The Jewish Synagogue, Chapter 22 – Chapter 23
CHAP. XXII.
Of the Feaſt of joy and gladneſſe, for that they have read over the book of the Law. And of the manner how they diſtribute their Eccleſiaſtical Offices.
THere is no mention made of this Feaſt in holy writ. The Rabbines inſtituted it as a day of rejoycing, in that God had given them ſo much as to ſpend a whole year in the reading of his Law and exerciſe thereof: in that upon this day they have finiſhed, accompliſhed, and brought to an end the lecture and expoſition of the of the text thereof in their Church or Synagogue, in that he hath in great clemency granted them power and faculty to perform the ſame.
They distribute and part the five books of Moſes into fifty two Chapters of Sections, whereof they read one every Sabbath day, ſo that the laſt Section is read upon the firſt day after the Feaſt of tabernacles, which commonly falls upon the twenty third day of September. It is recorded in the Talmud, that the Prieſts were wont to skip, caper, and dance, uſing all kinde of muſical inſtruments upon this day, practiſing among the vulgar many incred…ble and skittiſh fooleries; which here to ſet down would be rather a wearineſſe then either pleaſure or profit to the reader. Upon this day they repair to the Synagogue, and in a ſolemn proceſſion take all the books of the Law out of the Ark, reading the firſt and laſt Section, leaping about the Ark with the books in their hands, and when they are weary in great pomp putting them into the Ark again. So long as the books are out of the Ark, a burning Lamp ſhines therein, for the Ark muſt not at any time be found empty; whereupon it neceſſarily follows, that the Lamp ſupplying the place of the books, avails as much as the books themſelves: for the Law is called a Lamp or light, as it is written: The Command is a Lantern, Prov. 6. 23.and inſtruction a light.
Furthermore, they ſcatter Apples, Plums, and Pears, among the younger ſort, that they alſo may take occaſion to expreſſe the utmoſt of their mirth and jollity. Yet it often falls out, that that hereby is occaſioned a greater deal of grief and melancholy in the hearts of theſe nonaged ſtriplings, in that they often in ſcambling for theſe fruits fall into ſtrife, contention, and brawling, and at laſt make trial which among them have the moſt patient ſtretching ears.
Now becauſe upon this day the reading of the Law is finiſhed, in a ſecond place they go åbout the diſtribution of Eccleſiaſtical functions and offices, and in …he firſt place them that belong to the Lecturers of the Law. Theſe their offices or functions are ſold by open ſale in their Synagogue; and he that at the third asking offers the moſt money for them, hath them aſſured unto him, and is bound to keep them. And in the firſt place the Clerk or Sexton of the Synagogue proclaims the office of them who are to light candles all the year following: as alſo that of the Cup-bearers who carry the wine, wherewith they begin and end their Sabbaths, and other Feſtivals. For though the Maſter of every family be bound to give a beginning to the Sabbath by the conſecration of a cup of wine: yet that this ceremony is alſo performed in the Synagogue, and that publickly before the whole Congregation, by reaſon of the poorer ſort, who for want of means cannot procure wine at home for the initiation of the Sabbath. And moreover it is not to be neglected, becauſe the Boyes and children that drink thereof, become religious and godly Jews.
Thirdly, the Clerk proclaims that if any man will buy Gelilah, let him come forth, which is an office of unfolding and folding up again the book of the Law.
Fourthly, it is demanded, if any one will buy Hagbohah; He that hath this office is buſied in a ſpeedy lifting up of the book of the Law, carrying it about the Pew or Desk that any one may read thereupon. It is neceſſarily required, that he that carries it be ſtrong and of an able body, that he may without ſtumbling carry the book unfolded with ſtretched out arms, for if he chance to faulter and ſlip but with one foot, not bearing it in that manner which is required, the whole Congregation is enjoyned to faſt, which is reputed as a very bad ſigne of ſome enſuing misfortune.
Fifthly, it is demanded, who purchaſe Etz Chajim for money. He that hath this office is allowed to touch the two pieces of wood to which the Law is faſtened by long skins or Parchments, as alſo to carry and adminiſter the little Bag, Coat, or Sachel, in which the book of the Law after the ending of the Lecture is with all ſpeed to be wrapt up. Young men and ſtriplings commonly buy this office: perſwading themſelves that by touching thoſe forementioned pieces of wood, their honeſty ſhall be improved, and their underſtanding bettered: hoping that thereby their life ſhall be prolonged, ſeeing theſe pieces of wood are called Etz Chajim, which by interpretation ſignifieth the trees of life, as it is written: She is a tree of life (meaning the Law) to them that lay hold on her, Prov. 3. 18.and bleſſed is he that retaineth her. Theſe are touched and handled when the book of the Law is wrapped up, where a ſpecial heed muſt be taken, and care had, that they touch not the Parchments with their naked hands, for this is a hainous offence.
