The Jewish Synagogue, Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
Of the Feaſt of Reconciliation.
COncerning the inſtitution of this feaſt,Levit. 23. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. we may finde it recorded in the third book of Moſes: that the tenth day of the ſiventh monethmonth ſhall be a day of reconciliation: it ſhall be an holy convocation unto you (ſpeaking to the Iſraelites) you ſhall humble your ſoules and offer ſacrifice made by fire unto the Lord: And ye ſhall do no work that ſame day: for it is a day of Reconciliation, to make an attonement for you before the Lord your God. For every perſon that humbleth not himſelf the ſame day, ſhall even be cut off from his people. And every perſon that ſhall doe any worke that ſame day, the ſame perſon alſo will I deſtroy from among his people. Ye ſhall do no manner of work: therefore this ſhall be a law for ever in your generations, throughout your dwellings. By reaſon of this injunction and command the Jews at this day are wont to meet in their Synagogue about ſunſet before it be night, carying with them their wax lights, and placing them in their Candleſticks, ſinging and praying with a beaſtly roaring and bellowing outcries. The women which ſtay at home to keep the houſe. light many candles in the bed chambers and other places, bleſſing them, and ſtretching out both their hands towards them as they do alſo upon the ſabbath, hereby making a difference between the feſtival dayes, and others appointed for ordinary employments and manual labours.
If theſe lights burn clear, they take it as a very good ſigne of ſome conſequent hap, believing that their ſins are remitted: that they ſhall ſee many happy dayes, and not come as yet into the priſon of the grave. If they give not a clear light, but that which is only glimmering, dark, and obſcure; if they melt away the tallow or wax, diſtilling drop by drop, then they begin to be ſorrowful, conjecturing this to be a ſigne of ſome evill ready to befall them.
They ſpread their floores, pavements, and hearths, with Coverlets in ſome places, as in Wormes they ſtraw their hearths with ruſhes only, leſt they upon the day following, by often ſtooping to the fire to chafe and rub themſelves, might defile and ſpot their holiday attire: or otherwiſe leſt they ſhould ſeem to commit Idolatry, which is altogether unlawful; the reaſon hereof is that which is written. You ſhall not pave your pavement with ſtone, to bow and proſtrate your ſelves thereupon.
That it is ſaid in the forecited text of Moſes, Orach chajim nu: 612.that they ought to humble themſelves before the Lord, they underſtand to be meant of a five-fold kinde of pleaſure from which they are to abſtain.
And firſt of all from meat and drink, even from ſunſet to sſnſet, from the beginning to the ending of the ſolemnity▪ Boyes above twelve, and wenches above eleven years of age, women alſo who have been above three dayes in childbed, are not exempted from this faſt. A ſick man may eat lawfully if he deſire it: If not, the Phyſitian thinking it meet and convenient for the regaining of his health, meat is to be adminiſtred unto him.
Secondly, every one is bound to goe without ſhoes barefoot: only it is permitted unto old decrepit and ſickly perſons, to whoſe health the coldneſs of the ſeaſon may bring hurt and dammage.
Thirdly, no man ought at this time to annoint himſelf with oyle, or waſh his body with water for pleaſures ſake.
Fourthly, no man muſt enter into a bath to waſh himſelf, no he may not be allowed to dip his finger in the water, much leſs to waſh his hands or face. Yet if any have occaſion to eaſe himſelf, after the deed done, he may dip his fingers into the water, ſo that he goe no farther then the formoſt joynt. Some take a wet linen cloth and make clean their hands therewith, yet it is accounted as a thing very dangerous, and neerly coming within the confines of an offence: for if the cloth ſhould chance to be ſo wet, as the drops of water might be preſſed out of it, it were enough to prophan… the feſtival.
Fiftly, the men muſt not come at their wives, no not ſo much as touch them; and keep themſelves out of their company, as though they were in their monethly flowers.
Before they begin their ſolemn prayers, uſually made by them after ſunſet, at the begining of this feſtival, three of the chief Rabbines walking through the Synagogue, ſaying with a loud voice, Biſchibhah ſchel mahelah, ubiſchibhah ſchel mattah, etc. the meaning of which▪ words is, that they give power and licenſe to the whole congregation, as well to the bad as the good among them, to pray unto God. To this end alſo the Chaunter goes unto the Ark, where the book of the law is kept, opens it and ſaies a long prayer, which begins, Col nidere Va…ſſare uſchehue, that is to ſay, All Vowes, Covenants, and Oaths &c. the firſt part whereof he repeats three times, every time with a more lofty and joy reſounding voice then other. The ſum whereof is, that all the vows, oaths, promiſes, covenants, aſſeverations, and proteſtations, which any one of the Jewiſh nation hath not kept the year paſt to be void,A very papistical indulgence▪ remitted, diſanulled, the breach thereof not to be acknowledged for an offence, to be utterly taken away and pardoned. That by this mean, Covenant-breakers may as well as the keepers, the bad and the villanous, as well as the good and juſt, may ſing praiſe and pray unto God. Whence every Chriſtian may ſee how little they eſteem of an oath, eſpecially made unto one of us. Then they hold on to ſing and pray untill the night be far ſpent: Some all the night over, others returning to their houſes, betake them to their reſt; other ſleep in ſome corner of the Synagogue or other, or in the Synagogue of the women, in ſome place fartheſt remote from the Arke. They among the Jews who have an earneſt deſire truly to repent them of their ſins, and to lead a holy life, ſtand all the time that the feaſt endures, ſinging and praying without intermiſſion, as I have ſeen ſome who have ſtood immoveable in the ſame place for twenty ſeven hours together.
