The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-12

IS supposed to keep the spirits of the dead
from working in the other world. On the
Sabbath everything these Jews eat must
be cold and they generally prepare fish in
a certain way that is a favorite dish with
nearly all OF them.
QUEER CHARACTERS
II a person is looking for queer char
acters he cannot do better than go through
this district There is one peculiar old man
who is over eighty years old and who has
kept a grocery store in this street for more
than twenty years. He is native Of Rus
STA and at one time in his career was quite
well off. but since coming to this country
has lost what money he had Another
character that attracts attention is Mrs.
Kavanaugh, an old Irish woman. who at
one time was the only gentle in the neigh
borhood. IN truth she has lived here so
long that she has taken on many Of the
ways Of the Jews. The strangest Of these
people. however, is a man who buys old
stoves and mas his yard filed with every
kind OF stove that is manufactured. His
children very nearly equal the number of
his stoves.
The interior of the houses Of these old
orthodox Jews presents a most unique
appearance. While they are not as orderly
set OF hOusekeepers as they might be,
there is a cleanliness about everything
that one would not suspect at first glance.
in every one Of these houses there is tin
box nailed on each door which contains a
folded manuscript called a meZuseth. This
IS supposed to keep all evil spirits away
from the house and to bring good fortune
10 those within. Another noticeable thing
are the two sets of dishes. One is for the
meat, while the other is used for milk.
Their religion provides that these two sets
OF dishes shall never come in contact with
each other Their names imply how they
must be used and in eating everything that
contains milk must be eaten first. while
everything pertaining TO meat must fol-
low. Also these sets must be washed
separately and in different water. The
only reason given for this custom is, as
one old man explained. They darsent, so
they dare not
The most singular occupation INDUCED in
by the Eddy-street Jews is that Of running
a matrimonial agency which is conducted
by what they call matchmaker" 1t is
this persons business, as any one can easily
guess, to bring about marriages. When
ever the matchmaker sees a rather likely
looking young man who does not seem able
To find himself a wife he sets about do
thinks is the most suitable for the young
man he interviews both parties and the
final arrangements are then made, the
matchmaker receiving a commission from
the brides dowry and the groom likewise
paying something. In one instance in this
community a marriage was brought about
within two hours after the interested
parties had first met
PROUD OF THE RABBI.
The man whom everyone on Eddy street
Is proud Of is Rabbi Rivkind. and one rea-
son for this is that every city is not for
tunate enough TO have a rabbi. Most cities
have instead of a rabbi a preacher or
singer, whose duty it is to sing the services,
sometimes assisted by a choir. and when
he reaches the most important passages of
the Scripture they are repeated by the con-
gregatfon, each one endeayoring to make
himself heard. In consequence there is a
great babble while the services are going
on. To these orthodox Jews the rabbits
word is law. He must perform all marriage
ceremonies, which are much other mar
-riagA0nDsmonies. except that the rabbi re-
cites a prayer over a glass of wine. which
the bride touches to her lips; then the
groom takes a SIP and passes it again to
the bride, who in turn passes it back to
the groom, who breaks the glass for good
luck. 1t is also the duty of the rabbi to
grant all divorces, and the only peculiar
thing in this ceremony is that If a woman's
hu~band dies she must be divorced from
him before she can marry again, otherwise
abe is required to marry her brother-in-
law, unless he releases her from this obliga-
ton. The rabbi also hold church at
any time he wishes so long as there are
81,
nar to a quorum at gentle meeting. In
the old countries rabbi has charge of a
canton. and, of course. his authority great
~ exceeds that of a rabbi in this country
because ne cannot conflict with the civil
authorities here. So about all he do in
America is to revoke the license of the
preachers and killers. the men who slaugh-
ter the cattle. and interpret religious laws.
The most weird scene enacted Eddy
street Is the rites over the dead AS soon
as one OF family dies the remaining mem
bers go through a mourning ceremony last
ing seven days. This service consists OF
sitting on the floor on pillows from sunrise
until sunset. None of the family during
this time performs any kind OF labor and
their food is brought to them. These
mourners are visited every day by nine
men. who so through regular prayer with
them for the welfare Of the dead in the
next world. Every morning for year after
this prayer is kept up by the family and
the same nine men at the church. and on
each anniversary of the death the same
services are said, but they are only con-
tinued for a day.
Fortunate is the Jewish immigrant who
lands stranded in this quarter of the city.
For these poor Jews believe in charity. and
the way in which they collect money to
aid a brother in distress is to appoint some
one to go from house to house with a
handkerchief, which he opens without say
ing a word, and the donor hands over as
much as he feels able to give, and the
collector closes the handkerchief and goes
on. In this way large sums are collected
for the unfortunate.
WON'T KEEP STILL.