OBJECTS OF JEWISH CEREMONIAL. 553 



{arh'a hinfofh). It consists of a pieco of rectangular cloth of any 

 material, but usually of wool, about 3 feet long and 1 foot wide, with 

 fringes fastened to the four corners in the same manner as to the 

 t((Jl!fh, with an aperture in the center sufficient to let it pass over the 

 head, so that part falls in front and part ])ehind. This small tdUith 

 is assumed to have originated in the times of persecution, when the 

 Jews had to refrain from exnibiting the garment with fringes and 

 could only in this manner comply with the commandment to wear 

 fringes. 



III. OBJECTS USED ON FESTAL OCCASIONS AT THE JEWISH HOME. 



(a) SABBATH. 



25. Cup and saucer used for Kiddush. — Made of cut glass, 

 gilded. Measurements: Cup, height 1^ inches, diameters 2 and 1\ 

 inches; saucer, height 1 inch, diameter 4i inches. (Plate 14, figs. 1 

 and 2. U.S.N.M. No. 154585.) 



The Jews, like other Oriental peoples, compute the day from sunset 

 to sunset. The Sabbath, therefore, begins at sunset on Friday and ter- 

 minates at sunset on Saturday. 



It is inaugurated in the home by blessing and lighting of the candles 

 by the mistress of the house, ^ and in the synagogue by a special service. 

 On returning from the service, and before the evening meal, the head 

 of the house fills a cup with wine, raises it in his right hand, and recites 

 Genesis ii, 1 and 2, which relate the origin of the Sabbath, and pro- 

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

 Sabbath.'' For this reason the ceremony is called kiddush^ i. e., sanc- 

 tification. He then drinks from the cup and hands it to the other per- 

 sons at the table to partake of. Where no wine or other liquor is avail- 

 able, the hiddmh 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. The loaves are then 

 cut up by the head of the house, the pieces dipped in salt and distriliuted 

 among the members of the family. 



26. Spice bottle, used for Habdalah. — Made of china, with neck 

 of oxidized silver. Measurments: 4i inches high. If inches in dia- 

 meter. (Plate 14, fig. 3. U.S.N.M. No. 154587.) 



2T. Silver candlestick, used for Habdalah. — The base is in the 

 form of a leaf, 2f inches long and 2i inches wide; height of the candle- 

 stick, 1 inch, with an extinguisher. (Plate 14, fig. 4. U.S.N.M. No. 

 154586.) 



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

 of wine (see under 25) and is terminated in a like manner. In addi- 

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



* Compare U. S. National Museum Report for 1896, p. 994. 



