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Every one was therefore expected to send his contribution before the
1st of Nisan. On the 1st of Adar proclamations were made
throughout the country that the half-shekel was due. 58 Hence the
custom to read the above-named sections on the Sabbath before the
1st of Adar, or on the 1st, if this happens to be on a Sabbath.

2. ‫“‏שבת זכור‬Sabbath Remember” is the Sabbath on which the

paragraph concerning the enmity of Amalek is read from the
Pentateuch (Deut. xxv. 17–19), and the defeat of Amalek by King
Saul from the Prophets (I Sam. xv.). The Agagite Haman, one of the
principal figures in the history of Purim, is believed to be a
descendant of Agag, king of Amalek (ibid. ver. 8). And as the Law
commands us to remember the hostilities of Amalek against Israel, it
has been found appropriate to read the above sections on the
Sabbath before Purim.

3. ‫‏שבת פרה‬‎“The Sabbath of the Red Heifer,” i.e., the Sabbath on

which the law concerning the sacrifice of the red heifer and the
purification with its ashes is read from the Pentateuch (Num. xix.),
and “the future purification of Israel” (Ezek. xxxvi. 17–38) from the
Prophets. It is the Sabbath after Purim, or, when the 15th or 16th of
Adar falls on Saturday, the second Sabbath after Purim. All Israelites
had [371]to come to the Temple, and to offer the Passover-lamb on
the 14th of Nisan, and this could not be done by any unclean person.
By the reading of the above sections, all are, as it were, reminded to
take the necessary steps for their purification, and thus prepare
themselves for the celebration of Passover.

4. ‫‏שבת החדש‬‎“The Sabbath of ha-chodesh,” i.e., the Sabbath before

the 1st of Nisan, or on the 1st of Nisan if it falls on a Saturday, on
which the law that fixes Nisan as the first month 59 and the
commandment concerning Passover are read from the Pentateuch
(Exod. xii. 1–20), and the description of the sacrifices of the 1st of
Nisan, Passover, and other Festivals in the future Temple from the
Prophets (Ezek. xlv. 16–xlvi. 18).

In addition to these four Sabbaths, the Sabbath preceding Passover

is to be mentioned. It is not distinguished by any special lesson from
the Pentateuch, but it has nevertheless received the title “the Great
Sabbath,” ‫‏שבת הגדול‬‎60 on account of the importance of [372]the
approaching Festival. The last part of Malachi (iii. 4–24) is read as
the haphtarah of the day, in which the ultimate triumph of the God-
fearing is described by the Prophet.

‫‏פסח‬‎Passover.

Passover is the first of the Three Feasts, and is kept eight days, from
the 15th of Nisan to the 22nd; the four middle days being half-Holy-
days, called chol ha-moëd (“the week-days of the festival”).

The name Pesach, “Passover,” 61 reminds us of the way in which the

Israelites enjoyed the Divine protection before they left Egypt.
Pharaoh, king of Egypt, kept the Israelites as slaves, and when
asked in the name of God to let them go, refused to obey. But the
ten plagues which consecutively afflicted his land without causing
injury to the Israelites taught [373]him the existence of a higher
Power, to whose decrees the will of earthly rulers has to submit. It
was especially the tenth plague, the slaying of the first-born, that
convinced the king and his people of this truth. When the Lord smote
all the first-born in the land of Egypt, “he passed over the houses of
the children of Israel” (Exod. xii. 27).

The Feast has a second name, viz., “feast of unleavened bread,” ‫‏חג‬
‫המצות‬‎, a name derived from the commandment to eat ‫‏מצה‬‎
“unleavened bread,” instead of the ordinary ‫‏חמץ‬‎“leavened bread,”
during the Festival. The purpose of this commandment is to
commemorate the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt as well as
the mode of their actual departure. For when the tenth plague, the
slaying of the first-born, had visited the Egyptians, they were
overcome with fear, and urged the Israelites at once to leave the
country. The Israelites therefore left Egypt hurriedly, [374]and had no
time for preparing the ordinary “leavened bread,” and baked for
themselves unleavened cakes (‫‏מצות‬‎) of the dough which they had
made.

Passover thus commemorates two distinct moments in the

deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, viz. (1) the
special protection which the Almighty granted them in Egypt, and (2)
their departure from the house of bondage.

