From the Heart of Israel: Jewish Tales and TypesDrachman, Bernard
General
From the Heart of Israel: Jewish Tales and Types
Drachman, Bernard
Jewish folk literature; Jewish legends; Jews -- Folklore; Jews -- Social life and customs; Tales -- Israel
The prayers concluded, the worshippers greeted each other with hearty
“Good Shabbos” salutation and wended their homeward way. The scenes in
the homes were in some respects even more impressive than in the
synagogue. Uncle Koppel’s house particularly was resplendent with a
blaze of glory. The dining-room, which also served as parlor and best
room, was brilliantly lighted, and in the midst of the effulgence shone,
with especial radiance, the Sabbath lamp. The table was covered with a
linen cloth of snowy whiteness and laden with the finest porcelain,
glass, and silver that the household could boast, while at the head of
the table, opposite the seat sacred to the master of the house, stood
the two Sabbath loaves covered with a beautifully embroidered satin
cover; and at their side the silver _Kiddush_-beaker and the decanter,
from which the wine of blessing was to be drawn. Before _Kiddush_ Uncle
Koppel “marched” with the youngest of the children, and presented a
picturesque sight indeed as he paraded up and down the room, carrying
the infant of the family upon his right arm and leading the next
youngest by his left hand, chanting meanwhile the hymn of welcome to the
Sabbath angels. Then came the solemn benediction when the children all
presented themselves with bowed heads before their parents, and were
blessed by them in the words pronounced by Aaron of old over the tribes
of Israel, with an added invocation in the case of sons that the Lord
might make them like Ephraim and Manasseh, and of daughters that they
might become like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. Then came Kiddush,
and the formal washing of hands and breaking of bread, and then the
Sabbath meal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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