Evening journal., 1912-03-30
FEAST OF
The PASSOVER
Jews Observe Joyous Festival
During Week Begin
ming Monday
COMMEMORATES THE
DELIVERY OF ISRAEL

Beginning on Monday, sundown,
April /, and lasting for one week,
Pesach the annual Feast of Passover
OF OF unleavened Bread win be cele-
brated in Jewish homes and syna-
gogucs. This, the oldest feast of the
Jewish calendar goes back thirty
three hundred years. The awakeing
OF spring has its normal appeal and
its practical symbolism TO every pri-
mitive people. The agricultural aspect
OF this holiday Is seen in the phrase
THAT il is TO be kept in the season
of the Month of Ripenings," when the
barley sown in winter has become
ripe and when an Offering consisting
of an Omer (one-half gallon) of bar
ley was brought in gratitude to the
Giver of all good
The historical significance of the
festival has Over-shadowed its agri-
cultural aspect. As The Feast of
Freedom it commentaries the eman-
cipation OF Israel from Egyptian bon
dage and his entrance into the dignity
and destiny of national life. II 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 hav-
ing been split or a sword unsheathed.
The main characteristic OF its celc-
hration has always been domestic. 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
delivcrance of Israel. The main SYM
bols of this Seder Service are the
Roasted Lamb Bone reminding them
of the lamb each Israelite slaugh-
tered 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 readiness TO
trust in His leadership of them; and
the Bitter Herbs suggesting Vividld
the Bitter Herbs suggesting vividly
Egypt which, even today, have not lost
their poignant application. 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 fourfold
phrase In which God couched the first
~Declaration of independence and
the cup Of wine meant for the pro-
phet Elijah who, always present in
spirit. brought ever anew the mes
sage OF undying hope II the MessianiC
reign of universal Justice, freedom
and peach The Feast OF the passovcl
has not lost its thrilling Significance
~ The modern Jew To those still pin
Inc IN slavery in Russia and Rouma
mia IT sings the song OF ultimate re
6emntion, while 10 those living undel
the flag of freedom IL teaches the
ccaseless lesson OF gratitude together
with an appreciation OF higher civi'
duties and responsibilities Of constitu
tional liberty.
The feast will be ushered in at tn,
Temple Of Truth at o'clock on Sun
day afternoon when Jacob Singer o
Philadelphia will deliver a lectur,
under the auspices OF Wilmington
Lodge I o. p. 3 I'm the evening thu
Temple Of Truth Culture Society will
give its semi-monthly entertainment
The reading. recitations and the musi
cal program will be appropriate TO tn,
Passover The evening will close witt
q play
The Seder or Family service uill b,
observed in the homes Of the Jewisl
race on Monday evening at 6 O'Clock
and services will be held in the Tenn
pie on Tuesday morning at 1913
o'clock.