The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-28
PASSOVER IS AT HAND
JEWISH FEAST WILL BEGIN
 NEXT WEDNESDAY.
Season of Thanksgiving Will Be Celebrated by Congregation of Temple Beth-or--Something
 of the Occasion.

Wednesday evening next begins the Passover festival. which lasts seven days, with one holiday at its beginning and one at its end and five intervening half holi- days, and will be celebrated by the Con- gregation of Temple Beth-Orr. Accord ing to the Jewish calendar, it is the eve of the fifteenth day of Nissan, which is the first spring month.
 This feast, 1t appears, was always ob- served in Israel since the days of the exodus from Egypt. In tine closing days of Israers national life 1t was a most popular feast. From all parts the Jews would gather in Jerusalem to celebrate the festival of freedom by bringing as a sacrifice the so-called paschal lamb. Jo- sephus relates that on one Passover, in inc days of Nero, over 25O.O00 families were present in Jerusalem. Though this number Rev. Dr. Adolf Guttmatcher con- siders incorrect, the fact remains that a large multitude of strangers was attract ed on the Passover to the national sanc- tuary year after year.
 The custom of holding spring festi- val to celebrate the revival of the earth s life for the year dates back to the remot- est antiquity of the nations. Scripture makes that spring festival the time of 1sraers redemption from physical bond
 
 tivity. The spiritual significance ofN the feast is the message of freedom and the acknowledgment of Gods rule on earth and the victory of righteousness over the powers of evil. During the existence of the temple every family was enjoined to bring to the sanctuary a lamb, symboli- cal of the feast To-day the family ser vice and meal (seder) on the eve of the Passover has taken the place Of the sac rificial lamb that was eaten roasted by the whole family. During the domestic service the Haggadah CTale) is read and ctanted. This booklet contains the his- tory of Israers trials and redempdQes ana closes with praises in gloriication gof God, who watches over Israel and helps the weak and innocent.
 The unleavened bread and bitter herbs, which were eaten with the paschal lamb and symbolize the bitter experience in Egypt and elsewhere, have been retained, so also the varied symbolism of the hard boiled egg and of a brown mixture Of almonds, apples and nuts, and of dish of salt water, in which the herbs are later dipped. These and four cups of wine prescribed by the ritual form most important part of the common family meal.
 The day is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving. Where the Jew enjoys ib- erty he thanks Providence for the price less boon; where he is still languishing in Egypt he takes courage and is 5uoyed up by the thought that God will help him, even as He helped his ancestors. Fer vently he exclaims year after year the words of that evenings ritual: Though slaves this year. next year we shall be free"
 The Jew on the eve of Passover prays not only for his own freedom, but know ing what it meant to have been the per- secuted of the nations, the butt of bru- tality and bigotry. he prays for all men who are oppressed and are unjustly treatA ed by their fellows, and he longs for the