550 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1899. 



a ".servant light"" {shammmh) is placed next to them, which is used in 

 lio-hting- them. Rabbinical tradition accounts for this feature of the 

 feast by the stor^'^ that when the priests entered the sanctuary, after 

 the Syrians had been driven out, to light the perpetual lamp they 

 found a vial of sacred oil unpoUtited, which under ordinary circum- 

 stances was onl}^ sufficient for one night, but by a miracle lasted for 

 eight nights. 



When possible, lamps burning olive oil are to be used, though fre- 

 quently candles made of pure beeswax are employed. In the syna- 

 gogues there is usually for this purpose a lamp made after the form of 

 the candlestick {rtienorah) of the tabernacle and temple, as described in 

 Exodus XXV, 31-140.^ 



16. Pair of candlesticks. — Silver repousse work. Measurements, 

 12i inches high, 6i inches wide at the base. (U.S.N.M. No. 1287.) 

 The candlesticks come from a church in the Philippine Islands. Mr. 

 Bcnguiat is of the opinion that they originally belonged to a Jewish 

 synagogue in Spain, which was converted into a Christian church after 

 the expulsion of the Jews from that country and found their way to 

 the Philippines. 



II. OBJECTS USED AT PRAYER. 



IT. Miniature prayer book. — Containing all the prayers and 

 devotions used on week days and on special festal occasions, in the 

 synagogue and at home. Printed at Amsterdam, Holland, in the year 

 5499 (1739). Bound in leather, with silver clasps, with the name of 

 " Ephraim Benguiat" in Hebrew characters impressed on the left 

 cover. (Plate 10, fig. 1, U.S.N.M. No. 154581.) 



18. Manuscript containing the Formulas used for the Abso- 

 lution FROM Vows Hastily or Unconsciously Made, and Prayers 

 Recited at the Cemetery, and on the eve of New Year's and 

 Atonement Day. — Written in Hebrew square characters in black ink 

 with the rubrics in red. Bound in leather with pressed covers and red 

 edge. Measurements, 7 by 5 inches. (U.S.N.M. No. 1294.) 



19. Manuscript containing the Psalms and various propitia- 

 tory PRAYERS. — Written in a quaint, Arabizing cursive script by 

 Abraham Zarfati at Asmir in the year 5522 A. M. (1702 A. D.). The 

 Psalter, besides contributing extensively to the sjmagogual liturgy, 

 constitutes in itself a prayer book of the Jews. It is recited in part or 

 in its entirety by pious Jews as a means of prayer and devotion. 

 Measurements, 6 inches long, 4 inches wide, f inch thick. (Plate 12, 

 U.S.N.M. No. 1293.) 



20. The Old Testament in the Hebrew language and the 

 New Testament in Greek. — Printed by Christopher Plantin at Ant- 



1 Compare Report of the U. S. National Museum for 1896, p. 996 and Plate 17, fig. 2. 



