484 the jews, [1S48. 



neighboring lake. Tiberias was an ancient seat of Jewish lit- 

 erature, and it now contains a sanhedrim consisting of sev- 

 enty rabbis, who are constantly occupied in the study of the 

 Talmud. They are supported principally by the contribu- 

 tions of European Jews, and to them are referred controver- 

 sial matters of discipline by their brethren in all parts of the 



world. 



It has often been remarked, that the snake-eyed and sharp- 

 featured Israelite of the present day is very different, in per- 

 sonal appearance, from the tall and manly warriors who com- 

 posed the armies of David, or the comely youth that graced 

 the court of Solomon ; and the male Jews, clad in their dark 

 and unshapely gabardines, who may be seen in the syna- 

 gogues of Tiberias, with their broad and narrow phylacteries, 

 either plain or embroidered, chanting in a monotonous, but 

 earnest tone, the lamentations of Jeremiah, do not constitute 

 an exception to this remark. But the Jewish women, here 

 as everywhere, are 



" Like a ladye from a far countree, 

 Beautiful exceedingly." 



Whether it be that the hardships and sufferings, the trials 

 and perils, encountered by their race, have wrought less 

 harshly upon their feelings, and that their fortitude and buoy- 

 ancy of soul have proved sufficient to sustain them in every 

 difficulty and adversity, — or that, as many among them still 

 believe, they have escaped the curse pronounced upon those 

 who reviled and scourged and crucified the Redeemer,* — it is 

 undeniable, that in personal attractions, in gracefulness of 

 form, in ease of movement, in beauty and symmetry of feat- 

 ure, and, withal, in kindliness and gentleness of spirit, they 



* It is said that there was not a single Jewess seen among the crowd that 

 scoffed at and maltreated the Son of God. A woman of Bethany poured upon 

 his head tile precious ointment and wiped his golden locks with her hair. The 

 daughters of Jerusalem wept over what they deemed his misfortunes. Holy 

 women accompanied him to Calvary, and brought thither halm and spices: they 

 sought him, too, at the sepulchre, and to Mary Magdalene was vouchsafed the 

 privilege of first gazing upon those well-rcmembcrcd features after he had risen 

 from the dead. 