Two distinct observances, therefore, were ordained for the Feast of

Passover, viz. (1) the sacrifice of the Passover-lamb, and (2) the
eating of “unleavened bread” and the abstaining from “leavened
bread.”

1. The Passover-lamb.—A short time before their departure from

Egypt the Israelites were commanded by the Almighty that on the
tenth of the first month every family should procure a lamb, keep it
four days, 62 kill it in the afternoon of the fourteenth, sprinkle of its
blood on the “lintel and the two door-posts,” and “eat in the evening
the meat roast in fire, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, in
haste, their loins girded, their shoes on their feet and their staff in
their hand” (Exod. xii. 3–11). Whatever the material benefit was
which the Israelites, in the moment of starting for a long and
uncertain journey, derived from the meal prepared and partaken of in
this manner, there was a higher purpose in the Divine
commandment; it was [375]demanded that the lamb should be “a
passover sacrifice unto the Lord” (ibid.). The proceedings should be
an expression of faith in God, 63 and of gratitude to Him for His
protection. Every house should thus form a place holy unto the Lord;
an altar, as it were, on which the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled.

The Passover sacrifice first observed in Egypt was afterwards

ordained as a permanent institution (ibid. ver. 24). This difference,
however, was observed, that the Passover-lamb, like all sacrifices,
had to be brought to the Sanctuary, to “the place which the Lord
chose to place his name in” (Deut. xvi. 6). All who were prevented
from performing their duty on the 14th of Nisan were allowed to offer
the Passover on the 14th of the second month (Iyar). By way of
distinction from the sacrifice on the first date, this offering was called
“the second passover” (‫‏פסח שני‬‎, 64 Num. ix. 9–14). Since the
destruction of the Temple all sacrificial service has been
discontinued, and in accordance with the words, “We will
compensate with our lips for the bullocks” (Hos. xiv. 3), prayers and
recitals from [376]the Bible have taken the place of sacrifices, whilst
psalms and hymns are added such as used to accompany the act of
offering sacrifices. The Passover sacrifice has therefore been
discontinued; but the law of eating unleavened bread and bitter
herbs is still observed.

2. The Unleavened Bread.—“Seven days shall ye eat unleavened

bread; even the first day ye shall have put away leaven out of your
houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until
the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel” (Exod. xii. 15).
“Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no
leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven
seen with thee in all thy quarters” (ibid. xiii. 7). “Seven days shall
there no leaven be found in your houses” (ibid. xii. 19). The
distinction between leavened and unleavened only applies to bread
or any other form of food prepared out of any of the following five
kinds of grain: barley, wheat, rye, oats, and spelt. Bread or cake
prepared from any of these five kinds is called unleavened bread, or
‫‏מצה‬‎, if the dough is baked immediately after it has been prepared, no
time being left for fermentation. 65 It is not only forbidden during the
[377]Festival to eat leavened bread, but it is not permitted to derive
any benefit whatsoever from it. 66 All leaven and leavened bread
must be removed before Passover comes in; and in accordance with
the traditional interpretation of the precept, “Thou shalt not offer the
blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread” (ibid. xxiii. 18), the leaven
must be removed before the time in which the Passover was
offered. 67

The law forbidding ‫‏חמץ‬‎“leavened bread,” to be kept in the house

during Passover is frequently and most emphatically repeated in the
Torah. Jews have therefore, as a rule, been very conscientious and
zealous in the fulfilment of this Divine command. In accordance with
this law, the following observances have been ordained:—

(1.) ‫‏בדיקת חמץ‬‎“the searching for leavened bread” on the eve of the
14th of Nisan. 68 The head of the family, or his deputy, examines his
residence thoroughly, and keeps the chamets, which he has found,
in a safe place till the next morning. This searching, like every other
performance of a religious duty, is preceded by a blessing, viz., ‫‏ברוך‬
‫… אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על ביעור חמץ‬‎“Blessed art thou … who hast
sanctified us by thy [378]commandments, and hast commanded us
concerning the removal of the leavened bread.” 69

(2.) ‫‏ביעור חמץ‬‎, “the removal or the destruction of chamets.” All the
chamets that is left after the first meal on the 14th of Nisan must be
removed, i.e., sold or given as a present to a non-Israelite, or
destroyed. In addition to the actual removal or destruction of
chamets, a solemn declaration is made by the head of the family,
that if any chamets should be left in his house without his
knowledge, he would not claim it as his. The object of this
declaration is to free the master of the house from all responsibility in
case any chamets should be found on his premises, contrary to the
Law. 70

