Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-15
LSRAEL'S PASSOVER 5665
Significance of Domestic Ceremonies SoIemnly
Observed Each Year
Written for The Herald by Rabbi A. W. Edelmsn

neSdayt tne lvtn DAY or April, cOITeS-
ponding with the Jewish date of the
evening of the 14th of Nissan, all those
Israeltes who still adhere to the domes-
tic ceremonies with true Jewish hearts
will celebrate 1sraers Passover $685.,
from the supposed creation of the
world
When Moses was contemplating on
what foundation he should rear a re-
ligious structure for his people of
Israel, that would, like the gigantic
pyramids of Egypt, defy the destruc-
tive elements of time and nature, and
like them, retain their strength and en-
durance he was directed by God ito
tell the children of Israel that before
leaving Egypt they should celebrate a
feast Of domestic reunion and love- at
which the fireslde should be consecrated
to the cultivation of mutual affection
and devotion, to piety, and to divine
worship" then the destroyer" to
whom other nations will fall a pray
"shall spare the house of Israel"
The wondrous history of the people
of Israel is a veriflcation of this prom
Use. The welfare and success of every
nation and race is exactly proportion
ate to the household virtue and at
tachment fostered in its midst. Much,
yes, very much of the present discon-
tent which so often embitters our So
cial life and darkens our horizon is
greatly due to the great neglect of our
household duties. Our societies, club
room, and political unions have been
the means of nipping the sentiments of
our domestic affection and family con-
tentment in the bud; they have chilled
the hearts of the young people, and
brought religion down to the freezing
point.
The Worship Of Mammon
There are many who bow down to
new modes and forms of worship, who
cringe before the earthly idol, Nam
mon, and who at the same time loudly
boast of their emancipation from the
Egyptian chains of servitude. Thus
the chief element in the continuation
of this lack of spiritual freedom Is
spiritual Indifference.
A few of our spiritual guides have
instituted a Sunday service by the side
of our Sabbath worship, and as a result
neither of them are attended as they
should be. The Sabbath is bartered
away, and the Sunday is frisked away.
1t is surely very i'll advised to leave the
old trodden path of sacred religion, for
recover the pristine glory of our race,
and to make the bright star of Jewish
home life again shed its cheering
luster, we must restore religion in our
domestic circle, Nothing will accomp-
lish this result better than a true re-
turn to those blessed ceremonial
practices of which the dear old "Seder"
services are a living illustration.
To my mind, neither the most gifted
teacher in Israel, nor the most eloquent
pulpit orator, ever can, or ever will
exert more wholesome Passover les
son than that which the father ex-
hibits before his family gathered for
home worship, and nothing has ever
made a deeper impression upon the
young and old of our race than the
domestic worship which takes place
during the first two evenings of the
Passover festival.
The ceremony usually called the
"Seder'' is almost as old as history. 1t
is exemplifed by several noteworthy
emblems and tokens exhibited in front
of the master of the house, all of which
emphatically point to that liberty fes-
tival which is so religiously solemnized.
Symbol of UnIeavened Bread
First of these symbols is the ''matzo,"
or unleavened bread, picturing to us
the Lechem Onnee, bread of misery
which our forefathers ate when they
left Egypt on that memorable night
when liberty was born and the lesson
proclaimed that no nation may Cypress
another nation.
Behold the hosts of Israel marching
forth from slavery, carrying with them
the "matzo," the food of nourishment
for that long and tedious journey. 1t
symbolizes that march which the Jew
of history was destined to make. de-
spised and rejected of men. And
throughout that very march, begun
5000 years ago, the Jew has carried to
the ends of the earth that spiritual
food which today supports countless
myriads who worship God. Pagan al
tars are displaced by large places of
worship whose spiritual food is owed
to the despised Jew. Comfort, given
for bruised hearts from the Jewish
psalms, strength for despairing souls
from the inspiration of Jewish prophets.
hope for the future and ideals of
human happiness, all from the Old
Bible, are the spiritual foods that the
Jew has given to the world. And the
world has taken it,; the world loves and
guards 1t. Millions Of men have ac-
| cepted 1t and revere it. States are
built upon 1t; society is ordered by It;
| and civilization deems II Its solid