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(just as the ladies wear their scarfs,) during their morning prayers, with the greatest carelessness. (See plate of the English Jew.) The Rabbies denounce such persons as apostates, and stigmatize them with the wicked character of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. The following is their

ואותן המשליכין הטלית מעל ראשם : opinion concerning such אחר ברכתם ומתפללים בלתי עטיפת הטלית על הראש But with respect * עליהם נאמר ואותי השלכת אחרי גוך:

to those who throw the Talith off their heads after asking the blessing, and who pray without covering the head with the Talith, of such was said, and hast cast me behind thy back." (1 Kings 14. 9.)

There is in the Jewish daily Prayer Book one part called you n Kriath sh'ma, to which the Rabbies attach great importance, and not a few mysteries. It is composed of certain passages of Scripture relative to the Phylacteries, Fringes, and the M'zuzah, viz. Deut. 6. 4-9; 11. 13-21; Num. 15. 15-41. (This is the order as placed by the Rabbies.) Before they come to the K'riath sh'ma there is an excellent little prayer for their ingathering from the four corners of the earth.* When they come to that prayer, they collect the fringes from the four corners of the Talith, between the little finger and the next to it, and hold it opposite to the heart, in supposed accordance with the injunction in Deut. 6. 6, "And these words which I command thee this day shall be in [or upon] thine heart;" and they are held so during the repetition of the K'riath sh'ma. When they come to the passages, "And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes,”

*The prayer runs thus: "And bring us in peace from the four corners of the earth, and lead us safely to our land; for Thou art a God working salvation, and Thou hast chosen us from every nation and tongue, and Thou hast drawn us near to Thy Great Name for ever with faithfulness; we give thanks unto Thee, and are united unto Thee with love. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who chooseth His people Israel through love."

M

כדי לחבב את

they touch both Phylacteries, and kiss their hands in the place where they touched the Phylacteries; and whenever they repeat the word my fringes, they touch their eyes with the fringes, and then kiss them. Perhaps the reader will be able to fancy the ludicrous sight of a synagogue full of Jews, sometimes of thousands, all at once engaged in kissing their fringes; better than I am able to describe it. The reason, which the Rabbies give for the kissing, is, on “To love the precept." Here again we see a great affinity between Popish Christianity and Rabbinical Judaism. Popery enjoins its votaries, "kiss the crucifix, and exalt it every where; yet pretend that you do not adore it, but Him who died on it." Rabbinism likewise enjoins its votaries "to adore, kiss, and love the Phylacteries and Fringes; but not as if they were worshipping them, but as it were to shew respect to the Giver of them. I must confess, however, that I find in it a selfish motive as well: for the Cabalists

המעביר תמיד ציציותיו על עיניו לא בא לידי סמיות עינים מהר,write

"Whosoever passes his fringes continually upon his eyes, does not come soon to blindness." The great Cabalist

גם ההסתכלות הוא טוב להסיר ממנו כעס,HAri teaches thus שהוא מנין כנף

"Even to look at them is beneficial to remove Dy anger; for it is the same in number as corner." Indeed after a very serious investigation we must come to the conclusion that modern Judaism has nothing to do with Moses and the Prophets, but is complete Popery; and however 'hateful,' however irritating a reproach,' the word "Idolaters," may seem to an Israelite,' it is still an undeniable fact, that modern Jews, especially those addicted to the forms of the Rabbies, (who are almost all), are not worshipping the true God; but, as I have already shown, and will yet show, 'a being of their own imagination,' and were therefore justly styled by the uncompromising and zealous servant of God (the Rev. H. M'NEILE) "Idolaters;" and every real friend of the true God, and His ancient

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people, the Jews, must re-echo the sentiments of that dignified divine, who proved himself a faithful and unaffected friend to Israel indeed," It is God-like love to tell them plainly the dreadful situation in which they are placed; and it is God-less liberalism to act a contrary part."

Strange to find, however, there are good and pious Christians, who profess to love the Jews, and would yet conceal from their view, their precarious state for fear of hurting their feelings, and would even insist, that the converted Jew, who is taught by the Spirit which giveth life, and not by the letter which killeth, should still wear the fringed garment, (See Christian Lady's Magazine, for May, 1843, p. 438-447,) which the Rabbies have so adulterated, that it must have become an abomination in the sight of God. We know of a truth, that the Lord does not delight in the performance of ceremonies which became abused, though He himself ordained them. Thus we find, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of. bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand to tread my courts?" (Isa. 1. 11, 12.) Now we find all these ordained in the law of Moses by God Himself, in the most unequivocal terms, but, alas, the children of Israel deviated from the right motive, and the giver abrogated it, and promised a new covenant, for the old they did break. The scriptural Church of England adopted the same measure with regard to ceremonies: "Some at the first were of godly intent and purpose devised, and yet at length turned to vanity and superstition,......which not only for their unprofitableness, but also because they have much blinded the people, and obscured the glory of God, are worthy to be cut away and clean rejected.”

After service the members of the Talmud association resort to the ' college in their Talith and Phylac

teries to read the Talmud,* and the rest of the Jews put off the Talith, and return home to their respective occupa

* Since very little is known about the different societies existing amongst the Jews, it will be desirable to give a short sketch of a few of them, especially of the literary ones; for besides their many benevolent societies, which are highly commendable, (for every one at all acquainted with the Jews must acknowledge that their national character is generous and warm hearted,) they have numerous literary societies, a few of which I will endeavour to describe.

The first and most important is the Babylonian Talmud Society; designated ' "Chevrah Shas," whose object is to study, and to promote the study of the Talmud. All the members constituting this society are first-rate Talmudists, and most respectable. The following are a few of its rules.

No one can be admitted into this society unless he is able to read the Talmud with facility, and understand it thoroughly; he must also be recommended by members; his character must be blameless; and he is required to pay a certain sum into the treasury. During the first three years he is considered a junior, or as he is called by them Shamesh, i.e. Steward: he has no vote; but is required to carry out notices for convocations, to collect subscriptions, &c. All, whether rich or poor, must observe these rules. At the expiration of three years, he is to pay another sum of money, and to make a feast for the members of the association, and he then becomes a lawful member. If the candidate for admission happens to be the son of a senior member, he is entitled to certain privileges. Every member must be an annual subscriber; with which subscriptions schools are established, books bought, and poor Talmudic students clothed, &c.

Every member must read a folio every morning; after public morning prayers all the members are required to meet in the Beth Hamedrash, or college, (which is generally near the synagogue,) and to read it together; but as some are occasionally prevented from attending public service, they must read it by themselves at home; but as many of them as attend the synagogue, immediately after service retire to their college in their Talith and T'phillin, and read it, and discuss it together. They attempt to reconcile many glaring contradictions, and unfounded assertions; a great deal of ingenuity and acuteness is displayed, and thence arise numberless disputes. Of these disputes they are passionately fond; and it is an object of their highest ambition to defend their own tenets, and attack those of their opponents. All those Talmudists are capable of

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