half-year were killed-oxen, 3,735; sheep, 11,166; calves, 1,037. After paying all expenses, there remained in the hands of the committee the sum of £245 5s. 2d., which was equally divided between the four principal Synagogues. This mode of killing is adopted so that the blood may be entirely drained from the animal; it being an article of the Jewish faith not to eat the life of any creature, according to the command in Lev. iii. 17, and vi. 26. Consequently, before they dress it, it is placed in water for half an hour, and then in salt for an hour, and again washed with water, so that the blood may be perfectly extracted. For this purpose, a wooden tub and kind of sieve are made use of, peculiar to Jewish families. Mixtures of certain natures are to be avoided. Such as grafting one kind of fruit upon a tree of a different kind; or sowing different seeds in the same ground; or allowing different species of cattle to engender; or wearing a garment mixed of linen or woollen. This they found upon the command-"Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee." (Lev. xix. 19.) F SECOND PART THE JEWISH RELIGION. ALL the domestic peculiarities already explained are essential duties of the Jewish faith; in this chapter, however, we intend to portray the Jewish religion more directly, and lay it before our reader in all its workings. The Jewish idea of religion is national; that is, in his estimation his faith and his nation are synonymous. To profess the one is to belong to the other; and to change the former is to deny the latter. Thus there is no line of demarcation between religion and nationality. One may be a pious Jew, and his neighbour an impious one; still, both belong to the same faith, and enjoy the same privileges. Therefore, there is no religious profession apart from the national compact,-no church distinct from the community. Such, also, is their general idea of Christianity-they look upon all in this country, whatever may be their individual character, as Christians; never considering that Christianity is an individual faith; and that he only is a Christian who lives according to the dictates of the New Testament. The principal dogmas of the Jewish faith are the Shemang and the Creed. The former is the most important of all-the first taught to the child and the last uttered by the dying. It consists of a sentence of the Law, declaring the unity of God, as recorded in Deut. vi. 4-9; the whole passage reading thus : "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." The Creed was framed by the celebrated Maimonides, a Rabbi of the 12th century. It contains the thirteen fundamental articles of the Jewish faith, which every Jew ought to believe, and rehearse daily. 1. I believe with a perfect faith, that God (blessed be his name) is the Creator and Governor of all created beings; and that he alone has made, does make, and ever will make, every production. 2. 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 him: and that he alone is our God, who was, is, and will be eternally. 3. I believe with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be his name) is not corporeal, nor is he subject to any of those changes that are incident to matter; and that he has no similitude whatever. 4. I believe with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be his name) is both the first and the last of all things. 5. I believe with a perfect faith, that to the Creator, (blessed be his name,) yea, to Him only, it is proper to address our prayers; and that it is not proper to pray to any other being. 6. I believe with a perfect faith, that all the words of the prophets are true. 7. I believe with a perfect faith, that the prophecy of Moses, our instructor, (may his soul rest in peace,) was true; and that he excelled all the sages that preceded him, or they who may succeed him. 8. I believe with a perfect faith, that the Law which we now have in our possession is the same Law which was given to Moses, our instructor. 9. I believe with a perfect faith, that this Law will never be changed; that the Creator (blessed be his name) will never give us any other law. 10. I believe with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be his name) knoweth all the actions and thoughts of mankind—as it is said, "He fashioneth their hearts, and is fully acquainted with all their works." 11. I believe with a perfect faith, that the Creator (blessed be his name) rewards those who observe his commandments, and punishes those who transgress them. |