The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-17
Jews TO OBSERVE
. WEEK OF PASSOVER
Il 10 the First Festival Of Emaneipa-
tion in History Of Civilization
and 10 sasco on the
DeIiverance.
sANcT1rY OF FESTIVAL
People Gather In Their Homes and
Solemn Service 10 Hold
Begins on
April II.

Pesach or Passover, begins on MOL
day evening, April II, and is observed
for seven days by Reform and eight
days by. Orthodox congregations.
It is the first festival OF emancipa-
ton in the history Of civilization. Its
is based on the bdbli-
cal narrative which tells how the peo-
pie of Israel enslaved in Egypt were
led from bondage to freedom by the
great leader Moses.
The Passover festival speaks for
the sanctity Of the home as well as for
selfrespect and liberty. The Jews &C.
cordingly assemble In their homes on
this festival, and signalize it by q
solemn service in which the story Of
the ancient struggle for emancipation
is recounted with pious fervor. This
Seder, as 1t is called, is unique In
spirit and form. 1t is earnest and
yet happy. and fits ritual, though
archaic, symbolizes the facts Of hui
man experience IN all conditions OF
life. The roasted bone reminiscent OF
the paschal lamb of the first Pass
over; the bitter herbs calling to mind
the hard labor Of the Israelitish slaves.
the unleavened bread, known as the
bread Of affliction," symbolizes the
hasty departure from Egypt; the
roasted egg, recalling the individual
sacrifice which was offered in the
tempel; the mixture of grated apple,
nuts and wine, suggesting the clay
from which bricks were made by the
enslaved people. and the parsley and
salt water, symbolic of growth and
the fertilizing freshness Of spring. in
vest the domestic ceremony with q
real and forceful meaning. A beauti-
ful and most suggestive part OF the
service is the open door. through
which the messianic prophet Elijah en-
ters every home that night, a splen-
did expression OF the great ideal which
the prophets of Israel announced will
become real some day when men will
cease to hate and begin to do justice.
Must Remove All Leaven.
It is customary to remove all leav-
en- out of the household in prepare
ton for the feast. Leaven Is the sym
boil Of the sordid, and refers to those
who are unemancipated from the com
things. During the feast
only matzoth and not bread, are eat
en-. The distinctive spirit OF the feast
mas expression even III tuo ePcSiio
food.
The Haggadah. the order Of the do
nestle service, read on the night when
the family gathers about the common
table, comprises the narrative OF the
exodus from Egypt, the account OF
the oppression which the ancient
[sraelites endured. and Is not without
Its covert illusions to the pathetic
story OF Israel in the more recent
times in the midst of the unkind ma
tons. The Haggadah also includes a
special group Of psalms (CX1ll-
CXv1II) and a number OF medieval
poems.
The Passover Is the most ancient OF
the Jewish holidays and perhaps the
most ancient of all holidays In the
history OF religion, and no holiday is
20 near to the truth Of human life as
1t Is
The favorite book for reading dur
Ing the Passover week is the Song Of
Songs" It is the most classical song
Of love in canonized literature and is
read on this festival because, accord
ing to the traditional view, it be-
speaks the love between God and
Israel.