The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-17
USED IN CEREMONIALS.
Articles Employed in the Performance
OF Jewish Rites.

An Interesting Collection Made by DR..
Cyrus Adler of the Johns Hopkins
University, and Shown at the
Worlds Fair-The Veil Of the Holy
Ark-SeroIIs of Law-An Ancient
Marriage Contract-The Oldest Wind
Instrument.
From the Baltimore News.
DR.. Cyrus Adler Of the Johns Hopkins
University, at present librarian OF the
National Museum Of the Smith sonian In
stitution at Washington, has a very
unique and interesting collection in the
government building of the worlds fair.
II consists of articles used in the cere-
monials of the Jewish religion. Some Of
the ARTICLES exhibited are as follows: A
very deliberately embroidered veil Of the
Holy Ark of Parochetti, made in Padua,
Italy, in 1916, of yellow silk and richly
embroidered in silver, gold and silk, with
the beginnings of the Ten Command
ments in gold embroidery.
In the Holy Ark aaron ha godesh) are
kept scrolls of the law, or the Penta-
touch, written on parchment for use in
the services OF the synagogue. The Holy
Ark is therefore the most important OBJ
lect of the synagogue and is richly
adorned. Whenever it is opened the con-
grega ton rises in reverence.
Several scrolls of law or Torah are
shown, one with the figure Of ''Magen
David shield of David-on the mantel
Embroidered in its center are the initials
of the words, Grown of the TOrah." This
scroll is remarkable for the minute char
actcr of the writing. Another scroll of
the law, or Torah. has a silver and gilt
breastplate. The Torah or Pentateuch is
considered by the Jews the most impor-
tant part of the Bible. 1t is read through
in the public services Of the synagogue
within year.
There is shown a wrapper for the law
or TOrah, made in Venice in the seven
tenth century, of green silk embroidered
with flowers audec0ntaining the inscrip-
ton in Hebrew. This holy cover was
made by Simcha JOY, wife of Levy
Chain OF Buttrio ltaly}, in the year
5457 (l690. A wrapper is donated to the
synagogue when a child is old enough to
be carried to the synagogue, where he is
taken to the readers desk and presents it
to bind the scroll
Next is Jewish marriage contract
(Kethubah), written on parchment and
illustrated. The Jewish marriage is made
valid by the BRIDEGROOM or kideushiu put
ting ring on the hand of the bride,
saying: behold, thou art welded to
me, according to law of Moses and
Israeli
In the Kethubah or marriage contract.
are recorded the obligations of the hus-
band and the amount of the dowry al
lowed to the bride. The established form
of the Kethubah begins thus: "Under
good auspices with good luck to bride
groom and bride! WhOsoever findeth a
wife, findeth a good thing and obtaineth
favor of the Lord"
The husband promises to love, honor
and provide for his wife. Her dOwry is
fixed by law and is 200 shekeIs. or $50
This contract is dated Rome, 5576-19i6.
The margin IS decorated with various
symbolical figures and contains the lit
urgy OF the wedding ceremony and pass
ages from the Bible and Talmud. Ii re-
fers TO marriage and married life and ar
tisticGlly intertwined in garlands Above
in the center are probably the arms of the
bridegroom, to the right a boy standing
on wheel, boring out the horn of plenty
with the motto, 'All depends on merit
and good luck" To the left, a female
figure with tambourine and the words
welcome TO those nigh and far" To the
right (below) is a female figure holding
two burning hearts, linked together by
chain with the adage "a well-mated
couple is chosen by God" marriages
are made in heaven.) To the left, a fe-
male figure with tambourine with the
words: when prosperity increases he
shall stand by liberal things"
Elijah is represented at the bottom as
cending to heaven in a fiery chariot, his
mantle falling on his disciple and success
scr. This was probably suggested by the
name Of the bridegroom, Elijah Skai, and
the bride, Nasal lob (Fortune) of Castle
NuOvo. The witness as to the contract
are Joshua Gersou AshkenaI and Mich
ael Chayim Megula.
On large plate which forms, as it
were, the altar of the service, are placed
the various emblematic articles of the
ceremOny-a piece of roasted meat, the
bone of a lamb, generally representing
the passion lamb; roasted egg, in mem
DRY of the festal sacrifice offered in the
temple; bitter herbs or horse radish.
concentrating the bitter life Israel
spent in servitude; charasath represent
ing brick clay Ia compound of apples,
syrup and almonds, in which the bitter
herbs are dipped before being eaten)
some lettuce or green herb, as the food of
poverty, and unleaVened bread or mat2os,
is the bread of affiiction which the Israel
ties ate in haste
The inscriptions contain the prayers re-
cited over the cup or kiddush and the en-
tire ceremony performed during the Pass
over meal is represented by the illustra-
ton of the family in the various stages of
the ceremony. A brass lamp is shown,
used at Chanaucka or Feast of Dedica ton
The lamp is probably of Dutch make,
and exhibits an interesting survival of
the ancient Roman lamp.
There is shown curtain Of booth or
tent (succouth) made of linen and silk
with gold threads in the edge, to be hung
up at the edge of the booth. 1t is cele-
brated in remembrance of the wander
ings of the Jews in the wilderness, where
they dwelt in booths or tents. 1t takes
place in September, the 18th day of
Tishri, and continues eight days.
A shOfar or horn, the Oldest form of
Wind instrument known to be in use and
mentioned in the Bible, is shown. 1t is
made of a rams horn and used on Jewish
ceremonies of solemn occasions, especially
on New Years and day of Atonement
1t was used at the PRONUNCIATION of the
law from Mount Sinai, to announce the
new moon, solemn facts and proclaim the
year of release 1t was used occasionally
as a musical instrument aud as signal
for going to battle, for the announcement
OF victory and for the recall of the troops.
Several manuscript copies of the book
of Esther are exhibited and inserted in
case of olive wood, made in Jerusalem.