The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-21
GREAT JEWISH
 FESTIVAL HERE
The Passover Is Mos1 Important on the
 Jewish Calendar
Services in Local SyndgOgueS Begin Tonight and Con-
 tinue Tomorrow

That greatest of Jewish festivals, the Passover, Or Feast of Unleavened Bread, will begin with the setting of the sun this evening and will be gen. orally observed b ythe Hebrews of this city, in common with their breth- ren throughout the world. The ob- servance will continue for a week, and is in conmeInoratfon of the flight from Egypt and the long and weari Some journey to the Promised Land. In more recent times the Passover has come to have other meanings, for in centuries past it has usually spelled massacre and persecution for the Jews, and their descendants engage in lamentations for the myriad mar tyrs of the races bloody past.
 In most orthodox Jewish households the door will be left open during the Feast of Un1eavened Bread, and this custom had its beginning in the days when Christianity and superstitution, stalking arm in arm, joined in wholesale slaughter of Jews. In the middle ages it was charged by the Christians that the Hebrews often slaughtered gentle babies and used their blood in the preparation of ''matzoth' or unleavened bread. Un- able to defend themselves against their prosecutors, the Jews sought to placate their neighbors by throwing open their doors during the feast, that the Christian might enter and see for himself that his gross and superstiti- ous charge was without foundation American Jews have to some extent discontinued the "open door, custom, but among the late arrivals, especially from Russia, it etiu prevails.
 In the Jewish calendar, today which began at sundown last night Is Erav Pesach. or eve of the Pass over, and all first born male Jews
 
 nanded to undergo a fast, nor par take of any food until sunset this ev- ening, in remembrance of the fact that when Jehovah slew all the first born of Egypt he spared the Jews.
 The name of Feast of Unleavened Bread is applied to the Passover be- cause on the night of departure from Egypt they left in such haste that they had no time to bake their bread. The unleavened dough was removed and baked in that condition, and ever since the orthodox Jews have abstain ed from, eating anything leavened dur ing the entire Passover period.
 The first two days of Passover, be- ginning this evening, will be kept as religiously as the Sabbath, except that cooking and the preparation of food is permitted. During the first day the prgram will include the offering of the prayer. 'TaP' that Jehovah may send the dews of heaven to refresh the fields during the coming Summer. This evening and tomorrw evening the ceremony "Seder" is enacted in all orthodox households. The ban quet begins with the reading of the Hagadah, after which comes the feast of unIeavened bread. The Ta1mud prescrtbes a certain set arrangement fo setting the table for this meal. At the head Is placed the dish containing the ''matzoth'' or un1eavened bread Another dish contains the roasted shank bone of a lamb, and third mixture called 'fharoses, made of chopped apples, nuts and spices. A cup of vinegar, or distilled bitter herbs calls to mind the bitter oppres- sion endured by the Jews in Egypt Each person present drinks four cups of wine during 'Seder."
 Special services will be held in all synagogues every day for week to come and the program will differ lit tie from the ceremonies carried out by the Jews annually for 2, 400 years.
 Rabbi William Wittenstein will con duct a service at the Congregation Is- rael synagogue, Washington Park, this evening at 6:S0 o'clock, and another one at the synagogue tomorrow morn ing at o'clock. Tomorrow afternoon at 5 o'clock Rabbi Wittenstein will de- liver an appropriate Passover sermon and he will also hace a service at 6:30 o'clock. In the evening at 8:3o o'clock he will address the Young Mems Hebrew Association at their rooms, 1116 Main street, delivering an address on the Passover.
 At the Park Avenue Temple there will be appropriate services beginning at 8 o'clock this evening, with Dr. Maurice Thorner in the pulpit Dr. Thorner will speak on the Passover at this service and again at the ser vice at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.