Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-04-14

The Hebrew colony in Tensas par
ish will on next Tuesday observe the
Feast of the Passover, commence
rstive.of the passing of the homes
of the Israelites when the Angel OF
Death smote the first born in every
Egyptian home. pending Pharaoh's
agreement to let Israel 60. A sketch
of the season follows:
The Jewish Feast of the Passover
falls on the 18th day of Nissan, cor
responding this year with Tuesday,
April IS. The celebration begins on
the evening of April 18th with sun
down. The manner of its observ-
ance was determined largely by the
biblical ordinances concerning this
feast. It is to be observed for Pc
Rod of seven days. Those who cher
ish customs that originated after
Bible times will keep the feast eight
days.
The ceremonials are such as are
calculated to bring home the histor-
ical event which the feast commem-
CRATES, namely, the new born free
dom vouchsafed to Israel after tie
long period of oppression endured
under EgyptiOn tyranny. The eat
ing of unleavened bread is enjoined
number of times in the biblical
regulations touching the observance
of the Passover feast. Unleavened
bread is characterized as the bread
of affiliction," and is also referred
to in the Bible as the bread that was
unleavened because of the enforced
hasty departure from Egypt. In
ost-biblical times the earnest desire
to keep the injunctions most scrup-
ulously led the teachers of Israel to
enact laws, such as the use of spec
ial dishes that have been guarded
from contact with leaven and re-
served only for the Passover season.
A charming and effective feature
in the celebration of the feast is the
special Seder service around the fes-
tive family board on the first even
ing of the feast, 10 which the Ortho-
dox add a second evening. At this
family service special ritual known
as the "Haggadah" is read. This
ritual contains the story of the re-
demption from servitude, certain
reflections inspired by the memories
of old and certain psalms. This is
followed by the festal meal, after
which grace is recited. The service
concludes with the reading of addi-
tional psalms, the recitation of pray
ers and the singing of time-honored
hymns. To this home service strang-
er and homeless are cordially invit.
ed. On the table in front of him
who presides over the meal are
placed objects reminiscent Of the
ancient service and servitude, such
as bitter herbs, reminder of the bit.
ter lot of those who toiled in Egypt
a roast bone, calling to mind the
ancient paschal lamb; a roasted egg
memorial of the free will offering
that was brought in addition to the
paschal lamb; parsley and the bow
of salt water, symboliziDg the hyssoI
and its use in the first Passover OBJ
served in Egypt and a CONNECTION o.
nuts and apples to represent the clay
which Israel worked into bricks.
| The Passover falling at the begin
ming of spring, had originally {
pastoral and agricultural character
which in time was over-shadowed by
the historical event associated late
with the feast. Freedom and its OBJ
legation is the keynote of the cele
bration. The Reform synagogs hole
Especial services only on the first anC
seventh days, while the Othodox oh
serve also the second day and ad
ditional eighth day.