Evening journal., 1910-04-20
PASSOVER FEAST
STARTS SATURDAY
Commentaries DeIiVeranCe Of
Hebrews From Egyptian
Bondage

Jewish residents are preparing to usher
in the festival of the Passover, which
commences next Saturday evening and
will last for eight days. The holiday
comes a little later than usual this year.
due to the fact that this was a leap year
m the Jewish calendar. with Ia months
instead OF H.
The Feast OF Matzoh. or Passover. COM
memorates the redemption OF the Chill
dren OF Israel from bondage under the
leadership OF Moses TO found a new home
in the Land Of Canaan. The distinguish
ing feature that marks the celebration r.
the total abstinence from leavon and the
eating OF unleavencd waters, called mat
zoh. i'm remembrance OF tho unleavened
bread which the Israeites made during
their hasty departure from Pharoah's s
land The holiday is observed in such a
rigorous manner that scrupulous care Is
taken to remove an leaven bread and an
entirely new set Of disl%s and household
utcnsile ls used during the week.
a quaint and unique proceeding prelim-
mary TO the holiday occurs on tho even
/ ing preceding the feast. when the father
/ OF the house makes tho round OF the
rooms and by the light OF a candle.
brushes together with a small feather
into "a spoon or dish crumbs of bread or
other leaven from the corners OF window
/ sills mantelpieces or other places These
! crumbs are specially placed IN these
I places by the housewife as an indication
that the only leavenod bread In tho house
[ is In a place where it can be easily
/ found The crumbs. feathers. spoons and
an are burned tho next morning. az which
/ time the eght-day bread fast begins.
Tho feature which brings much Joy into
/ the hearts OF the little ones during the
/ festival is the "Soder." or "home serv-
/ ice" - is hold ON the first two even
| iugs The Reformed Hebrews observe the
"Seder' only one evening. Seated about
( the table are all the members Of tho
! household. aud many come from afar ia
/ Join their family and friends in tho fes-
! tiyities OF "Seder night Indeed. To many
| families the night Is a grand reunion.
/ The scene is inspiring. for az the head
OF the table sits the father Of the house
hold upon n cushion dressed in white
| shroud. according TO tho custom Of free
men in the orient. and relates the fas-
cinating and evor-interestlng story OF tho
fight or tho children or Israel from
Egypt while the remaining members OF
the family follow tho talo as told ir
books called "rhe lIagodath
Amorsa Of grated horsorOdish or
other bitter sunerlngs and pangs whicl
their forcfathers endured during thoh
bondage n Egypt The herb ls dipnc,
into concoction or nuts cinnamon an,
vino. symholizing in color with tho ella,
bricks the Hebrews made. However th
"Scder" Is purely a Joyous occasion. n
stranger is turned away from Jcwis'
homo ON "Sedcr' night The feast Is FOL
lowed 10y tho singing of quaint traditions
folklore songs. to the delight Of the littl
children. and the remembrance Of
"Seder' night TO Jewish child is nov,
eradicated from its memory.
Tho first two and last two days
Passover arc holy days and work is rei
orally obstaiued from. while tho fot
days between arc holidays and woi
s permitted ON the second day OF Pas
over the counting Of Omer commenc,
IN an ~ days are counted and on q
hftieth day the Feast Of the Weeks D
gins The six weeks between Passov
and the Feast Of Weeks constitute n
Jewish Lonten season, time or sadne
ands PRAYER. which chaructcrzes.
period bitter IN the history OF the n,
brew'.