Evening journal., 1909-04-06
CELEBRATING
THE PASSOVER
Historic Festival COmmem-
crates Sparing OF He
brews in Egypt
UNLEAVENED BREAD
WILL BE CONSUMED

The Passover, which was ushered in
by Hebrews last evening. will last for
eight days, but only the first two days
and the last two days are especially
observed. On these days all syna-
gogues have special services.
The Passover was instituted to- COM
memorate the sparing of the Hebrews
in Egypt. when God, shifting the first
born Of the Egyptians. passed over the
house of the Israelites. which we're
marked with the blood of the lamb. At
the same time the feast of the un-
ieavened bread is observed TO COM
memorate the deliverance of the Jews
from bondage under Pharoah in Egypt.
From the aesthetic point of view. the
feast OF the unleavened bread is by
far the leading Jewish holiday. The
tables are set with all the ornaments
available. The chair Of each member
Of the family is provided with gay
colored cushion, on which the feaster
leans during the evening ceremony. In
the background hangings and other
ornaments are arranged in keeping
with the scheme of decorations.
Eldest Son Speaks.
While the members Of the household
are at the table amid such surround
ings, the eldest son Of the family asks
his parent in Hebrew whereupon the
night Of the Passover was distinguish
ed from all other nights in four par
ticulars-as to the kind OF food, man
ner Of sitting and the like.
On the first two nights, which are
observed with special ceremony, every
person at the table is obliged to drink
four glasses OF wine in commemora-
tion OF the four different expressions
made us of at their redemption front
Egypt.
Another feature Of the holiday is the
eating of unleavened bread, which SOL
emnizes the fact. that when the chill
dren of Israel hastened out of Egypt
they took their dough before II was
leavened and bound the kneading
trough on their shoulders. on the
evening preceding the Passover the
master Of every family searches after
the leavened bread in every place
where 1t is usually kept and gathers
it all up.
Still another characteristic of the OBJ
servance is the eating of the bitter
herbs to signify that the Hebrews have
not yet forgotten that the Egyptians
embittered the lives Of their ancestors
with bondage.
During the holiday it is customary
to allow even the lowly Hebrew serv-
ant TO sit at the table during the cere-
monial celebration, for. as the Hebrews
were equal in bondage. they deem II
proper that all should join in thanks
to the Lord for the redemption.
Story Of the Exodus.
According 10 the story told I'm "Exo-
dus," the King of Egypt. who feared
the increasing power Of the Hebrews.
decreed that all male infants be put
20 death Shortly after Moses. who was
destined to become the deliver Of the
Jews, was born. his mother placed hin
in an lark in the bullrushes" and
abandoned him to fortune on the
water. He was later found by Phar.
oah's daughter, who reared him.
The Kings wrath was kindled against
the Jews when he discovered that
Moses was bent on delivering his peo-
pie. and he increased their burdens
Signifying His disapproval of the harsl
treatment, the Lord afflicted Pharoaf
and the Egyptians viii all manner of
plaques. Pharoah then allowed tho
Jews TO depart from the realm. Blu
his heart was again hardened, and hC
pursued the Jewish host TO the Rec
Sea. Moses led the Israelites over II
safety, but the water closed in on thu
pursuing Egyptians and drowned many
Of them.