Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-04-23
FEAST OF he PASSOVER.
The Hebrews Began ts-CommemoratioE
Last Evening and WIN Celebrate Fol
Eight Days.

The Hebrews Begsn Its-Commemoration
Last Evening and WIN Celebrate For
Eight Days.
The Hebrews throughout the world are
celebrating the great feast of the Passover,
which began at sunset last evening and
will continue for eight days. The Pass
over or Feast of Unlsavened Bread as, 1t
Is more correctly termed, is the first
festival OF the Hebrew calender and
marks the birth of the Hebrew nation
alitY aud the Providential deliverance
from Egyptian thraldom Of the two mill
lions or more who left the city Of Rameses
guided by Moses and Aaron. on the night
OF the fourteenth of Nissan, when the
Lord passed over the land of Egypt and
smote the first born of Egypt where the
doorposts vera not sprinkled with the
blood Of the sacred lamb, and included
the 6rst born of Pharaoh who sat on the
throne. the first born Of the captives and
the first born Of cattle.
On account OF this miraculous deliver
ance of the children OF Israel the Pass
over was chosen to mark an era In the
history Of human freedom, and marks
the beginning of the Hebrew ecclesias-
tical year, although the civil year began
In September Il is by this occurrence
that all Hebrew observances are regu-
lated. This feast Is always celebrated
during March or April AMI on the
fifteenth day after the appearance of the
new moon. In the Pentateuch the month
known as Nissan is called Abb. which
translated means 'springing up" or the
spring time of the year.
The most marked feature of the Pass
over is the eating of unleavened bread
during the entire eight days of the
feast No manner of leaven is allowed
during this season, NOR any liquor pro-
duced by a farinaceous fermentation,
such as ale. porter, beer, whiskey, etc,
etc. The prohibition against leayen ex
tends to these FIVE articles: Wheat. rye,
barley, oats and millet. Everything OF
these species is removed from Hebrew
houses on the day preceding the Pass
over before 10 a. m.
The Passover is largely a family OBJ
servance, and the service In Jewish
homes, before and after supper. on the
fist two nights of the feast, is interest
ing and impressive, being largely of
symbolic character This service is called
the Ssder. and tale reciting important
events In the early history of the
Hebrews, and of their persecution in and
deliveranee from Egypt, is chanted Four
cups Of wine are drunk, representative of
the four Hebrew words, Il will bring you
out. Il will deliver you. II will redeem
you, )" and II will take you" Hard un-
leavened bread is eaten, also bitter herbs
and other articles, each typical of events
in the history of the Children of Israel
while in Egypt. Questions in the service
are asked, ana are answered, explanatory
OF the Passover, and the singing OF
hymns, and even humorous songs,
finishes the exercises. Tn Paschal lamb.
which was sacrificed only in Egypt and
in the Holy Land when Israel was
nation, is represented by lamb bone.
In the Jewish place Of worship in the
Morrow Building, No. 2l1 Market street,
services inaugurating the feast last even
ing were held. They we've likewise held
this morning and will again be held to-
night and tomorrow, day and evening
These ale the strict days and ordinary
work Is prohibited. A congregation of
seventy persons met st this place of wor-
ship last evening and this morning there
were nearly as many present.