(3.) Utensils which have been used for chamets are put away, and
replaced by new ones, or by such as have exclusively been kept for
Passover. Some vessels used during the year may be used for
Passover, after having undergone a certain process called kasher; 71
i.e., “fitting” them as vessels for use on Passover. [379]

(4.) Although the articles of food that are directly forbidden as

chamets are very few, there are a great many things that contain an
admixture of chamets, and those “who fear the word of the Lord” use
during Passover only those articles of food concerning which there is
no doubt whatever that they are perfectly free from chamets. Articles
of food for Passover are therefore only bought of persons who can
be trusted to hold these observances in respect.

In addition to the commandments of the Passover-offering and the

unleavened bread, there is a special duty, mentioned four times in
the Pentateuch, for the Israelite to relate to his children the history of
the departure from Egypt, and to explain to them the meaning of the
several rites connected with the celebration of Passover. This duty is
called haggadah, “relating,” and a service has been arranged for the
purpose, called Seder, “the Order.” The first two evenings of
Passover are therefore called “Seder-evenings,” and the book which
contains this Service is generally called Haggadah.

The Seder-service contains four elements: (1) the relation of the

deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt; (2) the festive meal,
preceded by Kiddush and the partaking of bitter herbs and
unleavened bread, and followed by Grace; (3) Hallel and other
hymns; (4) the partaking of four cups of wine (arba kosoth). 72 [380]
The head of the family or his substitute who reads the Service has
before him on the table: (1) three unleavened cakes (matsoth); 73 (2)
bitter herbs and [381]other vegetables; 74 (3) salt water, in which the
vegetables (karpas) are dipped before they are eaten, and
charoseth, a mixture of apples, almonds, various spices, especially
cinnamon, and wine, in which mixture the bitter herbs are dipped; 75
(4) a bone with some meat on it and an egg, 76 both roasted.

The order of the Service is indicated in most [382]editions of the

Haggadah in rhymed Hebrew as follows:—

‎.‫ מוציא מָצ ה‬. ‫ מגיד רַח ץ‬. ‫ כרפס יַח ץ‬. ‫‏קדש ורַח ץ‬
‎‫ הלל נרָצ ה׃‬. ‫ צפון בֵר ְך‬. ‫ מרור כֵר ְך‬. ‫‏שלחן עֵר ְך‬

The following is the explanation of these lines:—

1. ‫‏קדש‬‎Say Kiddush. See above, page 379.

2. ‫‏רחץ‬‎“Wash,” scil., your hands.—Only the head of the family does

so at this part of the Service. 77

3. ‫‏כרפס‬‎“Vegetables.” A piece of parsley or salad or bitter herb is

dipped in salt water, and eaten after the recitation of the blessing:
‫‏ברוך … בורא פרי האדמה‬‎“Blessed art thou … who hast created the
fruit of the ground.” 78

4. ‫‏יחץ‬‎“He divides.” Of the three matsoth before him, the head of the
family breaks the middle one, part of which is laid aside, to be eaten
at the end of the meal. 79

5. ‫‏מגיד‬‎“Relating,” 80 scil., the history of the departure [383]from Egypt.

The reader, pointing to the broken ‫‏מצה‬‎before him, exclaims, “Such
was the bread of poverty which our forefathers ate in the land of
Egypt;” as if to say, “We are all alike descendants of those who ate
the bread of poverty in Egypt.” In the same sense, the reader
continues, “We all alike should rejoice in the kindnesses shown by
the Almighty to our nation, and all alike should seek and find true
comfort in the hope of the Messianic blessing promised by Him for
the future.” 81 One of the company, usually the youngest, puts to the
reader four questions, as formulated in the paragraph beginning ‫‏מה‬
‫נשתנה‬‎“Why is different?” 82 Additions and alterations may, of course,
be made by the inquirer according to his knowledge and intellect.
The object of these questions is to obtain an explanation of the rites
that distinguish this evening from others. In answer to these
questions, the reader refers to the past history of Israel in three
different forms, 83 viz.:—

(1.) The first answer begins, ‫‏עבדים היינו‬‎, “We were [384]slaves;” and
ends, ‫‏בשעה שיש מצה ומרור מונחים לפניך‬‎“When unleavened bread and
bitter herbs lie before thee.” Here the reader restricts himself, without
any comment, to the one fact that our forefathers were at first slaves
in Egypt, and were then delivered, and illustrates the duty of
speaking that night more fully concerning the departure from Egypt,
by precedent, by the authority of the Mishnah, and by the Midrashic
interpretation of the law commanding us to tell our children this
event.

