Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-10-20
ANCIENT JUDAISM.

ANCIENT JUDAISM.
Temple Ohab Sholem, Brooklyn, sew
eral Sundays ago was the scene of one
of those peculiar rites for which ancient
Judaism was noted and which modern
Judaism is happily exempt OF. Abra,
ham SiIberstein came to America, leav-
ing his wife, Betsy Rikish, in Russia.
He died. His younger brother, Hilel
Silberstein, is happily married, yet in
accordance with the ultra orthodox
rites the Chalitze was invoked.
The rite of Chalitzais founded on the
Mosaic law, and its oh ervance among
the orthodox goes back to time be-
yond existing records. According to
this law, when married man d es
without issue his wife is compelled To
90 to his brother, if he has one living,
and offer to become his wife. Ifthere
is more than one brother she offers htr
self TO the one who is next below her
dead husband in age.
The brother can refuse to take the
widow to wife, in which case her Cha
litza, or freedom to marry whomsoever
she pleases, is given to her. Without
such refusal she can marry only the
brother. The law makes no discrimina-
ton between married and unmarried
brothers. and in the Mosaic code q sec
ond marriage under such circumstances
was not regarded as bigamy.
The original purpose of this law was
to make provision for the support of a
woman whose husband had died with
out leaving children on whom she
might lean for sustenance. But with
the lapse of time the custom has
become more prerogative of the
brother.
The New York Sun is describing
the peculiar ceremonial, says of the
widow
Her family was an extremely ortho-
dox one, which has counted several
rabbis among its members, and she will
not consider for moment the alterna-
tive of relaxing her religious principles
and marrying without first obtaining
her Chalitz>.
She had formed an attachment for a
wealthy railroad contractor, and as
Sllberstein could not come to her she
decided that trip to America would
be necessary to secure the Chalitza.
Rabbi Wistinetzsky, in the presence
of an immense congregation, presided.
The ceremony lasted over an hour, not
"a sound being uttered by any of the
spectators, as talking is prohibited ex
cept by the interested parties.
The venerable rabbi entered first,
bearing huge and age-stained Tai
mud, together with a parchment scroll,
on which were the questions to be
asked of the applicant. Behind him
were the members of the congregation,
followed by Betsy Rikish and Silber-
stein.
The interior of the temple was de-
void of any decoration. On the rail Of
the pulpit, were three large black can
dies burning, and at one side big
board covered with black cloth was
fastened in an upright position.
This was the board upon which the
dead of the congregation are laid and
bathed according to the Jewish rites
before the burial ceremonies can be
performed. The black candles were
also suggestive of funeral. In a
sense the dead mans brother was to
represent him in setting his widow
free to marry again.
Another detail of the preparation s
was bucket of water, which had been
provided in Difference to superstition
which is held by many Hebrews in con-
nection with the Chalitza ceremony.
They believe that the person who vets
his or her head with the water after
the completion of the rite will live
longer than any one else present.
When all was ready, Rabbi Wistin-
etzsky arose and read from the Talmud
the portion relating to Chalitza. Then
Silberstein's shoe and sock were re-
moved from his right foot by the rabbi,
whose assistant carefully pared the toe
nails, and bathed the foot in holy wa
ter, wiping it with linen towel. A
shoe was then produced which had
been especially made for the occasion.
1t was composed entirely of soft leather
very nearly white in color. All the
stitches which held it together were
made with leather thongs. It. was
laced up the front and at the top WI 8
provided with long strips of leather,
half an inch wide.
The rabbi took the shoe and placed
if OF Silberstein's bare foot. He laced
it up and bound the thongs of leather
about the leg, knotting them securely in
eleven places. The man was then made
to stand up with his back to the black
covered board. -.
In deep, sonorous tones, the rabbi
now spoke in Hebrew
SIS the woman widow and without
children9n he asked.
"I an, o rabbi,n she replied"
The two witnesses were questioned
perfunctorily on this point and corrob.
Grated the applicant. Turning toward
the brother-in-law, the rabbi asked:
''Hilel Silberstein, do you wish to
marry this woman ?"
II do not he answered.
''Why not ?"
"The laws of this country forbid that
| should take two wives"
will you then give this woma
Cha}itza ?''
"If she desires it, o, Rabbi, 1 will do
sc ~
do you Betsy Rikish,n asked the
Rabbi, wish to gain Chalitza 2n
81 do," she answered, "for wish to
marry again"