Passover

Last Sunday and Monday the Jews held Passover preaching services in their synagogues (orthodox) or temples (reformed). After the services family groups celebrated the Passover feast ("seyder"), each in its own home. After an ordinary supper, a ritual is carried out during which four small cups of sacramental wine are drunk by each member of the family. A dish in the center of the table contains a piece of lamb, and, in some families, horseradish. The lamb is not eaten, but is a survival of the ancient and abandoned custom of blood sacrifice as it was first practiced in Egypt. The horseradish signifies the bitter experiences of the Jews in slavery. According to custom, the youngest son of the family asks the father the reason for this feast and the father replies by reading the account of the Passover in Exodus 12, and Psalms 114 and 115. At the end of the feast, one fifth cup is filled. This is left untouched in the center of the table beside the lamb. It is for the expected Messiah--and the door is opened for him to enter. The next four days of Passover week are not celebrated in any special way, except that no orthodox Jew is supposed to eat any bread except that which is made without yeast. On the last day of the week, services are held in the temples and synagogues. There are no sacraments, but the songs and sermons emphasize the significance of the past week. The chalice of the Christian communion service is related, as far as ritual goes, to the cup of the Jewish passover. Although at the Last Supper, Jesus gave an entirely different significance to the feast, yet He did not entirely change its outward form.