The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-03-31
This Will be Feast Of the Passover
and viii be Observed for Eight
Days by the Orthodox of
the Faith.
AGRICULTURAL FESTIVAL
Historical Feature Of the Holiday
Comes from the Exodus Of the
Jews from III
Egypt


known as Pesach, or Passover, be-
gins this year on Friday evening,
April Q. 1t ends on Saturday, April
10, among Jewish families adhering
strictly to tradition, while more lib
Eeral Jews conclude the feast on
April 8.
Passover was originally an agricul-
tural festival. In common with other
agricultural feasts, it has been dis
ISOLATED somewhat from it's original
nature worship and identified with
an historical event and a spiritual
meaning.
Falling in the spring of the year,
it lent itself to the spirit OF JOY and
rejuvenation incident to the awaken
ing of nature from the frigid subJu-
CATION of winter. Thus converted
into a symbol of liberty and freedom,
it signifies escape from tyranny and
bondage.
The historical event associated
| with the Passover is the chief ele-
ment in its Importance and slgnlfl-
canoe The exodus of the ancient
| Hebrews from Egypt is connected
with the Passover. In Exodus l2:l4-2s
the children of Israel are enjoined
to observe the feast Of unleavened
bread throughout every generation
on account Of the hasty flight OF
their ancestors from the slavery OF
! the taskmaster and oppressor This
! marvellous escape from the bondage
which had prevented them from en-
joying their birthright of freedom
and characterization is commemo'
| d.. cnn1hrafinn
Ritual Of Passover.
In the ritual of Passover, called
! the 'Haggadah,' which has been
evolved from the historical origin OF
! the festival on the one hand. and It's
more remote and primitive origin as
an agricultural and pastoral festival
ON the other. there is preserved a
| recital of the events commemorated
| 1t also abounds with songs Of thanks
! giving in celebration of liberty anc
/ freedom. The elaborate symbolism
i employed in celebrating the feast
kberokens spirit of JOY and thanks
giving for the wondrous deliverance
! of the Hebrews from the tyranny OF
old and from oppression at all time
! During the darkest era of oppression.
Passover restored confidence in the
Jew and a firm belief in the final TT
umph of liberty over persecution,
oppression and bigotry.
During the Passover week jewish
families eat the unleavened bread.
matZoth, which is one OF seVeral
symbols employed in the celebration
of the festival to emphasize its les
son. The matzoth is also known as
the "bread of affliction" and is 4 me
mortal of the hasty flight OF the
Hebrews from Egypt.
r. The Passover is inaugurated with
a beautiful home ceremony in which
all members of the family partici-
pate. This home service is called
the "Seder." The Haggadah, espe.
cially prepared for the celebration or
Seder is used by Jewish families IN
the home. The ritual recites the
events Of the exodus and by means
of quaint songs and stories awakens
within the soul OF old and young
love of liberty, and strengthens faith
through recognition OF the WONDERFUL
power of regeneration manifested oy
israel throughout it's long career.
The ceremony includes meal at
which the various articles OF food
symbolic servitude, and salvation,
tyranny and freedom, bitterness and
JOY.
observed in a spirit Of gladness,
the spring festival of liberty has
been a means of renewing the faith
of the Jew in God and man and has
inspired him to trust confidently in
the final escape OF all mankind from
bondage. ---...