OBJECTS OF JEWISH CEREMONIAL. 555 



shape of larjj^e, thin, round crackers, the ''l^read of affliction 'V a 

 piece of roasted meat, usually the bone of a hinib, representing- the 

 Passover hunl); bitter herbs, usually horse-radish (marw), in com- 

 memoration of the ••embittering of life" which Israel suffered in 

 Egyptian servitude;" a roasted egg, in memory of the festal sacrifice 

 {hagigah) offered in the Temple; a compound of almond, apples, and 

 sirup, which has the color of brickday {JiarosetJi)^ in commemoration 

 of the labor of brickmaking the Israelites performed in Egypt'' and 

 into which the bitter herbs are dipped before they are partaken of; 

 green herbs — parsley or lettuce [karpas) — as the "food of poverty;" 

 a cup with saltwater, in which the green herbs are dipped to represent 

 the hyssop dipped in the blood of the Paschal lamb.* There are, 

 besides, wine and cups or glasses for each at the table, as everyone 

 assisting at the celebration is supposed to partake of four cups of 

 wine. 



The service begins with Mddush^ as on Sabbath and other festivals.'^ 

 The family then sits down and the hagadah, i. e., narration, consist- 

 ing of an account of the sufferings of Israel at the hands of the 

 Egyptians and their miraculous deliverance by God, accompanied by 

 psalms and hymns, is recited. At appropriate passages of the hagadah 

 the articles mentioned above are partaken of, symbolical ceremonies 

 performed, and the evening meal is eaten. 



28. Two CUSHIONS, USED TO LEAN UPON AT THE PaSSOVER MEAL, OR 



Seder. — Made of green silk and richly embroidered in gold and silk, 

 in Samacov, Bulgaria, in the sixteenth century. Length, 19 inches; 

 width, 161 inches. (Plate 15. U.S.N.M. No. 154600.) 



29. Ewer and basin, used for the ablution at the Passover 

 MEAL, OR Seder. — Brass repousse and chased work. Height of ewer, 

 13 inches; diameter of base, 7 inches; height of basin, -If inches; 

 diameter, 14i inches. (Plate 16. U.S.N.M. No. 155178.) Washing 

 of the hands {netilath yadayiiii) by pouring water over them is observed 

 by the Jews before prayer and before meals, sometimes also before 

 saying grace after meals. The custom is also referred to in the New 

 Testament.® 



30. Passover dish. — Used at the' Passover meal, or Seder, to hold 

 the ina^goth and the other sym])olical articles of the service. Made 

 by the Jews of Spain in the thirteenth century, glazed in Ital}^ in the 

 sixteenth century. On its surface are painted the benediction of kld- 

 dmh and the sixteen words containing the program of the ceremonies 

 performed during the Seder, and four vignettes representing the 

 family in the various stages of the service. Height, 3i inches; diam- 

 eter, 181 inches. (Plate 17. U.S.N.M. No. 154594.) 



^ Deuteronomy xvi, 3. *Ibid, xii, 22. 



• '■'Exodus i, 14. 5ggg under 25, p. 553. 



*Ibid, 14; v. 7 ff. « Compare Matthew xv, 2; Mark vii, 2; Luke xi,38. 



