The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-21
ANNUAL FEAST
OF PASSOVER
At BETHEL
WILL BE CELEBRATED FOR SEVEN
CONSECUTIVE DAYS - RABBI
BRAv WILL PREACH ToMoR-
ROW ON THE SUBJECT: "THE
VOICE OF GOD"

Beginning this evening at SHUTDOWN,
the passover festival concentrating
the emancipation of the Israelites from
Egyptian bondage will be ceIebrat ted,
and will continue for seven consecu-
tive days.
Services will be held at Temple
Beth-El at o'clock tonight, Rabbi
Brav occupying the pulpit. Special
music will be rendered, the choir con-
sisting of Mrs. Benn, Mrs. Flynn and
Max Heinberg, violinist. At the ser
vices tomorrow morning the Junior
choir. composed of the members of the
Sunday school will chant the service.
At the 10 o'clock service tomorrow
Rabbi Brav will preach on the sub
ject, THE Voice of Cod
A Solemn Feast.
Pesach, the annual Feast of Pass
over, or of Unleavened Bread, will be
like celebrated in Jewish homes and
synagogues throughout the world.
This, the oldest feast of the Jewish
calendar. carries us back well nigh
thirty-three hundred years. The
awakening of spring has its normal
appeal and its practical symbolism to
every primitive people The agricul-
tural aspect of this holiday is seen in
the phrase THAT it 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 con-
sisting of an omer (one-half gallon) of
barley was brought in gratitude to the
Giver of all good.
The historical significance of the fes-
tival has overs Swallowed its agricul-
tural aspect AS the Feast of Freedom
1t commentaries the emancipation of
Israel from Egyptian bondage and his
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 sword unsheathed. The main
characteristic of it's celebration has al
ways been domestic; in the homes the
families and invited friends gather on
the first and second evenings to re-
count in song and story and amid APP
propriate symbolism the deliverance of
Israel. The main symbols of this
Seder Service are the Roasted Lamb
Bone reminding them of the lamb each
Israelite slaughtered as a sacrifice of
the Covenant; second the Matzoth or
UnIeavened Bread to be eaten during
the whole week, recalling not only the
hasty preparation with which they
hurried out of Egypt but also their abb
Solute reliance upon God and readi-
ness to trust to 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 app!ica
ton. Two other symbols of the dec
orations 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 prophet
Elijah, who, always present in spirit,
brought ever anew the message of I'M
dying 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 it teaches the ceaseless lesson
OF gratitude together with an appre-
citation of the higher civic duties and
responsibilities of constitutional lib
erty.