(2.) The second form of the answer begins, ‫‏מתחלה עבדי עבודה זרה היו‬
‫אבתינו‬‎“Our forefathers were at first worshippers of idols,” and ends,
‫‏מצילנו מידם‬‎“delivers us out of their hand.” Here the exodus from
Egypt is described as the fulfilment of the promise made by God to
Abraham, that his descendants would be delivered out of the hands
of their oppressors.

(3.) The passage from Deut. xxvi. 5–8 is recited with its Midrashic
interpretations, 84 and in conclusion all the benefits received by the
Israelites from the [385]departure from Egypt till the building of the
Temple are enumerated, and our duty of gratitude is shown.
In all these three forms no notice has been taken of the particular
questions. Rabban Gamaliel insists that this should be done, and a
section is therefore added, containing the explanation why the
Passover-offering, the unleavened bread, and the bitter herbs were
to be eaten; this, like the three other sections, concludes with the
emphatic declaration that we—after so many generations—are still
bound to praise and to thank God for the benefits bestowed upon our
nation so long ago. Hereupon follows the Hallel, of which the first two
paragraphs, containing special reference to the departure from
Egypt, are sung before supper; the first part of the Seder-Service
concludes with a blessing, in which we praise God for our past
deliverance and pray for the approach of our future redemption.

6. ‫‏רחץ‬‎“Washing.” All those who partake of the meal wash their

hands, as is ordinarily done before meals.

7. ‫‏מוציא מצה‬‎. Two pieces of ‫‏מצה‬‎are taken; one piece, broken off the
whole cake, representing the bread eaten at ordinary meals for ‫‏מוציא‬‎,
and the other piece taken from the broken one, representing the ‫‏מצה‬‎
we are commanded to eat on the Seder-night. Before eating the two
pieces two blessings are recited ‫‏ברוך … המוציא לחם מן הארץ‬‎“Blessed
art thou … who bringest forth bread from the earth,” and ‫‏ברוך … אשר‬
‫קדשנו ּּּ על אכילת מצה‬‎“Blessed art thou … who hast sanctified us by
Thy commandments and hast commanded us to eat ‫‏מצה‬‎.” 85 [386]

8. ‫‏מרור‬‎“Bitter herb.” Bitter herbs dipped in charoseth are eaten, after

the following blessing has been recited ‫‏ברוך … אשר קדשנו … על אכילת‬
‫מרור‬‎“Blessed art thou … who hast sanctified us by thy
commandments and hast commanded us to eat bitter herbs.”

9. ‫‏כורך‬‎“Combining;” scil., unleavened bread and bitter herbs; these

are eaten together, just as formerly, in the time of the Temple, Hillel
used to eat together meat of the Passover-offering, unleavened
bread, and bitter herbs (Exod. xii. 8; Num. ix. 11).
10. ‫‏שלחן עורך‬‎“Table laid.” The evening meal is taken.

11. ‫‏צפון‬‎“Laid aside.” The meal is concluded with a piece of the half
matsah that has been laid aside at the beginning of the Service. It is
called afikuman, “dessert.” 86 [387]

12. ‫‏ברך‬‎“Say grace.” 87

13. ‫‏הלל‬‎“Hallel.”—The rest of Hallel is sung, followed by Ps. cxxxvi.,

and the whole of ‫‏נשמת‬‎with the concluding blessing.—The fourth cup
of wine is then taken, and the usual prayer after the partaking of
wine is recited.

14. ‫‏נרצה‬‎“Completed.” 88—The Seder-Service is [388]completed; it

concludes with a prayer for the rebuilding of the Temple and the
restoration of Israel to Zion. The prayer seems to have been
originally the conclusion of a Piyyut or liturgical poem on the
Passover Sacrifice.

The Haggadah contains, besides, several hymns and songs, of

which the following are found in the ordinary editions of the work:—

1. ‫‏ויהי בחצי הלילה‬‎“And it was in the middle of the night.” The author
reflects on the various marvellous events in our history that
happened in the night-time.