When the morning begins to approach they all repair to the Synagogue before the dawning of the day, making there their agode untill night, boaſting very much of the book of the Law, reading many Sections therein. Falling often to the earth with their face uncovered, and then chiefly when they make confeſſion of their ſins, ſmiting their breſts at every word, to ſhew the devout attention of their mindes: and the lifting up of their hearts unto their God and maker. When it begins again to be night, then the Prieſt wrapping a great hair-cloth ahout his neck, and drawing it over his head, ſo far untill it come to the threſhold of his eyes: he bleſſeth the people according to the ordinary forme preſcribed by Moſes, Numbers the 6. the 24, 25, 26, and 27. verſes. When he pronounceth the bleſſing, he ſtretcheth out his hands towards the people: they covering their faces with their own; for it is lawful for no man to look upon the hands of the Prieſts: becauſe the ſpirit of the Lord reſts upon them, while he bleſſeth the Congregation. As it is written, He ſtandeth behinde our wall looking forth at the windows, Cant. 2. 9.ſhewing himſelf through the grates, that is to ſay, God ſtands at the Prieſts back, and looks through the windows and grates, that is to ſay, through his hands being being ſtretched out, and his fingers being ſpread abroad ſevered one from another. Then he ſi…gs another prayer repeating it ſeven times, ſometimes with a ſubmiſſe and low, ſometimes with a lo…d voice, and the reaſon of this reiteration is, becauſe God at this time departs from them and goes into heaven, not coming again untill the prieſt be the ſeventh time in repeating of this prayer. The ſeventh time therefore they ſing it in a melodious tune, with a ſenſe bereaving harmony, having very good skill, and ſweet voices, as they can witneſs who have heard them.
Before they depart the Synagogue, they blow upon the Rams horne before mentioned, a ſound both long and loud, in remembrance of the year of Jubile, which in ancient times was wont to begin as upon this day. Others write that they do it in memory of the ſeven heavens which the Lord opened when he deſcended upon Mount Sinai, and gave the law to the people of Iſrael, and declare unto them that in heaven there was no other God beſides him.
When they have put an end to this their feſtival, and a period to theſe their trifles, then (as they bluſh not to affirm) there comes a voice from heaven ſaying, goe and eat thy bread with joy and gladneſs of heart, for God accepts all thy good works at the beſt. Inſtantly upon the hearing of the voice, they return to their own houſes, ſome carrying the reliques of their wax lights along with them, becauſe they commonly uſe them in making the ſeparation between the feſtival and other dayes of the week. But others on the contrary, leave them in the Synagogue in the Candleſticks for a year together, lighting them at ſome certain times. They who are very holy and religious among them, have a wax light burning in the Synagogue night and day, never going out throughought the whole year: this they call Ner Tamid, an everlaſting light. When they are returning home, one ſayes unto another, God the Creator ſeal unto a happy year: for the three books of which we formerly made mention, are now ſealed up: and Gods ſentence pronounced upon every one is ratified and ſtands immutable.
Being come home, they finde their guts to make a grievous complaint, and themſelves exceeding hungry, having eaten nothing for twenty eight hours together: they make haſte therefore to ſatisfie their greedy appetite, and to repleniſh their belly with ſtore of victuals.
The next morning after they riſe betimes out of their beds, and return to the Synagogue, leſt Satan should take an occaſion to complain of them, ſaying unto God, yeſterday they roſe early becauſe it was the day of reconciliation: but this day their devotion grows cold, loving their pillow better then the Synagogue. What ſhould I ſay more, this day they are ſo holy and religious, ſo honeſt and devout, that even the Devil is forced whether he will or not to commend their carriage: concerning which we have his following conference in Pirk Rabbi Eleazar. Upon that day in which God gave the Law to the Children of Iſrael: the evil ſpirit Samael came unto him and ſaid, O Lord of the whole world, thou haſt given unto me power and dominion over all the people of the earth, only the children of Iſrael excepted. To whom the Lord made anſwer; On the day of reconciliation and thence-forward thou ſhalt have power over them, if thou canſt finde any ſin, fault, or offence in them, of which if they be found in no manner guilty, then ſhalt thou not approach ſo much as to touch them. Which when Samael underſtood, he ſaid unto God, thou haſt a people upon earth like unto the Angels in heaven. For as the Angels in heaven ſtanding immoveable, neither eat nor drink, and being free from all ſin live in peace among themſelves, even ſo do thy people Iſrael upon the day of Reconciliation: which God hearing out of the mouth of the Devil,Chaptor upherach. p. 71 preſently without delay forgives them all their ſins, and opens his ear unto their prayers.
It is read in another place, that they give gifts unto Satan, that they may blinde and ſhut up his eyes, lest he ſhould ſee their doings and accuſe them unto the Lord of hoſts; as it is written: A gift blindeth the eyes of the wiſe, Exod▪ 23. 8.and perverteth the words of the righteous.
I conclude with the words of God to Eſay:Isa. 58. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Cry aloud and ſpare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and ſhew my people their tranſgreſſions, and to the houſe of Jacob their ſins. Yet they ſeek me daily, and will know my wayes even as a nation that did righteouſly, and had not forſaken the ſtatutes of their God; They will ask of me the ordinances of justice, they will draw neer unto God, ſaying, Wherefore have we faſted and thou ſeeſt it not? We have puniſhed our ſelves and thou regardeſt it not. Behold, in the day of your faſt you will ſeek your will and require all your debts. Behold, you… faſt to ſtrife and debate, and to ſmite with the fiſt of wickedneſſe: ye ſhall not faſt as you do to day, to make your voice to be heard above. Is it ſuch a faſt that I have choſen, that a man ſhould afflict his ſoul for a day, and to bow down his head as a bulruſh, and to lie down in ſackcloth and aſhes?Zach. 6. 5. wilt thou call this a faſting, or an acceptable day unto the Lord?