548 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1899. 



11. Roll of the Book of Esther. — Parchment scroll inserted in 

 a revolving silver case, with marginal illuminations illustrating the 

 events narrated in the book. Written in Venice, Italy, in the seven- 

 teenth century. The silver case was once in possession of the Jews of 

 Granada, Spain. Height of scroll, 8 inches. (Plate 8, fig. 1, U.S.N.M. 

 No. 154592.) 



Five of the shorter books of the Bible — Canticles, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, 

 Lamentations, and Esther — are called the "Five Rolls" {liamesTimegU- 

 loth), and are read on special occasions during the service in the syna- 

 gogue, viz, Canticles on Passover, Ruth on Pentecost or Feast of 

 Weeks, Ecclesiastes on Tabernacles, Lamentations on the 9th of Ab, 

 and Esther on the Feast of Purim. The first three are read privately 

 by each member from his own copy during a pause in the public 

 service (between the first part of the liturgy and the reading of the 

 Torah). The Lamentations are chanted by the leader and members 

 of the congregation, each reading a chapter, during the services 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, which 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 under 1) is used. The read- 

 ing takes place from the same desk as that of the Torah, and is pre- 

 ceded and followed by a benediction. At certain passages the congre- 

 gation joins in, reciting them before the public reader. The Book of 

 Esther is therefore known as the roll {Megillah). 



12. Roll of the Book of Esther. — Parchment scroll inserted 

 in a revolving silver case. Written in Smyrna, Asia Minor, in the 

 eighteenth century. The case was once in possession of the Jews 

 of Granada, Spain. Height of scroll, 8 inches. (Pkte 8, fig. 2. 

 U.S.N.M. No. 154592^) 



18. Roll of the Book of Esther. — Written in columns of eight 

 lines and about 1 inch wide, on a scroll of vellum seven-eighths of an 

 inch wide, and inserted in a hexagonal revolving silver case, sur- 

 mounted by a cupola, from which rises a crescent and star, the emblem 

 of the Mohammedan peoples. Height of case, li inches; diameter, 

 1 inch. Made in Fez, Morocco. (Plate 8, fig. 3. U.S.N.M. No. 

 158347.) 



14. Ram's horn (.sA<?/ar).— (Plate 9, fig. 1. U.S.N.M. No. 154589.) 

 In ancient times the horn or shofar was used, according to the Penta- 

 teuch, for the announcement of the New Moon and solemn festivals,^ 

 for the proclamation of the year of release (Sabbatical year),^ and 



1 Numbers x, 10; compare Psalms Ixxxi, 4. ^ Leviticus xxv, 9. 