2. ‫‏ואמרתם זבח פסח‬‎“And ye shall say, It is a sacrifice of Passover.” A

song referring to wonderful events which, according to Tradition, took
place on Passover.

3. ‫‏כי לו נאה‬‎“To him praise is seemly.” A praise of God as the only

Being worthy to be called King and Ruler.

4. ‫‏אדיר הוא‬‎“He is mighty.” A praise of God, and an expression of

hope that He will soon rebuild the Temple.
5. ‫‏אחד מי יודע‬‎“One, who knows?” A popular song enumerating
persons and objects in Jewish History and Tradition, as well as in
Nature according to numbers up to thirteen, with the object of
emphasising the Unity of God.

6. ‫‏חד גדיא‬‎“One kid.” A popular song that illustrates the working of

Divine Justice in the history of mankind.

Passover as an agricultural feast was kept “in the season of the

month of ripeness” (‫‏למועד חדש האביב‬‎), [389]when the barley sown in
the winter had become ripe. On the second day of Passover an
offering was brought of “the beginning of the harvest;” it consisted of
an omer 89 of barley (Lev. xxiii. 9 sqq.). Before this offering was
presented it was not allowed to eat of the new corn (ibid. 14).

From the bringing of the Omer to “the harvest feast” the days are
counted, viz., forty-nine days, and the fiftieth day is the feast of
harvest (‫‏חג הקציר‬‎), or “the day of the first-fruit offering” (‫‏יום הבכורים‬‎).

The counting commences on the second evening. It is done either

immediately after Maarib, or later on during the Seder-Service; it is
preceded by the following blessing: ‫‏ברוך … אשר קדשנו … על ספירת‬
‫העומר‬‎“Blessed art thou … who hast sanctified us by thy
commandments and hast commanded us … to count the days of the
Omer.” The following is the way of counting: ‫‏היום יום … לעומר‬‎“This
day is the first day since the Omer.” From seven upward the number
of weeks is likewise expressed, 90 ‫‏היום יום … שהם … שבועות … לעומר‬‎
“This day completes … that is … weeks … since the offering of the
Omer.”
The celebration of Passover serves to inculcate into our hearts the
first principle of our faith: the existence of God, the Supreme Being
who rules the whole universe, in whose hand are the destinies of
kings and peoples, whose power was recognised by the Egyptians
when they were punished for their misdeeds, [390]and whose might
was seen by the Israelites when He divided the Red Sea for them,
and fulfilled the Divine promise made to the patriarchs, Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob.

The season of Passover, in which we celebrate our liberation from

earthly taskmasters, is called ‫‏זמן חרותנו‬‎“The season of our freedom.”
The deliverance from Egypt, the first step leading to the fulfilment of
the promise, “And I will take you unto me for a people,” has been
poetically conceived as the betrothal of Israel to God, and in the
Piyyut for Passover ample use has been made of this idea. It has
further found expression in the custom of reading the Song of
Solomon on the first Sabbath after the first two days of Passover,
and by some also on the Seder-evening after the conclusion of the
ordinary Service.

The Service is, in general outline, the same as on Sabbath. It

consists of Maarib, Shacharith, Musaph, and Minchah. The Morning-
Service includes Hallel, the reading of the Law, and Lessons from
the Prophets (‫‏קריאת התורה‬‎and ‫‏הפטרה‬‎). The following sections,
containing description of, or reference to, Passover or to the
departure from Egypt, are read consecutively on the eight days:
Exod. xii. 21–51, on the Passover celebrated by the Israelites in
Egypt; Lev. xxii. 26 to xxiii. 44, on “the seasons of the Lord;” Exod.
xiii., xxii. 24 to xxiii. 19, and xxxiv. 1–26: Num. ix. 1–14, on the
second Passover; Exod. xiii. 17–xv. 26, the crossing of the Red Sea;
Deut. xv. 19 (on Sabbath, xiv. 22) to xvi. 17 contains laws referring to
the three Festivals. On Sabbath chol-ha-moëd, Exod. xxxiii. 12 to
xxxiv. 26.—In addition to these sections [391]verses from Num.
xxviii.–xxix., referring to the sacrifices prescribed for each day of the
Festival, are read from a second sefer.

The Lessons from the Prophets are the following:—Josh. v.

