Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-09
FEAST OF PASSOVER
HEBREWS TO CELEBRATE
CHURCH Anniversary.

Beginning at sunset this evening the sew
eral Hebrew congregations in Washington
will enter upon the celebration of the
Feast of the Passover. the feast to continue
seven days. This is one OF the most in
teresting occasions in the Hebrew calendar.
being celebrated In commemoration of the
delivery of the children of Israel from
slavery in Egypt In the days OF Pharaoh.
Special services are held in both the re-
formed and orthodox synagogues, and Of
ferings Of thanks are made in both for
the relief from the bondage which was
their lot for SO many years.
The members of the Washington Hebrew
Congregation viii hold their first passover
service In the Eighth Street Temple at
o'clock this evening. 1t will be of short
duration and without preaching. The main
service will be held at 10 O'clock tomorrow
morning. at which Rev. Abram Simon win
preach. his topic being up From Egypt"
A public seder meeting will be held at
the temple at 7:30 tomorrow evening, under
the auspices of the Ladies Auxiliary So
cfety, In connection with the Sabbath school
committee 1t Is expected that more than
two hundred children will be In attendance.
They will be seated about tables, to con-
tfnue the domestic idea Rev. Abram
Simon will lead the service. while DR.. Wal
ter, the organist. and Rev. Louis Stern
will have charge of the music. The public
The closing ceremonies 9 fthe week was
take place Sunday evening at o'clock
and next Monday morning at 10 o'clock.
Adas Israel Program.
At the Adas Israel Synagogue, 9th and G
streets northwest, there will be solemn
passover service at sunset this evening at
which Rabbi Julius T. Loeb Will preside,
and another impressive service at $50
o'clock tomorrow morning, to be followed
by other meetings during the week.
Rev. Abram Simon said to a Star re-
porter today that the Passover celebration
Is devoted to the Idea of freedom, and re-
fers to the bondage of the children of Is
rael in Egypt $500 years ago. 1t Is in the
nature of domestic holiday, and the even
ms services are of a domestic character.
The good people gather In their homes"
he added, g and hold what are known as
'setier.'
The Passover Is celebrated for seven days.
beginning with what Is known in the He
brew calendar as the 10th day of Nissan.
The first and seventh days are particularly
consecrated to memorial exercises in ac-
cordance with Biblical doctrines. During
the seven days the people use only unleav-
ened bread and abstain from all leavened
food of any kind.
First Day in Homes.
The first day is celebrated in the homes,
and is generally the occasion of family re-
unions. When all the members of the
household are gathered about the festive
board the head of the family explains to
all present the significance of the celebra-
ton and the exodus of the Hebrews from
Egypt. Special prayers are offered and
thank offerings made by the entire
household. The symbolic significance OF
the various articles on the festive board
are explained to the younger generations
the roasted shankbone stands for the pas
chal lamb, the scrambled egg for the hoii-
day sacrifice, which Is taken into the tenn
pie; the mixture of scraped apple and wine
with a brownish color stands for the NOR
tar from which the Israelites made bricks
In Egypt, and the horseradish on account
of its pungent taste, stands for the vile
nesses and hardships which the Hebrews
underwent during the period of slavery.
The feast derives it's name Passover
largely from the fact that the first-born in
each Egyptian home was slain, while the
homes of the Israelites were passed over by
the destroying angel.