The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-29
TODAY Be CELEBRATE.
Jewish Feast Of Passover VIII Com.
mence This Evening.

nence This Evening.
Al sunset this evening the Jews
of the world will begin the observance
OF the feast of PesSach, or the Pass
over, and the celebration will con-
tinu2 for eight days. Pessach, the
Passover, or, as it is also known, the
Feast of Unleavened Bread, was in
stituted to commemorate the deliver
ance of the Israelites from their
bondage in Egypt and their departure,
under the guidance of Moses, for the
promised land.
During the period OF the Passover
the use of ordinary bread and all leaV-
ened food is strictly prohibited
Matzoth, an unleavened cake. takes
the place of bread on the tables of
all orthodox Hebrews. The matzoth
is prepared by Jewish bakers accord
ing to recipe ages old. Rabbits
usually supervise the baking, in order
to see to it that all the laws connected
Herewith are strictly observed
The use of matzoth as a substitute
that when the Jews left Egypt so
hurriedly that the women had no time
to bake a supply of bread for the
long journey. As result, they had
to take the dough, which they had
prepared, with them, and bake it be-
fore it was leayened. Matzoth is
simply a combination of flour and
water, without any yeast or other
ingredient.
Among the orthodox Jews the fes-
tival beginning today will be strictly
observed for two days, and the last
two days of the feast are also kept
as stringently as the Sabbath, but
the intervening days are not consider
r,IF rs NJ
leavened food must be abStained from.
The observance of the Passover be-
gins this evening with the Seder serv-
ice at the synagogues and in the house
holds. After the formal exercises the
orthodox Jews assemble at home about
the family table, in which Is spread
the roasted shankbone of lamb
which represents the Paschal lamb
offering; dish containing a mixture
OF chopped fruits and nuts. symbolical
of the mortar which the Jews used in
their building operations during their
slavery in Egypt; a cup containing
radish stalks. which are typical of the
bitterness OF the oppression of the
children of Isreal in their bondage.
and cups Of wine, one at each place.
When the family is gathered apour
the table the head of the house opens
the Seder ceremony by reading the
Kiddush, or the Sanctification of the
Festival. All then partake of the
wine, after which the Hagadah. an
account OF the deliverance of the Jews
from their Egyptian oppressors, Is
read The evening meal then pro-
ceeds, after which the orthodox house
holds join in chanting hymns OF
Thanksgiving and praise.
Pessach is the great spring festival
of the Hebrews, as Easter is of the
Christians, but while the latter are
observing Holy Week in memory Of
the great tragedy the Hebrews will be
engaged in praising Jehovah for his
deliverance Of their race from bond.
age IN the dim and misty past.
The first and second nights OF the
Passover period are made the occa.
sion for family gatherings at which
conviviality and mirth are supreme
and the ancient jokes and anecdotes
are retold. Many of these stories
would make the fortune of a writer,
hut very few of them have ever been
printed. but are handed down from
father to son. Probably some OF the
oldest jokes the world has ever
laughed over will be told tonight in
many languages round the paternal
boards of Jewish homes.