The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-13
FEAST OF THE PASSOVER
One of the Important Festivals
of the Jewish Church.
IT WILL BEGIN FRIDAY NIGHT
Extensive Preparations for the
Event Houses Cleaned From GAR
Special Groceries and Wine
Put In store Interesting Services.

The Hebrew Passover, one OF tue most
| important festivals in the Jewish calendar
will begin at sunset Friday with the cele-
| bration of 'SedeT,'' or the Pasciial supper,
4 which is household service observed In
| most Jewish homes OF today Extensive
| preparations are made in all weil-reg-
/ ulated Jewish families for the proper cele-
| bration or the sacred event.
| By Friday the houses will have been thor
oushly cleaned from top 10 bottom, every
bit of Ieaven carefully removed, the
| kitchen and dining-room utensils which
| are used during the year putaway and the
/ dishes which are used only during the
Passover week, brought from their hiding
| places. A weli-seiected stock OF Iesach
| groceries and good wine will have been
| laid in, the great chest, stored with the
| matzos, for use during the week, and the
| family will be in readiness for the festival
Attic mead of the table where the master
| sits there Is large dish, or platter, on
which is placed, first, three Passover cakes,
generally made q little thicker than those
| for Ordinary consumption, and which are
designated mitzyos, which are folded In d
napkin, To designate the three distinctive
classes among the Hebrews namely:
The Cohen descendants of Aaron. who
are priests by right of descent; Levi (de-
scendants of the tribe OF Levi, who have
kept up their tribal genealogy from time
| immemorialD and Israeiites similar dish
contains O Zeroa, or piece of the shoulder
bone of the lamb roasted on the ashes, to
represent the Paschal lamb; also, an egg
roasted in the same way.
In another dish is placed bitter herb,
generally horse-radish, besides d cup Of
salt water, in commemora ton of the bit
terness of the servitude OF their fore
fathers, under the Pharaohs, and a mix
ture Of apples and almonds worked to the
consistency of mortar or paste.
In the center is placed large silver cup,
which is known by the name Of Rose
Shell Aiiyahu Hanev,'' the cup OF Eli JAN
the Prophet. aud the table is otherwise
decorated with siIyerware and floral
ornaments.
In orthodox families the master wears TO
the table ''Kittel," which Is white
linen robe and which is the actual shroad
in which they are to-be buried.
This is donein order TO keep the thought
OF death always before them, even in the
midst of festiyity. II is also done in allI-
son to the passage in the Scripture, which
says: Let they garments always be white >
Every one at the table has a glass OF cup
OF wine placed before him. for, on these
nights (the first and second nights Of the
Passover festival, the orthodox obsery-
ing two nights ana the reforrners only
one) every person at the table is Obliged
to drink four cups OF wine in coIurnenpra-
use of in the Sacred Witt, at the reSIefnp-
ton of the israeIifes from Egypt, namely:
And / brought you out, And 1 deliY-
cred you, And redeemed you" And
took you
The master of the house makes the bless
ing over the wine; then he washes his
hands, Then lettuce, or any Kind of
greens. is dipped in a cup of cold water
upon which blessings are returned To God
for the fnlits of the earth
The master Of the house then breaks
the middle cake in the dish. leaving one
half OF it there, and laying the other half
by until after the meal is concluded
Then all present arise, take hold of the
dish and repeat:
10. this is the bread of affliction. which
our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt
Let all those who are hungry enter and eat
thereof, and al who are Eecessitous come
and seiebrate the Passover. At present,
we celebrate il here, but, the next year,
we hope to celebrate ii in the land OF
Israel. This year we are servants, but,
the next year, we hope to tie fTeenen"
The cup OF wine is then filled, ard the
youngest lad presents repeats the MA
Nislitanah." which is a series of CUES
tions, asking why this nie Ii is distinguished
from all other nights.
Then the whole company recite the Ha-
gandah, service which consists OF a rep
etition of the Biblical account OF the de
parture from Egypt, and in which they
speak of the fufiilment of he promise Of
their fathers, that, though in every age and
generation, people have risen up to ami
hiiate them, the Most Holy, blessed be
He. hath delivered US out of their aands."
After this recital, which generally takes
an hour. the master of the house takes the
remaining half of the middle cake, and
gives ever yone present taste.
The usual grace after meat is then said,
the cups of wine are emptied, and the door
is opened to show the state of security
whieheyery Hebrew feels upon the PASSOVER
night The ceremonies then conclude with
the chanting of Psalms and the singing of
religious hymns, the chorus of which are
generally vociferously shouted by the boys.
Some persons recite at the end what is
called the Had gadya, which is sort of |
rondeau. On the first two nights of the
Passover, the usual night prayers, upon
repairing to bed, are omitted. because God |
is supposed, on the night of the Passover /!
to particularly watch over Israel
There is no Jew SO poor that ne will be |
unable to sit at the table OF plenty, slake |
his thirst with wine, and make OF the entire |
feast eeremony riyalling in impressiyeness |
the feasts of rulers, modern or ancient /
Beautiful, Glossy Hair.