(preceded in the German Ritual by iii. 5–7), on the first Passover
kept by the Israelites in Palestine; 2 Kings xxiii. 1–9 and 21–25, on
the Passover celebrated in the days of King Josiah; 2 Sam. xxii., the
song of David after deliverance from his enemies, a parallel to the
Song of Moses; Isa. x. 32—xii., on the defeat of Sennacherib, and
the blessings of the Messianic days. According to Tradition the
defeat of Sennacherib took place on Passover; moreover, the
celebration of the deliverance from Egypt suggests the reflection on
the final Redemption of Israel. The Lesson from the Prophets chosen
for Sabbath chol-ha-moëd is taken from Ez. xxxvi. 1–14. The prophet
sees in a vision how the dry bones of the dead are awakened to
fresh life by the Will and the Spirit of the Lord: a precious lesson for
us, designed to strengthen our hope of a revival of every good and
noble idea, though for the present it be dormant within us. Nature
around us awakening to fresh life in the spring supplies a parallel to
the vision of Hezekiel.

The Machzor (lit. Cycle) or Prayer-book for the Holy-days contains

numerous additions to the ordinary prayers. They are called
Piyyutim, and vary according to the custom and the taste of the
congregation. The Piyyut added in the second paragraph of the
Musaph-amidah on the first day of Passover is called tal, “dew,” or
prayer for dew; the rain season having come to an end, we [392]pray
that the vegetation may, during the hot season, be refreshed by the
regular descent of the dew. The praise for “sending down rain” in the
same paragraph, viz., ‫‏משיב הרוח ומוריד הגשם‬‎, “Thou causest the wind
to blow and the rain to fall,” is discontinued after the shacharith
prayer of the first day of Passover. In the Portuguese Ritual the
words ‫‏מוריד הטל‬‎, “Thou causest the dew to fall,” are introduced
instead.

Similarly, there is an additional prayer for rain (‫‏גשם‬‎) in the Musaf of

Shemini-atsereth. The time chosen for these prayers is in
accordance with the meteorological conditions of Palestine. This
custom, however, does not exclude the addition of prayers for rain or
dew, according to the needs of the country in which we live.

The Days of the Counting of the Omer, ‫‏ימי הספירה‬‎

The period from Passover to the Feast of Weeks is full of sad

memories of massacres of Jews that took place in the days of the
Crusades; also of the miseries that befell the Jews in Palestine in the
days of the Emperor Hadrian. During the month of Iyar, the Jews
abstain from rejoicings and weddings, 91 with the exception of the
18th of the month, which is the 33rd of the Omer, because,
according to Tradition, a plague that had raged among the disciples
of Rabbi Akiba ceased on that day. The 18th of Iyar, ‫‏ל״ג בעומר‬‎is
therefore called “the scholars’ festival.” [393]

The Feast of Weeks, ‫‏שבועות‬‎

The Feast of Weeks is celebrated on the fiftieth day 92 of the Omer

(Lev. xxiii. 16); i.e., the 6th of Sivan. It is, in the first place, “the feast
of harvest,” ‫‏חג הקציר‬‎(Exod. xxiii. 16), especially of the wheat, and
“the day of the first-fruit offering,” ‫‏יום הבכורים‬‎(Num. xxviii. 26). The
first sacrifice of the new corn was offered: “the bread of the first-fruit,”
which was to serve as an expression of gratitude for the blessing of
the harvest. In the absence of sacrifices in our days, the custom
widely prevails of adorning the Synagogue and the home with plants
and flowers, in order that the sight of these beautiful objects might
awaken and strengthen feelings of gratitude toward the Almighty for
His loving-kindness. Each one of the plants and flowers reveals a
special form of the Creator’s wisdom, power, and goodness.—The
feast is called Feast of Weeks, ‫‏חג השבעות‬‎(Deut. xvi. 10), on account
of the completion of the seven weeks counted from the day of the
Omer.

The Feast of Weeks, the 6th and the 7th of Sivan, commemorates
also an historical event: the Law-giving on Mount Sinai. It is therefore
called “the season of the giving of our Law,” ‫‏זמן מתן תורתנו‬‎.

