PALESTINE 



253 



according to the Law of Moses." The rabbi takes the money and returns the child to its 

 father. The latter, holding a cup of wine in his hand, gives thanks to God for permitting 

 him to behold this joyful occasion. The rabbi and the father take some of the wiue. After 

 that the rabbi lifts up the tray with the coins and holds it over the baby's head, saying, 

 "This is instead of this; this is in exchange for this; this is in redemption of this; and may 

 the child be well instructed in our holy Law, enter in due time into the marriage state, and 

 at the last be found full of good works. Amen." The supper is then proceeded with, and the 

 evening is given up to festivity. 



Early marriages are the rule among the Jews. At Jerusalem girls are usually married 

 at the age of fifteen. Youths become husbands at eighteen. They generally have large 

 families. Even the very poor rejoice at successive additions when they happen to be boys. 



There are three ceremonies in connection with Jewish weddings viz. the engagement, 

 the betrothal, and the fiiiiil marriage rite. According to rabbinical law, a betrothal is not 

 merely a promise to marry, but is looked upon as the first step in the marriage ceremony. 

 Ten persons at least must be present, at both a betrothal and a wedding, to give the act due 

 publicity and solemnity. At the betrothal the amount of the bride's dowry and the date of 

 the wedding are settled. A provision called the kethuba is arranged at the same time. Jews 

 in the East attach great importance to this institution. It settles upon the bride a sum 

 of money which the husband must pay to her in the event of a divorce. As it is easy for 

 a Jewish husband to get a divorce, this arrangement protects the wife against being arbitrarily 

 dismissed from his house. The wedding itself is long and ceremonious, especially among the 

 richer Jews. The bride is taken in procession from the father's house to that of the bride- 

 groom's father. She is conducted to a seat under a canopy of yellow silk in the sola, or 

 principal room. After waiting a long time the cry is raised, " Behold the bridegroom cometh ! " 

 The bridegroom enters, accompanied by the rabbi and his male friends. Except for the fez, 

 which is commonly worn in the East, they are all dressed very much as they would be at a 



Photo tni Mr. William Kau\ 



JEWISH LEPEHS. PALES I INK. 



