Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-16
FEAST OF PASSOVER.
Greatest Festival Of the Jewish Year
Began Last Night.

on the fourteenth day of the month
at even, is the Lords Passover (Pes'
ach. j" Seven days shalt We eat un-
leayened bread, and no leaven shall.
be found in your house during those
days" The first and seventh days
are holidays set apart for religious
services. On them no work may be
done other than the necessary prepa.
ration Of food Orthodox Jews OBJ
serve an additional day, which makes
the Passover an eight day festival
The first two and the last two day:
are observed as holidays.
Yesterday was the fourteenth OF
Nissan only until sunset. and as Jew.
ish days begin at that time the Pass
over is, properly speaking. the festi'
val of the fifteenth of Nissan.
The orthodox Jewish families are
busy several days before Passover in
cleaning the cooking utensils ant
tableware used at the feast. Or
Tuesday night the head of each
household made a formal search fol-
traces of leaven. At the seder (sup.
PERI or Passover, service last night
the various details of the ancient us
age is observed, except the eating d
the lamb. This is, however. symbol
lied by a bone of roasted lamb, which
appears on one of the dishes. The
breaking and eating of the matzoth
or cakes of unleavened bread takes it;
place.
The synagogue services were short
as always on this night, because thu
subsequent family meal and home
service, the seder service, where tht
head of the family is the priest, is ex
ceedingly beautiful. The unique sup
per is interviewer with prayers an(
benedictions made at every stage.
Seder night is perhaps the mos
hallowed of Jewish observances, ant
the one that is ever recalled with tn,
greatest delight. Father, mother ant
children are participants in the ser
vice. Although a meal, it is also {
religious rite. The family table is a!
sacred as was the altar in the tenn
ple,' says a rabbinic teaching There
is the unusual meal and the hagga
dab, or story of the wondrous deiv
erance from Egynt, together with tn,
hymns, thanksgivings, Inscriptions o.
praise and benedictions from begin
ming to endzof the repast.
The first born son has already fast
ed throughout the day. This Is knowI
as the fast of the first born. And now
the feast comes. The mother of thu
household kindles all the lights, fol
the seder feast calls for a rich illum
nation to mark its joyous character
The word seder means order" .ol
arrangement" and refers TO the or
der or arrangement of the meal. On
the table are the three cakes Of un,
leavened bread, covered with nap
kin; the roasted bone of a lamb, bit
ter herbs and cup of wine placed
at each plate, and other dishes. When
all are seated the master lifts up thu
wine-cup and says: Praised art thou
o Lord our God, ruler of the univer Sc
who hast created the must of the wine
to gladden. the hearts of men" Thi.
Is the kiddush, or the benediction.
Thanksgiving for the festival ant
other blessings follow and each one
present. drinks the first cup of wine
A hymn is sometimes sung. Parsley
lettuce or watercress is distributed
each person on eating it saying {
Thanksgiving for the fruits of thu
earth. The middle one of the three
unleavened cakes is broken. The
dish containing it. is raised and an
other prayer offered over the breal oI
aflliction. the prayer. concluding with
a petition for the speedy freeing anC
restoration of the whole house Of
Israel.
The wine cups are filled a secont
time. and the youngest person--usual
ly a male child-asks: why is thi!
night distinguished from all Dthel
nights. and what is the meaning o.
this service?" The head of the house
hold answers with the story OF op
preston in Egypt, the deliyeranct
and the exodus. The leader and thu
family join in repeating the Day
emu" WHAT'S the meaning of Pes
ach?" is next asked. II is answered
and followed by a further question
respecting matzoth (unleavened
bread. and by another concerning
marar (the bitter herbsD to each o.
which an answer is given. The1
comes the responsive reading of some
OF the Hallel psalms Psalms 113 and
11S.) A piece of the broken matzoth
is eaten after an appropriate benedic
ton. Bitter herbs are partaken Of
with another benediction. Then each
drinks his or her second cup of wine
after similar benediction TO thai
over the first cup. There is nor,
eating of matzoth and bitter herb!
with further prayers and then the
main meal is served.
Grace is said after the meal. and
il is followed by prayer for tn,
household and its members. The
wine cups are filled a third time
Seder service thus falls into tw.
parts. that which precedes nj
that which follows the principal meal
The meal on every Sabbath evening
and on every festival is preceded and
followed by the cup of wine accom-
panied by the benediction or kiddash
To mark the more joyful character oI
this greatest Of Jewish festivals two
other cups of wine are added. and
thus happy evening is spent.
Passover falls at full moon. which
this year comes on Thursday. ths
first DAY OF the festival. The Christ
ian Easter generally comes on Ihs
Sunday following the full moon, s,
this year II will be next Sunday. ii
should be mentioned that the frs
day OF Passover never falls on Mon