As Passover has been poetically called the day of Israel’s betrothal

to God, the Feast of Weeks would [394]correspond to the wedding-
day, and the counting of the Omer does thus not only connect two
harvest-feasts, but represents the longing of the bride for the day of
her complete happiness; i.e., the longing of the Israelites for the
Divine Revelation, which was to complete the work of their
deliverance from Egypt.

The celebration of the Feast of Weeks thus involves the second

principle of our faith: ‫‏תורה מן השמים‬‎“The belief in the Divine origin of
the Law,” or “Divine Revelation.”

On the first day we read Exod. xix.–xx., the account of the Law-
giving on Mount Sinai, and Ez. i., the first vision of the prophet
Ezekiel, in which the glory of God is revealed to him. On the second
day Deut. xv. 19 (on Sabbath, xiv. 22) to xvi. 17; and Hab. iii., “the
prayer of Habakkuk,” in reference to God’s Revelation as the Ruler
of the universe.—There is also the custom to read the Book of Ruth,
which contains the account of Ruth’s embracing the true faith, and a
description of the harvest and the treatment of the poor in the
harvest-season.
There is a custom among some of our brethren to employ the first
night of the Feast in preparing themselves for the coming celebration
of the giving of the Law. The greater part of the night is spent in
reading passages from the Scriptures and from the Talmudical
books. 93 The custom has its basis in the preparation commanded by
God to be made during “the three days of bordering” (‫‏שלשת ימי‬
‫הגבלה‬‎) which preceded the Law-giving (Exod. xix. 10–12). [395]

The Feast of Tabernacles, ‫‏סכות‬‎

“The fifteenth day of this seventh month (Tishri) shall be the Feast of
Tabernacles (‫‏סכות‬‎) for seven days unto the Lord” (Lev. xxiii. 34). The
name has its explanation in the commandment, “Ye shall dwell in
booths seven days” (ibid. 42); “that your generations may know that I
made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them
out of the land of Egypt” (ver. 43). We are thus commanded to
commemorate the travelling of the Israelites through the wilderness.
They dwelt in tents, that gave them shelter to some extent; but
without the Divine protection this shelter would have proved
insufficient. Of this twofold shelter and protection we are reminded
by the tabernacle in which the Law commands us to dwell during the
Festival.

In fulfilment of this commandment we make booths (‫‏סכות‬‎). The chief

difference between a booth and an ordinary house consists in the
mode and in the material employed for roofing the two structures.
For the succah must not be covered with fixed boards and beams or
with canvas, but with detached branches of trees, plants, flowers,
and leaves, in such a manner that the covering is not quite
impenetrable to wind and rain, or starlight. During the Festival the
succah is our dwelling-house, in which we take our meals, study,
receive our friends, and, if possible, enjoy rest and sleep. If, on
account of the severity of the climate, the constant dwelling in the
succah threatens to prove injurious to our health, we content
ourselves with taking our meals in the succah. Before each meal
[396]we recite the blessing ‫‏ברוך … אשר קדשנו … לישב בסוכה‬‎“Blessed
art thou … who hast sanctified us by thy commandments and hast
commanded us to dwell in the booth.” The first time we are in the
succah we add the blessing, ‫‏שהחינו‬‎(p. 358).

The Festival is, secondly, called “the Feast of Ingathering,” ‫‏חג האסיף‬‎.
The produce of the fields and gardens have been gathered in, and
the people rejoice before the Lord in gratitude for the blessings
which He has granted to them. “And ye shall take unto you on the
first day the fruit of the goodly tree, branches of palm-trees, and
boughs of thick-leaved trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall
rejoice before the Lord your God seven days” (Lev. xxiii. 40). In
accordance with the traditional interpretation of this verse, we take
four kinds of plants (‫‏ארבעה מינין‬‎), viz., ‫‏אתרוג‬‎“the citron;” ‫‏לולב‬‎, “a
branch of the palm-tree;” ‫‏הדסים‬‎, three “myrtle branches;” and ‫‏ערבות‬‎,
two “branches of the willow.” According to a Midrashic interpretation,
they represent four different types of plants, that which has a
pleasant fragrance and a beautiful form (esrog); the beautiful in form,
but without fragrance (lulabh); that which smells pleasantly, but is
inferior in form (hadassim); and that which has neither a goodly form
nor an agreeable fragrance (arabhoth), as if to say that we are
thankful to God for all that He has given us, although to our mind
some of these seem imperfect in comparison with others.

