The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-04
.SEDER SERVICE
THURSDAY At
TENPLEBETH-EL
WILL BE CONDUCTED BY PUPILS
OF THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS
SERVICES FOR CLOSING DAY OF
FEAST OF PASSOVER SUNDAY.

Beginning Monday at shutdown, April
LIST, and lasting for one week, Pesach
the annual Feast of Passover or OF
Unleavened Bread, is being celebrated
in Jewish homes and synagogues. This
the oldest feast of the Jewish calen-
dar, carries us back we'll nigh thirty
three hundred years The awakening
OF spring has its normal appeal and
it's practical symbolism to every print
tive people. The agricultural aspect OF
this holiday Is seen In the phrase
That it is to be kept in the season OF
the month of ripening," when the bar
ley sown in winter has become ripe
and when an offering consisting Of an
omer (one-half galloD) of barley was
brought in gratitude to the Giver OF
all good.
The historical significance of the
festival has over Swallowed it's agri-
cultural aspect. At the feast of free
dom 1t commentaries the emancipa-
ton of Israel from Egyptian bondage
and his entrance into the dignity and
destiny Of national life. 1t thus
marks the birth of the Hebrew people
and the first commonwealth. Here
two million people walked forth as
free citizens without a drop of blood
having been split or a sword I'M
sheathed. The main characteristic of
its celebration has always been do
nestle; In the homes the families and
the invited friends gather on the first
and second evenings to recount in
song and story and amid appropriate
symbolism the deliverance of Israel.
The main symbols of this Seder SER
vice are the roasted lamb bone re-
minding them of the lamb each Is
raelite slaughtered as a sacrifice Of
the covenant; second, the mazzah or
unleavened bread to be eaten during
the whole week, recalling not only the
hasty preparation with which they
hurried out of Egypt but also their
absolute reliance upon God and readi-
ness to trust in His leadership of
them; and the bitter herbs suggesting
wildly the bitter life of their fore
fathers in Egypt which, even today,
have not lost their poignant applica-
ton. Two other symbols of the table
decorations ought TO be noted, namely,
the four cups of wine allowed to each
one are strong reminders of the four
fold phrase in which God couched the
first declaration of independence,
and the cup OF wine meant for the
prophet Elijah who, always present in
spirit, brought ever anew the message
of undying hope of the Messianic reign
of universal justice, freedom and peace.
The Feast of the Passover has not lost
its thrilling significance to the modern
Jew. To those still pining in slavery
in Russia and Roumania, it sings the
song of ultimate redemption, while to
those living under the blessed flag of
freedom IL teaches the ceaseless lesson
of gratitude together with an appre
citation of the higher civic duties and
responsibilities of constitutional hb-
erty.
On Thursday evening at O'clock a
Seder service will be conducted by
the pupils of Temple BETHEL religious
school in the school building of the
temple.
Services for the closing day OF the
Feast of Passover will be held at Tenn
pie Beth-E on next Sunday evening
at 1880 O'Clock. and on Monday morn
ing at 10. At the evening service
Rabbi Schwarz will preac hon Free
dom and Faith" and in the morning
on "Springtime Sentiments"