378 CHAPTER XXI. Festivals and Fasts.-Feast of New-Moon.-Feast of Passover.-Thirty-third of Omer.-Feast of Pentecost. -Fast 17 Tamuz.-Fast 9 Ab.-Feast of New-Year. -Fast of Gedaliah.-Fast of Atonement.-Feast of Tabernacles.-Hosanna Rabba.- Feast of Joy of the Law. -Feast of Dedication.- Fast of the Tenth Month. -Fast of Esther.-Feast of Purim. SEVERAL of the Festivals and one of the Fasts, enumerated in the contents of this Chapter, were commanded by the law of Moses, and others are of later institution. In the celebration of those of divine appointment, modern Jews will be found to have departed considerably from the ancient ritual. It is not my design to specify their omissions, alterations, and additions, but to confine myself to a general and brief account of their present observances. THE FEAST OF THE NEW-MOON is held every month, on the first day, or on the first and second days* of the month. The women are obliged to suspend all servile work, but the men are not required to interrupt their secular employments. The celebration of this festival consists chiefly in good eating and drinking, the rehearsal of some psalms and other portions of scripture, and the repetition of some additional prayers.† At present,' says a * See the reason assigned for this, p. 364, 365. + Leo Modena, ibid. P. iii. c. 1. s. 3, 4. Jewish writer, 'not having the advantage of our ' temple service, instead of offering up the sacrifices proper to this solemnity, we read those sections ' of scripture which enjoin the observation of this 'feast; which practice obtains in relation to all 'the rest of our Feasts and Fasts that were com'manded to be solemnized by the offering of special sacrifices.'* These recitals they persuade themselves will be as acceptable to Jehovah as the sacrifices themselves could be if duly offered according to the divine command.† On the first Saturday evening in the month, if the moon is then visible, or on the first evening after, when the sky is bright enough to have a clear view of her, the Jews assemble in the open air, for what is called "the consecration of the "new-moon:" when some grave rabbi pronounces the following benediction, in which he is joined by all the company. Blessed art thou, O Lord, ' our God, king of the universe! who with his 'word created the heavens, and all their host with 'the breath of his mouth. A decree and appointed 'time he gave them, that they should not deviate 'from their charge: they rejoice and are glad 'when performing the will of their Creator. Their Maker is true and his works are true. He also ' ordained that the moon should monthly renew 'her crown of glory; for those who have been tenderly carried from the womb are also here * Abendana, ibid. p. 183. + See quotations in p. 116, 117. ) This is intended to describe the Israelites. The expression is borrowed from Isaiah xlvi. 3. 'after to be renewed like her, to glorify their 'Creator for the glorious name of his kingdom. 'Blessed art thou, O Lord, who renewest the 'months. Then, addressing the moon, they say three times Blessed be thy Former! Blessed be 'thy Maker! Blessed be thy Possessor! Blessed 'be thy Creator!' Then they raise themselves up, or jump, three times, and say—' As I attempt 'to leap towards thee, but cannot touch thee, so may those who attempt to injure me be unable to 'reach me.' Then they say three times-May 'fear and dread fall upon them; by the greatness ' of thine arm may they be still as a stone. Still ' as a stone may they be, by the greatness of thine "arm; may fear and dread fall on them.+ David 'king of Israel liveth and existeth.' Then each says to the company- Peace be to you.' mutually answer― Unto you be peace.' I They THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER commences on the fifteenth day of the month Nisan, and continues, with Jews who live in or near Jerusalem, seven days; and with those in all other places, eight days. The sabbath preceding the Passover is called the great sabbath. On that day the rabbi of each synagogue delivers a lecture, explaining the various ✦ Abendana, ibid. p. 174. David Levi, ibid. p. 24. 98-100. Leo Modena, ibid. P. iii. c. 1. s. 5. + Buxtorf says that these petitions are directed against the Christians. Synag. Jud. c. xxii. p. 476. This is entitled a Blessing, said at the sight of the New-Moon. German and Polish Jews' Prayer Book, p. 109, 110. Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Prayer Book, p. 176, 177. David Levi calls it, • The Prayer for the New-Moon.' Ibid. p. 98. regulations necessary to be observed on the approaching festival.-During the whole time, they are required to abstain from leavened bread, and to suffer no leaven in their habitations.-On the thirteenth day of the month, in the evening, the most careful and minute inquisition is made by the master of each family through every part of his house, in order to clear it of leavened bread and every other particle of leaven. All that can be found is collected together in a vessel, carefully preserved during the night, and, together with the vessel in which it is deposited, is solemnly burnt a little before noon the next day.-No vessels are to be used that have had any leaven in them, and therefore the kitchen utensils used at other times are to be put away, and their places supplied by new ones, or by some that are kept from one Passover to another, and never used but on that occasion. For the same reason the kitchen tables and chairs, shelves and cupboards, undergo a thorough purgation, first with hot water, and then with cold. After the burning of the leaven, they make unleavened cakes, as many as will be wanted during the festival, to supply the place of common bread. Among other directions which regulate the preparation of the grain from which they are made, the meal is to be boulted in the presence of a Jew; and the dough is not to be left a moment without working or kneading, lest any fermentation should take place. The cakes are commonly round, thin, and full of little holes; and in general they consist of flour and water only; but the more wealthy and dainty Jews enrich them with eggs and sugar: cakes so made, however, are not to be eaten on the first day of the festival.-They are forbidden to drink any liquor made from grain, or that has passed through the process of fermentation. Their drink is either pure water, or raisin wine prepared by themselves. On the fourteenth day of the month, the firstborn son of each family is required to fast, in remembrance of the protection enjoyed by the firstborn of Israel, when God smote all the first-born of the Egyptians. In the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, the men assemble in the synagogue, to usher in the festival by prayers and other offices prescribed in their ritual; during which, the women are occupied at home in laying and decorating the tables against their return. It is customary for every Jew to honour this festival by an exhibition of the most sumptuous furniture he can afford. The table is covered with a clean linen cloth, on which are placed several plates or dishes. On one is laid the shank bone of a shoulder of lamb, or kid, but generally lamb, and an egg; on another three cakes, carefully wrapped in two napkins; on a third, some lettuce, chervil, parsley, and celery, wild succory or horseradish. These are their bitter herbs. Near the sallad is placed a cruet of vinegar, and some salt and water. They have also a dish representing the bricks required to be made by their forefathers in Egypt. This is a thick paste composed of apples, almonds, nuts, and figs, dressed in wine and seasoned with |