Sixthly, it is demanded, who will buy Acheron, which is an office that whoſoever in the whole congregation is the laſt called out upon any Feſtival, he muſt read ſomewhat out of the book of the Law.
Seventhly, it is demanded, who will buy Shehia. He that hath this office is a kinde of overſeer, who looks unto the reſt that they be not negligent in their charge and place; and if he finde them ſo, he may put them out, and himſelf in.
All the money which they get for theſe places and offices, they beſtow in the reparation of the Synagogue and maintenance of the poor. From this open ſale of Eccleſiaſtical functions, often proceed as from a Fountain, envies, brawlings, contentions, and evil ſurmiſings. Yea, God himſelf is often blaſphemed, becauſe the favour and countenance and reſpect of perſons bears a greater ſway in ſharing then Juſtice: while the rich is preferred before the poor; a ſtripling ſooner admitted into holy Orders, then one of riper years, an illiterate Aſſe ſooner then a learned Doctor, and an ill liver commonly before an honeſt man. Hence it is that theſe things conſidered, ſuch a flood of contention often ariſeth, that a Chriſtian Magiſtrate is often ſent for to ſtop & stay it; forunder the Sun there is not a more teſty, envious, jarring, and more implacable people then the Jews. And this is the fruit which they reap from the reading of the Law with ſo great attention as they bring and boaſt of; and to ſay the very truth, no better can be expected, ſeeing their outſide makes a beautiful and glorious ſhew, but within they are full of malice and hypocriſie. Now whereas there is no perfect joy where ſleſh and wine, or, as they say, Baſ…r re i…jin are wanting: therefore they conclude and end this Feaſt of joy and rejoycing, with a ſumptuous and great Supper.
CHAP. XXIII.
Of the Feaſt of Dedication.
THis Feast is wont to be celebrated upon the twenty first day of November,Orach chajim, uu. 670. by them called Kiſleu: in memory of Judas Haſmonita or Machabaeus, that excellent warriour, who after the death of his Father Mattathias, overcame and vanquiſhed the Grecians, who had formerly ſubdued Jeruſalem, profaned the holy Temple, poured out the oil of the Sanctuary, and done very much evil unto the Jews: He alſo won the City, cleanſed the Sanctuary upon the twenty firſt day of this monethmonth, as we may read in the firſt book of M…chabees, and the fourth Chapter. Wherefore Judas and his brethren, with the whole Congregation of Iſrael, concluded, that the dayes of dedication of the Altar ſhould be kept in their ſeason from year to year, by the ſpace of eight dayes, from the five and twentieth day of the monethmonth Caſleu, with mirth and gladnesse. This Feaſt the Jews at this day do alſo keep and celebrate, but in a far different manner then thoſe ancient Machabites. For here now is nothing to be ſeen but feaſting and gormandiſing, quaffing and drinking, piping and dancing, revelling and roaring, all to paſſe away the time; but little or no thankſgiving unto the Lord of hoſts for the victory and conqueſt over their enemies, as upon this day.
At that time, when Judas had dedicated the Temple, none of the holy oil could be found: ſo that the Lamps could not be lighted according to the ordinance of Moſes: Judas therefore made diligent ſearch in the Temple, where he found a ſmall horn of oil, ſealed with the Ring of one of the Prieſts, which was onelyonly ſufficient to feed the Lamps for one nights ſpace, yet preſerved in that happy manner, that it was not polluted by the enemies. Hereupon the heart of Judas and the whole congregation was filled with ſorrow, becauſe they could have no more oil till theſe eight dayes were expired, because the City Tehoa from whence it was to be fetched was four dayes journey diſtant from Jeruſalem. In this their perplexity the favàour and mercy of God appeared to them by this miracle, for the horn of oil ſailed not for eight dayes together. In the remembrance of this favour and bleſſing ſo miraculouſly conferred upon them, the Jews at this day use a great deal of ſuperstitious pomp, in tinding of the Lamps appointed for the Synagogue in the time of this Feaſt: They provide a Candleſtick with ſeven branches capable of ſeven lights or Lamps, which burn every night, though not until the morrow, from the beginning of this Feaſt unto the end thereof: and whereſoever any of theſe Lamps are found, whether in their Houſes, Stoves or Bedchambers, there it is not lawful to move the finger to any kinde of work. A Lamp must alſo be hung as well upon the right ſide of the gate of every mans houſe as of the Synagogue, the diſtance whereof from the ground ought to be ten ſpans, no lower; twenty, but no higher. It is a great queſtion among them how long theſe Lamps may burn, and by whom they may be tinded: whether one may be lighted at another? and ſuch like. Thus are they very ſolicitous and careful about theſe external lights; never conſidering that there is nothing but darkneſſe in their own hearts: neither ſtriving that they may be illuminated, by the light of Gods holy Spirit.