FEAST OF DEDICATION.

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' it, will hereafter become a curse; and in the 'flame of the day that cometh, their shame * will be visible: but they who take refuge in it, 'will incline to righteousness; they will receive ' their recompense."

THE FEAST OF DEDICATION commences on the twenty-fifth of the month Chisleu, and continues eight days. It was instituted by Judas Maccabeus and his brethren, in memory of the purification of the temple, and the dedication of the new altar of burnt-offering after the deliverance of Jerusalem from the oppressions of Antiochus Epiphanes. † The rabbies tell us that when the sanctuary had been cleansed and dedicated, and the priests came 'to light the lamp which was to burn continually 'before the Lord, there was no more oil found 'than what would burn for one night, all the rest 'being polluted; and it would take eight days 'time before they could get and prepare' a fresh supply; because being defiled by the dead bodies of their enemies, they would require seven days of purification, and one day more would be employed in gathering olives and expressing the oil: but that the Almighty wrought so great a miracle 'that that small portion of oil did burn eight days ' and nights till they had got a fresh supply. 'Wherefore on the first night they light one light' in the synagogue; on the second night, two; on the third night, three; adding one every night

* Prayers for the Feast of Tabernacles, p. 132.

+ 1 Maccab. iv. 43-59.

C wax.'

'til the last night, when they light up eight. These lamps are to be lighted with oil of olive, ' in commemoration of the miracle; but where oil of olive cannot be procured, they light with Hence this feast is also called the feast of lights. It requires no suspension of any business or labour, and beside the lighting of the lamps and a few additions to their ordinary prayers and daily lessons, is chiefly distinguished by feasting and jollity.

THE TENTH OF TEVETH is kept as a fast, supposed to be mentioned by Zechariah as "the fast "of the tenth month," and said to be occasioned by the first approaches of Nebuchadnezzar to the siege of Jerusalem, which, according to the rabbies, began upon this day.I

THE FAST OF ESTHER is kept on the thirteenth of ́the month Adar, in memory of her fasting three days and nights, before she went to supplicate the king on behalf of the Jews, who had been marked out for destruction by Haman. When the thirteenth * of Adar happens on the sabbath, this fast is kept ' on the Thursday before: the reason of which is 'this; the day after is the feast of Purim, and the day before being Friday, they could not finish the Fast, on account of the sabbath beginning 'before dark, and their being obliged to fast till 'night.

* David Levi, ibid. p. 116-120.

+ Buxtorf. ibid. c. xxviii. p. 546-562. Leo Modena, ibid. P. iii. c. 9. ‡ Abendana, ibid. p. 198. David Levi, ibid. p. 120.

THE FEAST OF PURIM, (or Lots as the Persian word Purim signifies,) includes the next two days, the fourteenth and fifteenth; of which the first is observed as the principal. During this festival the book of Esther is solemnly read in the synagogue; and whenever the name of Haman occurs, the whole congregation clap their hands, stamp with their feet, and vociferate, Let his name and memory be blotted out.'- The name of the 'wicked shall rot.' 'It is also customary for the children, who have little wooden hammers, to 'knock against the wall, as a memorial that they 'should endeavour to destroy the whole seed of ' Amalek.'*

6

Their prayers for the deliverance of their nation, are accompanied with curses on Haman and his wife, and blessings on Mordecai and Esther.-This is a time of peculiar gaiety. Alms are given to the poor; relations and friends send presents to each other; all furnish their tables with every luxury they can command; and they indulge themselves largely in their cups, in memory of Esther's banquet of wine at which she succeeded in defeating the designs of Haman.-In embolismic years, this festival is celebrated in the thirteenth month, Veadar.†

* David Levi, ubi infra.

+ David Levi, ibid. p. 125–129. Leo Modena, ibid. P. iii. c. 10. Buxtorf. ibid. c. xxix. p. 553-563.

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CHAPTER XXII.

Meats.-Drinks.-Culinary and Table Utensils.

THE writings of the rabbies contain numerous directions and prohibitions respecting meats and drinks; many of them in conformity with the provisions of the law of Moses, and many more without any other foundation than the traditions of the fathers. Some of their regulations and injunctions have fallen into general disuse, and a minute detail even of those which continue to be regarded would be rather tedious than entertaining or instructive. I shall therefore confine myself to a brief sketch of the principal customs which the members of the synagogue are now required to observe relative to those matters.

They are not permitted to taste the flesh of any four-footed animals, but those which both chew the cud and part the hoof; as sheep, oxen, and goats: they must not eat rabbits, hares, or swine.. They are to eat no fish, but such as have both scales and fins, no birds of prey, nor any reptile. They are required to abstain from all the species of birds or fowls prohibited in the law; but are at liberty to make use of any others.

They are not to eat the blood of any beast or bird; nor to partake of the flesh of any beast or bird, whose throat has not been cut in order to drain off its blood. They are not to eat of any creature that dies of itself.

Cattle, for their use, are required to be

slaughtered by a Jew, duly qualified and specially appointed for that purpose. After an animal is killed, he examines whether the inward parts are perfectly sound. If he find the least blemish of any kind, the whole carcase is rejected as unfit for Jewish tables. If it be found in the state required, he affixes to it a leaden seal, on one side of which is the word () Casher which signifies right, and on the other the day of the week in Hebrew characters. At every Christian butcher's, who sells meat to the Jews, there is a Jew stationed, who is appointed by the rulers of the synagogue, to superintend it. When the carcase is cut up, he is also to seal the respective pieces.

Of those beasts which are allowed, they are not to eat the hind quarters unless the sinew of the thigh is taken out, which is a troublesome and expensive operation, requiring a person duly qualified and specially appointed for that particular purpose; and therefore it is rarely done.

Previously to boiling any meat, they are required to let it lie half an hour in water and an hour in salt, and then to rinse off the salt with clean water. This is designed to draw out any remaining blood.

They must not kill a cow and her calf, a ewe and her lamb, or a she-goat and her kid, on the same day.

Equal nicety is required in the slaughter and subsequent examination of birds, or fowls, as of beasts. The knife used on all these occasions is to be very sharp and free from notches.

From the prohibition in the law, not to "seethe "a kid in his mother's milk," it is inferred that