The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-18
HEBREWS CELEBRATING
FEAST OF PASSOVER
Festival Commcrnorating the Rescue
of Their Nation From Bondage
Happy One.
OBSERVED IN ALLJEwIsH HOMES
Brings Wildly TO Mind the Hour of
Their DcIivcrance From the Hand
OF Pharaoh-Specisi Services at All
Synagogucs.

Beginning with the first "seder,'
Jews throughout the world yesterday
evening at O'Clock began the cele-
bration of the Feast of the Passover,
or Pesach. as II is known TO the He
brews. Orthodox Jewish congrega-
lions will observe the celebration for
eight days, while Reform Jews will
celebrate for seven days. Marking
a. Il does, the oldest celebration OF
any race. in memory Of emancipation
from bondage. the rites OF the OBJ
ssrvance are peculiarly sacred. The
Feast of the Passover commemorative
the trials and tribulations of the Jews
while under the Dominion of the Pha-
raohs In the land of Egypt and their
liberation under the guidance OF
Moses.
The Passover speaks for the sane
tity of the home as we'll as for self
respect and liberty. The Jews &C
cordingly assemble In Their homes on
this festival and signalize It by a SOL
emn service. in which the story OF the
ancient struggle for emancipation Ia
recounted with pious fervor. This
1t In earnest and yet happy.
The roasted bone, reminiscent of
the paschal lamb of the first Pass
over; the bitter herbs. calling to mind
the hard labor of the Israelitss In
bondage; the unleavened bread. known
as the bread of affliction,' sym boliz-
ing the hasty departure from Egypt.
the roasted egg, recalling the indi-
yidual sacrifice. which was offered in
the temple: the mixture of grated APP
pie. 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 a
real and forceful meaning. A beau
tifui and most suggestive part of the
service Is the open door, through
which the Messianic prophet, Elijah,
enters every home.
All leaven Is taken out Of the
household in preparation for the feast.
Leaven Ia the symbol of the sordid
and refers to those who are unemau-
cipated During the feast only mat
zoth--unleavened breads eaten.
The HagRadah. the order OF the
domestic service. read on the night
when the family gathers about the
tive OF the exodus from Egypt AMI the
account of the oppression which the
fsraelites endured.
The Passover Is the most ancient Of
The Jewish holidays and one of the
most ancient and strictly observed
holidays in the history Of religion
The fsvorite book for reading dur
ing the Passover week is The Song
CT Songs" II is the most classical
song OF love in canonized literature.
and is read on this festival because.
according to the traditional view, IL
speaks the love between God and
Israel
Nearly all homes In Richmond OBJ
serve the Seder festival Those where
there are not enough present To hold
the festival, as rule. attend the
home of their neighhors, in order that
they may be present at the observ-
ance OF the evening. Orthodox Jews
hold the Seder two nights, while Re
formed Jews conduct the festival on
the first night only
Special serviees will be held In
Beth Aha bah Synagogue this morn!
ing, as we'll as in kenegeth Israel and
Sir Moses MoHteffore Synasogues.