Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1898-04-05
AN IMPORTANT FESTIVAL IN
THE JEWISH CALENDAR
TO BE UsHERED IN
WEDNESDAY.
1t is in Comm smoration Of the Pass.
ing Over of the Israelites by
the Destroyers

one of the most important feasts of
the Jewish calendar, being, in fact,
the Feast of the Passover, which, in
the Christian dispensation, has been
replaced by Easter, the queen of fes-
rivals, which falls almost contemDo-
raneously with the Passover, CIR ex-
actly speaking, during the Pass
oyer.
In most ancient times, prior to
the exodus of the Hebrews from
Egypt, a feast was observed at
about the same time of year as this
feast of the Passover: that is, in the
spring, says the Arkansas Democrat.
This early festival was in the nature
of thanksgiving, by which the har-
vest opened No one tasted the
grain until the first sheaf had been
presented to jehovah Then all
made haste to enjoy the blessings
by partaking of unleavened cakes,
not waiting to go through the pro-
cess of leavening the bread.
At later date, namely, at the
exodus, new significance was add
ed to this annual spring festival by
its associations with the events lead
ing up to the exodus. According to
the Old Testament narrative the
Jews in Egypt were commanded to
go forth into the wilderness and
sacrifice to Jehovah. Pharaoh will
not allow them to do so. The Egyp-
tians are punished for their hard
hearteduess by sundry plaques. At
last Jehovah Stays the first born in
every Egyptian household. On the
night when the destroyer passes
through the land the houses of the
Israelites are passed over, the blood
of a lamb having been sprinkled up
or the door to mark the habitations
of Israel. The next day Pharaoh
consents to the departure of the
children of Israel on their journey
through the wilderness to the land
of promise. The Egyptians, fearing
that the presence of the Israelites in
their midst will bring further de.
struction. hurry them off so that the
dough of their troughs has not time
to rise, and they eat unleavened
bread.
In commemoration of the passing
over the Israelites by the destroyer
and their subsequent speedy deliver
ance from Egyptian bondage, the
Feast of the Passover, as observed |
from that time, was instituted. By
the divine command. in commemo-
ration of their deliverance from the
on this date, the children
of Israel were commanded to keep
this feast on that date throughout
all generations, by eonsecrating the
first-born of men and cattle to Jeho-
yah, the children of men being re-
deemed and the cattle sacrificed.
Minute directions for the observ
ance of the feast are given in the
Old TIES lament writings, and the
Hebrews have continued to keep the
feast with joy and gladness through
succeeding generations.
Although, of course, the sacrifcial
features of the feast have been done
awayiwith in modern times, the Feast
Of the Passover is observed by the
Jews everywhere, both of the reform
I'd and orthodox branches of Juda-
SIN.
One of the laws governing the OBJ
of the feast is that no leav-
'ned bread shall be eaten during the
seven days following the evening
when the passover, /. e., the paschal
amb. is slain and parsaken of in the {
Jewish households. Hence the feast
S called also the Feast of the I'm
eavened Bread, or rather the week
GLOWING the passover proper is SO !
designated, and is usually included
n the Feast of the Passover.
Wednesday, therefore, being the