The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-04-08
HOME SERVICE
TO USHER IN
JEWISH FEAST
Passover To Be Observed
Over Entire World on
Wednesday

An elaborate home ceremony
known as the Seder, will usher in
the Jewish Passover Wednesday eve
ming at. sunset. The festival is one
Of cycle Of three which are desig-
mated in the Bible as pilgrim Fes-
tivals," on which all males were in
a pilgrimage to the HOLY City. Ac-
cording to the Bible, Passover is to
be kept for seven days, but orthodox
Jews in the lands Of the diaspora OBJ
serve it for eight days. The Jews
of Palestine, however, strictly follow
the ordinance Of the Bible.
In ancient times Passover had an
agricultural significance, marking
the very beginning of the harvest
season. Since post-exilic days, how
ever, Passover has largely lost its
agricultural meaning and it has come
to be primarily the great Festival Of
Freedom, concentrating that great
event in lsrael's history when IL cast
off the chains of Egyptian slavery
and became free and independent
people. Passover then may we'll be
spoken Of as Israel's birthday.
1t is this story Of liberation which
is told in great detail at the Seder
service. A special feast is served at
the home in which all the members
and friends of the family partici-
pate. Strangers, too, are invited,
since it is an ancient Jewish ira
dition that none shall suffer want
on this great night. The feast is
rich in symbolisms, all Of which are
explained by the head of the family
from special ritual prepared for
that eve, known as the "Haggadah."
In this ritual the entire story Of the
ancient liberation is explained in an
interesting manner.
The Book Of Exodus lays stress up
on the necessity Of relating the story
of the Exodus to the children. This
idea is carefully carried out in the
Haggadah which has been designed
with the purpose of interesting the
children in the Seder service. At the
beginning Of the ceremony the young
est son asks four traditional ques-
tions relative to the mode Of observ-
ance of the festival. The rest of the
Haggadah is practically an answer to
! these four questions. This is done
in quaint and charming manner,
the ritual being filled with anec-
dotes and fanciful tales.
pulous about the observance of Pass
over, since this festival has brought
home to him the unique purpose Of
his distinctive existence. When
! Moses sought the liberation Of the
lsraelites he, speaking in the name
of God, proclaimed to Pharaoh: "Let
My people go that they may serve
Mel" Israel was to cease being a
servant of men in order that he might
become the servant Of God. Liberty,
according to Judaism, implies re-
sponsibility. The Jew in Egypt was
unable to devote his life to the SER
vice Of God, but this cannot be said
of the Jew Of today who is free to
discharge his mission in the world.
Moreover, Passover also brought
hope and cheer to the heart of the
Jew throughout the ages. 1t taught
him that just as God freed the en-
shaved Israelites from Egypt, He
will bring freedom and salvation to
the Jews of all benighted lands, and
to oppressed nations everywhere.
The leaders Of Jewry are very anx-
ious that the message of Passover,
which is so strikingly brought home
through the Seder ceremony, should
reach the Jew of today. Since there
are Jews who do not always find it
possible to have Seder service at
their homes, the tendency in modern
Jewish communities is to arrange
public Seders in which several hun
dred people often participate.
Just like on all other festive occa-
sions, special Passover services are
held at all Synagogues. Passover,
however, is primarily home festi-
val. Jewish homes are especially
renovated for this occasion, and un-
leavened bread is used during the en-
tire week. This "bread of afflic-
tion," which is made of only flour
and water, is reminiscent of the time
when the Israelites, being driven out
from Egypt, had no time to bake
bread and they had to be satisfied
with this improvised form Of food.