on which pillow has been laid, to distinguish it as sort of throne. He is the patriarch, the master, the teacher Around the board before him gather his family and dependents, all attired as if ready to set forth upon a journey He and they do not assume the easy attitudes common at the social board, but sit erect as if alert and ex- pectant He offers up a prayer. Breaking
 
 lays aside half of it to be hept until the next Aref-Pesach, when it will be burned. To each person seated at the board he gives a fragment of that mizvo and of one of the others, also small portion of the herbs which are to be dipped into the salt water or vinegar and eaten. Then all take hold of the seder plate, upon which the mizvos have been exposed, and together they sustain it above the table while he utters another prayer. It is then replaced upon the board and one of the younger members of the | family asks the father certain prescribed questions as to why they are SO as- sembled with the objects before them that so meagerly furnish forth the family table, In response, tine patriarchal head of the family tells the grand old story of Is- raels slavery and redemption therefrom by him who with strong hand and mighty arm led them out of the house of bondage, through the Red sea, and humbled the pride of their cruel oppressors. As he recites the ten plaques sent upon the Egyptians, at the mention of each every one seated at the board dips little finger in the glass of wine before
 him or her, and scatters a few drops upon the 1 floor,
 A prayer follows the solemn recital. Hand,