16 BULLETIN 148, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



members of the congregation, each reading a chapter during the serv- 

 ices of the 9th of Ab (August) in commemoration of the destruction 

 of the Temple of Jerusalem. Still more ceremony is attached to the 

 reading of the Book of Esther, which takes place during the services 

 of the Feast of Purim, and is celebrated on the 15th of Adar (March- 

 April) to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews of Persia from 

 the machinations of Haman. For this purpose a parchment scroll, 

 written in the same manner as the Pentateuch (see the Torah Scroll, 

 p. 4) is used. The reading takes place from the same desk as that of 

 the Torah, and is preceded and followed by a benediction. At cer- 

 tain passages the congregation joins m, reciting them before the public 

 reader. The Book of Esther is therefore known as the roll (megillah). 

 Another feature of the Feast of Esther or Purim is the presenting of 

 gifts to friends and the poor. 



40. Manuscri'pt of the Boole of Esther. — Inserted into a case of olive 

 wood carved with a representation of the temple. Made in Jerusa- 

 lem. Height, 8 inches. (Cat. No. 134763, U.S.N.M.) Gift of David 

 Sulzberger. 



41. Roll of the Boole of Esther. — Manuscript written on leather. 

 Height, 7 inches. (Cat. No. 158466, U.S.N.M.) 



42. Roll of the Boole of Esther. — Manuscript written on parchment. 

 Height, 5 inches. Zurich, Switzerland. (Cat. No. 329453, U.S.N.M.) 

 Gift of Rev. Paulus Dworkowicz. 



43. Benedictions Recited at the Reading of the Megillah. — Manu- 

 cript written on leather. Measurements, 7)2 by 5 inches. (Cat. 

 No. 158464, U.S.N.M.) 



44. Metal marleerfor Purim charity. — Inscribed in Hebrew : ''Money 

 for Purim." 5K inches by 2% inches. Baltimore, Md. (Cat. No. 



314493, U.S.N.M.) Gift of Henry Hartogensis. 



45. Metal marleerfor Purim charity. — Inscribed in Hebrew : "Half 

 of a shekel." 5K inches by 2% inches. Baltimore, Md. (Cat. No. 



314494, U.S.N.M.) Gift of Henry Hartogensis. 



LITURGICAL BOOKS 



46. Prayer Boole (Siddur — order). — Hebrew with German trans- 

 lation on lower part of the page. Containing the services for week- 

 day. Sabbath, new moon, and the festivals. Bound in morocco, 

 gold-tooled, with gilt edges. The title-page is wanting. Washing- 

 ton, D. C. (Cat. No. 288291, U.S.N.M.) Gift of Mrs. Charles 

 Block. 



47. Prayer hoole. — Hebrew with English translation on the opposite 

 page. Containing the prayers as in the preceding. With prayers, 

 hymns, and meditations for special days and events, in English, 

 at the close. Arranged by the Rev. Drs. Benjamin Szold and M. 

 Jastrow. Published in Philadelphia in 1885. Bound in morocco, 



