OBJECTS OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIAL 9 



Genesis ii, 1-3, which relate the origin of the Sabbath, and pronounces 

 a benediction over the wine, to God, who "has sanctified the Sab- 

 bath." For this reason the ceremony is called Mddush, that is, 

 sanctification. He then drinks from the cup and hands it to the other 

 persons at the table to partake of. Where no wine or other liquor is 

 available, the Iciddush is pronounced over two loaves of bread, which 

 are laid on the table in memory, it is assumed, of the two portions of 

 manna that were gathered in the wilderness on Fridays. (Exodus 

 xvi, 22.) The loaves are then cut up by the head of the house, the 

 pieces dipped in salt and distributed among the members of the family. 



22. Sablath lamp. — Used by the German Jews in their houses. It 

 was manufactured in the eighteenth century in Fellheim, Germany. 

 Height, 18 inches. (Plate 3 (upper), fig. 1, Cat. No. 130294, 

 U.S.N.M.) 



23. Brass hanging candlestick. — Made in the eighteenth century in 

 Fellheim, Germany. Height, 20 inches. (Cat. No. 130298, 

 U.S.N.M.) 



24. Kiddush cloth. — Made of red silk. Stamped with representa- 

 tion of the temple and other buildings in Jerusalem, and the bene- 

 dictions recited on Sabbath. Used to cover the loaves of bread on the 

 table (see No. 22.) Jerusalem, Palestine. (Cat. No. 154418, 

 U.S.N.M.) 



HABDALAH 



The Sabbath is inaugurated at the home by a benediction over a cup 

 of wine (see above) and is terminated in a like manner. In addition to 

 the cup a wax candle and a box containing some spices are used. The 

 head of the house takes the cup in his right hand and the spice box in 

 his left, while the candle is usually held by a child, and, after reciting 

 several passages of the Scriptures, pronounces a blessing over the 

 wine, then over the spices, smelling them and passing them to the 

 others present, then over the light, closing with thanksgiving to God 

 for the distinction He made between Sabbath and workdays, between 

 things sacred and profane, etc. The cup is then passed around among 

 the membei-s of the family and the candle extinguished with drops of 

 wine from the cup. This ceremony is called hahdalah, that is, separa- 

 tion or division, because it divides or separates the Sabbath from 

 the other days of the week. The spices may be simply an emblem of 

 the enjoyment to be derived from the work of the six days of the week, 

 and the fight is, according to the Talmud, the first product of human 

 ingenuity and labor. 



25. Silver spice hox. — Made in form of a tower resting on a 

 base. Supposed to have been manufactured in Laupheim, Germany, 

 about 1740. Height, 8 inches. (Plate 3 (lower), fig. 4, Cat. No. 

 130297, U.S.N.M.) 

 61551—20 2 