In obedience to this commandment we take, every day of Succoth

except Saturday, 94 the above four kinds [397]into our hands, hold
them during the recitation of the Hallel, and make with them a
procession round the Synagogue, 95 while singing the hymns called
hoshaanoth (so called on account of the repeated occurrence of the
word hoshaanah in them).

Before taking the arbaah minim into our hands we say the following
blessing: ‫‏ברוך … אשר קדשנו … על נטילת לולב‬‎“Blessed art thou … who
hast sanctified us by thy commandments and hast commanded us to
take the lulabh.” 96 On the first day ‫‏שהחינו‬‎is added.

Succoth lasts seven days, the last five days being half Holy-days, ‫‏חול‬
‫המועד‬‎. The seventh day is called Hoshaana-rabba, because on that
day many prayers beginning with hoshaana are offered up, during
the [398]chanting of which seven processions round the Synagogue
are made. 97

The Feast of Tabernacles is closely followed by “the feast of the

eighth day,” ‫‏שמיני עצרת‬‎, 98 which, like all other Festivals, is kept two
days. The second day is, in addition, called “Rejoicing of the Law,”
‫‏שמחת תורה‬‎[399]because on this day the reading of the Pentateuch is
completed and recommenced.

The nine days of the Festival are called ‫‏זמן שמחתנו‬‎“The season of
our rejoicing,” and it is the third principle of our faith, the belief in
Divine Providence, that this Festival impresses on our hearts. On the
one hand, we have the rejoicing and the four species of plants as
proofs and tokens of Divine blessing; and, on the other hand, the
succah is a symbol of human frailties and imperfections. Thus, in all
our rejoicings we should remember that our abode on earth is not
permanent, and that all earthly happiness is like the plants that easily
fade away. In order to impress this idea on our mind, we read the
book of Koheleth on Sabbath chol-ha-moëd or on Shemini-atsereth.

The following portions are read from the Pentateuch: Lev. xxii. 26 to
xxiii. 44 99 (on the first two days); Exod. xxxiii. 12 to xxxiv. 26 (on
Sabbath chol-ha-moëd); Deut. xiv. 22 to xvi. 7 (on the eighth day);
Deut. xxxiii. to end of Pentateuch; and Gen. i. 1 to ii. 3 (on Simchath
Torah). In addition, the paragraph of the sacrifices of the day (Num.
xxix. 12–39) is read [400]from a second sefer. The Lessons for chol-
ha-moëd are taken from the same passage.

The Lessons from the Prophets are the following: Zech. xiv.,
prophecy on the future of Israel and on the punishment of those who
would not come to Jerusalem to celebrate there the Succoth
Festival; 1 Kings viii. 2–21, on the opening of the new Temple; on
Sabbath chol-ha-moëd, Ez. xxxviii. 18 to xxxix. 16, on the war with
Gog; 1 Kings viii. 22–66, prayer of Solomon on the eighth day of the
services for the consecration of the Temple; Jos. i., accession of
Joshua to the leadership of Israel.
[Contents]

Solemn Days, ‫‏ימים נוראים‬‎

By ‫‏ימים נוראים‬‎“solemn days,” we understand the first ten days of the

month Tishri, especially their beginning and their end: ‫‏ראש השנה‬‎,
“New-year,” and ‫‏יום כפור‬‎“the Day of Atonement.” 100

It is customary to prepare for the “solemn days” during the month of

Elul, by additional prayers, called ‫“‏סליחות‬forgiveness,” after or
before the Daily Service, and by blowing the shofar at the close of
the [401]Daily Service. 101 According to the Portuguese Ritual, the
Selichoth begin on the 1st of Elul, and are continued [402]morning
and evening till the Day of Atonement. The German Ritual has
Selichoth only in the Morning Service; they begin on the Sunday
before New-year, and if the Festival is on Monday or Tuesday, on the
second Sunday before, and end on the Day of Atonement. The
blowing of the shofar takes place in the German Synagogues during
the month of Elul, in the Portuguese this custom is not practiced.

‫‏ראש השנה‬‎New-year.

The first and the second days of Tishri are kept as New-year. 102 In
accordance with the command, “The first of the first-fruits of thy land
thou shalt bring unto the house of the Lord thy God” (Exod. xxxiv.
26), we devote the first ten days of the year as an offering to the
Lord; they are days of increased devotion, earnest self-examination,