Ceremonies, customs, rites and traditions of the Jews, interspersed with gleanings from the Jerusalem and Babylonish Talmud and the Targums, Mishna, Gemara, Maimonides, Abarbanel, Zohar, Aben-Ezra, Oral law ... also a copious selection from some of their prayers, as translated and used by the Polish and German Jews at the present time in their different synagogues

Front matter

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Preface

Christian Readers,

I presume not to present myself before you in the important character of an efficient author, but as an humble gleaner j and should the few serious and interesting fragments I have gathered together contribute, in any degree, to the advancement of the great objects I have in view, viz. the instruction and improvement of the Church of Christ, and the Glory of God, I shall feel highly gratified, and amply rewarded.

I wish it also to be understood, that I am peculiarly desirous of exciting your attention to, and stimulating your prayers, on behalf of my ignorant and long-neglected brethren, according to the flesh, the Jews, And here I consider I am standing up to claim the exercise of Christian hospitality on behalf of nearly seven millions of God's ancient race.

You have, no doubt, read many Missionary reports, and have found, to your inexpressible joy, that thousands of heathens, in foreign lands, have already cast their idols to the moles and the bats, and are now serving the living God. But notwithstanding this, there are yet many millions more in different parts of the globe, still serving idols, the work of their own hands ; and it must be observed, that all such who are still serving such idols, and iv.

PREFACE.

those who formerly did it, are all to be considered as enveloped in ignorance, not knowing what they are doing.

But you must not compare the Jews to the heathen world ; for where is there a more enlightened people to be found than the general body of the Jews, in many respects ? Yet I am sorry to say, in reference to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they are completely in the dark ; indeed they are so blinded, that they will believe the most absurd Traditions which are sent forth by the ancient Rabbies ; and they consider that in doing so, they are resting their opinions upon a good foundation ; but alas ! eventually they will find it is only upon the sand. But the readers will bear in mind, that this is not altogether to be attributed to ignorance, but in a considerable degree to education. These principles are instilled into their minds from their very infancy, and they grow up with their growth, till they adhere to them with unflinching stedfastness, even till the hour of their death.

I hope none will be found, in this enlightened age, who consider they are not bound to regard the Jews as an interesting race of their fellow men. We may consider them as our elder brethren, and of course not justified in thinking them unworthy of our love and esteem. Yet I have often met with many in my travels, and who call themselves Christians, that while they censure the Jews, are not half so careful in their observance of Gospel ordinances as the Jews are in their regard to Rabbinical and other Traditions. Some have gone

PREFACE.

V.

so far as to say, "What have we received from the Jews, that should entitle them to our prayers?" I replied, by asking another question — " What have we that has not emanated from the Jews ?" These are the people who have for nearly eighteen hundred years been driven into different parts of the world ; have endured all kinds of persecution ; yet in all their tribulations, they have kept the ancient Bible pure unto this day. Remember the twelve apostles, to whom the Christian world is indebted, were Jews. Think also of Him who took upon himself the seed of Abraham ; he was from the stem of Jesse, and of the house of David — in a word — he was a Jew — and never forget that it is by the blood of this Jew — even Jesus Christ — that all must be saved, if saved at all.

Some have said, it is of no avail to pray for the Jews ; and ask, has not God said, " After those days I w T ill give them a new heart, and a right understanding?" We admit that God has promised to do all this, and that it will eventually be fulfilled; but he works by means, and it is the prayers of the righteous avail much with God. God determined of old, to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, but he told Abraham, if but only ten praying or righteous individuals could be found therein, those cities should be spared. God has promised to convert the Jews, but it will never be done but only as the full answer to prayer and faith.

In the compilation of the present work, I have endeavored, to the best of my ability, to select from the voluminous contents of the Jewish Talmud vi.

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and Liturgy, those parts which I considered the best adapted for my present object; and I assure my readers that it has been a work of some little labor and anxiety to translate it from the Hebrew records, and especially from the Rabbinical documents, which are printed in a diversity of ways in the original. But it will afford me peculiar satisfaction, if what I have done may, in any way, be instrumental in exciting the Christian world to do good to my highly-esteemed brethren of the seed of Abraham.

I shall only make one remark more. In my gleanings, I have aimed at being as particular and as correct as possible, but if, after all my solicitude, there should be found a useless or a dangerous word, I hope it will be overlooked, and that my readers will remember, that it is no uncommon thing, even with the most careful gleaner, when he goes into the harvest field, though far from his wish, to catch up some useless weed, which when discovered, is soon cast away. In like manner I wish my readers to deal with the handful now placed before them; and my closing prayer now is, that the blessing of the Lord may rest upon you, while you peruse these gleanings, that they may have the effect of stirring you up to love, pity, and pray for that people whom God formerly loved, and will eventually save.

HYAM ISAACS,

FROM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM.

REMARKS

ON THE

TRADITIONS AND CEREMONIES or

THE JEWS.

The thirteen fundamental articles of the Jewish faith.

I

I believe, with a perfect faith, that God (blessed be his name), is the Creator and Governor of all created things; and that he alone has made, and ever will make, every production.

II

I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Creator, (blessed be his name) , is one God, and that there is no unity whatever like unto his, and that he alone is our God, who was, who is, and who will be eternally.

III

I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be his name), is incorporeal: that he is

10 ARTICLES OF THE JEWISH FAITH.

not subject to any of the changes incident to matter, and that he has not any similitude whatever.

I believe, with a perfect faith, that this law will never be changed ; and that the Creator (blessed be his name) , will never give us any other law.

X

I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be his name), knoweth all the actions and thoughts of man ; as it is said, "He fashioneth all

FORMS OF THE JEWISH FESTIVALS. 11 their hearts, and is fully acquainted with all their works. " #

XI

I believe, with a perfect heart, that the Creator (blessed be his name), rewards those who observe his commandments, and punishes those who transgress them.

XII

I believe, with a perfect faith, that the Messiah will come ; and although his coming be delayed, I will still in daily hope patiently await his appearance.