placed on the right hand of the entrance, and those who are deemed the most devout Israelites, often touch and kiss it as they pass. The synagogue being a house of prayer and not of residence, requires no Mezuza: nor is any to be introduced into a privy or bath.

The virtues of these appendages of devotions and dwelling houses, which have been the subjects of this chapter, are described in the Talmud as transcendently great. Whoever has the Tephillin 'bound to his head and arm, and the Tsitsith 'thrown over his garments, and the Mezuza fixed

on his door-post, is protected from sin for these ' are excellent memorials, and the angels rescue 'him from sin; as it is written: "The angel of 'the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalm xxxiv. 7.'*

* Talmud. Cod. Sabbat. c. xi. apud Hoornbeek contra Jud. L. vii. c. 3. p. 495. Buxtorf. ibid. c. xxxi. p. 582-587. Leo Modena, ibid. P. i. c. 3. s. 2. David Levi, ibid. p. 213.

319

CHAPTER XVIII.

Number required for a Congregation.—Synagogues ;hired, or built.-General Description of them.-Copies of the Law used in them.-Separate Part for Women. -Officers.-Privilege of performing certain Functions sold by Auction.-Rabbies.-Chief Rabbi.-Want of Reverence in Jewish Worship.

TO constitute a congregation for the performance of public worship, requires, according to the decisions of the rabbies, at least ten men who have passed the thirteenth year of their age. In all places in which this or a larger number of Jews can be statedly assembled, they procure a synagogue. For a small congregation they content themselves with a hired room, but where they are numerous they often erect a large and respectable building for the purpose.

They prefer the highest ground that can be obtained in a convenient situation, and suffer no Jew to build a dwelling house in the neighbourhood, of superior or even of equal height. The accommodations are not always equally handsome or plain; but every synagogue is furnished with a suitable number of long forms or benches, generally with backs. Closets and presses are also provided for keeping books and cloaks. Lamps and chandeliers are affixed and suspended in different parts, to give light to the whole. Near the door or doors are placed little boxes, to receive voluntary contributions for the poor.

Wherever the Jews live, they turn their faces, in prayer, towards the land of Canaan. The door, or if there be more than one, the principal door of a synagogue is therefore placed at or near the opposite point of the compass. In this and the neighbouring countries, all structures erected for that purpose are built as nearly east and west as the situation will admit.

At the end opposite to the entrance is a closet or chest, which they call the ark, in allusion to the ark of the covenant in the ancient temple; and in which they deposit the book of the law, used in reading the lessons in the public service. Every copy of the pentateuch for the use of a synagogue is required to be in manuscript. The rabbies have furnished their disciples with numerous rules of transcription, which are required to be most accurately observed, and a failure in any of which frustrates all the labour. It is to be written with ink made of certain prescribed ingredients, in the square character,* without points. It is not to be in the form of modern books, but in a volume or roll, according to the custom of ancient times. The roll consists of long pieces of parchment,

That is, the present Hebrew character, which some learned men believe to be the same that was used by the Israelites from the earliest times. Others of equal reputation, on the contrary, are of opinion, that the character employed by Moses, and continued till the captivity, was what is now called the Samaritan; and that the Chaldee character, having become familiar to the people during their residence in Babylon, was adopted by Ezra on their return to Jerusalem, and has in consequence been retained ever since. Wallon. Proleg. iii. s. 29-33. Prideaux's Connection, P. i. B. 5. Gill's Dissertation on the Antiquity of the Hebrew Language, Letters, &c.

sewed together with thongs cut out of the skin of some clean animal; and is rolled up from both ends, on two wooden staves. For its preservation

it is cased with linen or silk; another silk covering is added as an ornament. The ends of the staves are more or less ornamented, according to the ability of the owner: some are covered with silver in the shape of pomegranates; some have at the top a coronet of silver, to which little bells are appended. To make such a transcript of the law and present it to a synagogue, is deemed a very meritorious service; and the number of them varies, in different congregations, according to the number, wealth, generosity, and reputed sanctity of their members.

Near the middle is a desk or altar, formed by a raised platform surrounded by a wooden rail, and generally large enough to receive several persons, either standing or sitting. From this place, the law is regularly read, and lectures or sermons are sometimes delivered. No benches or seats are admitted between the altar and the ark.

The women are not allowed to mix with the men, but a separate part is allotted to them on the same floor; or, where there is a gallery, it is exclusively appropriated to their use: but, whatever be their station, they are screened from the observation of the men by a wooden lattice.

Every synagogue has a Chassan, or reader and chanter; one or more clerks for the management of pecuniary and other matters; and one or more persons whose duty it is to keep the place clean and in good order, to trim the lamps, light the

Y

candles, open and shut the doors, keep the keys, and attend at all times of prayer. These persons receive salaries out of the public stock of the synagogue to which they belong. There are also wardens appointed; who form a kind of committee of elders, to superintend and direct the financial, eleemosynary, and other general business of the congregation.

Folding and unfolding the Law, bearing it in procession through the synagogue, elevating it on the altar to be seen by all the people present, reading certain lessons on particular days, and other public services, are performed by various Israelites at different times. But each of these functions is accounted a high honour, and whenever it occurs, the privilege of discharging it is put up to public auction, and assigned to the best bidder. One of the clerks of the synagogue acts the part of auctioneer, and the monies arising from these sales are paid into the general stock.*

Individuals who are well versed in the Talmud easily obtain the title of rabbi; which is little more than an honorary distinction among their brethren. In every country or large district, the Jews have an officer, denominated, in some places, a chief or presiding rabbi, and in others, a chacam. He bears a spiritual authority, and, as far as is compatible with the laws of the country,

* In congregations where any of the members are wealthy, five, ten, fifteen, twenty pounds, are common prices on these occasions. I have been informed that, a few years ago, the privilege of reading the book of Jonah on the day of Atonement, in the principal German Synagogue in London, was once purchased for two hundred pounds.