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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1905)
'i' 7 -I f iinii)"1l',n ' 1 ?rktew i mi Z l .11117 btiunttd ft' Mmi;. Pt! 'i.;it!? ft.. fl jrl I KM i 1 ! ttl I III I . 7 1 ff'mi i If if I mu J H Ml 5 m A N inte II .11 - ..: . . i, 1 5 'i M i ii . MM 1 ' ' : llHf m IIWJI i ii 1 1 1 1 1 1 3: m it iuUL.ii mm .I'lT v. y jrr t - v n Vtra r 1 .A V , liS SI W4 sT- J) A ..:.v. . . . & .... . .. ?!. 1 W Sa: -ritf Ml- JJABLUS AKD 791DUNT. Eral Lujisoly Interesting Bacrlficlal ceremony i held yearly on a lofty mount In Palestine, pre senting: a curious combination of Jewish ritual and Arab festivity. But It Is not often the privilege of an outsider to witness this unique celebration of the feast of the Passover. There Is hut one spot on earth where the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb Is still offered, but the site is not Jerusalem, as one might suppose, nor are the worshipers the descendants of the ancient " chosen people," the Jews. The site made Interesting by the observation of this an cient rite Is Mount Gherlzlm, in Shechem. in the north of Palestine, and the people who perform it are the Samaritans. They are a small community, numbering 120 families, liv ing In clannish solitude in their picturesque home, Nablous. This quaint village of white stone, flat roofed houses Is built up over the site of the anolent Samaria, founded by Omrl, king of Israel, at the time of the separation between Judah and Israel. As the dwellers have never migrated from this spot, they are a peculiarity of this section of northern Palestine, living entirely to themselves, and never Intermar rying with those of other cre ds. Their origin has been a subject of controversy, some people believing them to be de scendants of the Israelites who returned after the Assyrinn captivity; others claiming that they are merely of Assyrian stock who settled there and accepted the Jewish form of ritual. Whatever may be their real origin, the fact remains that the Jews have always hated them, as seen in the story of the woman of Samaria. The little sect has clung tenaciously to its religion ever since it was adopted, and unfailingly ob serves all the feasts and fasts of the Jewish religion, follow ing moBt minutely every Mosaic Injunction. But the Samari tans reject aJl Talmudlc and- Rabbln-lc Interpretations and additions. This Is one of the principal sources of animosity between them and the Jews. The head of their religion Is the high priest, Isaac Ben Amram. who claims direct descent from the ancient Levttes, by whom such services In the Jew ish ritual have been performed. There l". a quaint old synagogue on the hill where their sacred Hteruture Is hidden from the curious eye of the trav eler. These parchment rolls of the Pentateuch, which are t i ' T I 11 - . I 1 'mm. :- 11? iszA Ma...-.--.i,n r in l... . ' LiiifOf j 1 ft rtm m m I . '. u4 HM!; '.11 L.J 1 L L a T w A IT f v - N. 1 Li" m 3 - -rut.- ) MsssMmr op the Samaetkn HicamesT anp temiuj accessories written by hand In ancient Hebrew, are said to date from the captivity, and are, therefore, considered too precious to be handled by strangers, so to satisfy the curiosity of tourists some reproductions are shown to visitors on receipt of a fee. Tourists are also privileged to buy a photograph of the interesting old high prleBt and of the rolls, vestments, and other accessories to the Samaritan worship. The celebration of the Passover is the most peculiar of all their ceremonies. This sacrificial rite is most impressive and interesting, being celebrated at night under a moonlight sky, and exhibiting a strange combination of Jewish devout ness and pagan fanaticism. It appeals to the spectator, first, because It Is a relic of the old Jewish ritual now nowhere ob served by the Jews themselves, for, with the destruction of the temple by Titus, all vestige of sacrifices disappeared, offerings not being lawful anywhere but In the temple at Jerusalem. At each recurring eve of the Passover, which corresponds nearly to our Easter, and which ' commemorates the hasty meal eaten by the Israelites on the eve of their departure from Egypt, the Samaritans gather on the summit of Mount Gherlzlm, overlooking their village. Here the sacrificial serv ice Is held. The Jews In Palestine also celebrate this feast of the Passover, but they omit the sacrificial element, and the rabbis have Introduced so many variations that the service Is no longer the same as when It was first Instituted. Sacred Panorama Seen from Mount There Is a primitive simplicity about this ancient cere mony In Oherlzim which recalls vividly the events of the first celebration in Egypt. The solemnity and stillness of the hour awe the. spectator, the service being held between sunset and midnight. At early dawn the worshipers can still be seen kneeling within and around their tents, clad In white garments, leaning on their staffs. There is a peculiar charm about the site chosen for the service. This ihistoric mountain, rising gloomily, and grandly in the midst of such a landscape, a rocky, bare mountain, tow ering above fertile valleys, and crowned by a little white stone " waly "the tomb of a saint which marks the site of the ancient Samaritan temple. All around rise other hills made memorable by sacred lore Hermon, Labor, and Gilboa. Against the distant horizon the Mediterranean can be seen like a bright silver thread stretching all the way from Carmel to Gaza, and down In the Intervening plains dotted here and there are mud hut villages. At the foot of the mountain lies the vale of Shechem, where Jacob pastured his flocks. This height In Samaria certainly offers the most wonderful panorama In all western Palestine, and forms an appropriate sibe. entranced by sacred associations, on which to celebrate this ancient rite. Preparations for Indent Rife. These thoughts filled our minds as we ascended the mount one bright afternoon In anticipation of the service which It was our privilege to witness. Toward the close of day we saw that preparations were being made for the evening sacri fice. Two fires were lighted at a little distance from the ruins of the ancient temple, not far from some tents which had been pitched for the worshipers. Each family had a separate tent. One of the fires was In a trench within a walled Incloaure, where the sacrifices were to be offered. This was for the heating of water In Immense caJdrons, to scald the slaughtered lambs. The other fire, outside the lnclosure, was lighted within a pit, some seven or eight feet deep, like a well, walled Inside with stones, to serve as an oven fof roasting the liumla for the evening meals after the ceremony. Half an hour before the setting of the sun the high prtestappeared, attired in a pearl colored silk surplice, wear ing a white turban. He knelt solemnly on a scarlet rug before a primitive stone lectern facing the east, where stood the ancient temple of old. Before him lay the seven white Iambs ready to be slain. Behind him knelt two other priests and their children. A semicircle of tents foimed an effective background, and In these the congregation worBttlped, facing the east. At one end of the semicircle were men dressed In pure white. These were the " sacrlflcers," awaiting the summons to bring for ward the victims. The high priest prayed aloud, beseeching God to accept the sacrifice offered according to his command to Moses. As at the Jewish celebration, the congregation recited the story of the deliverance from Egypt and of the first Passover supper In a mournful Intonation. Whenever the name of Jehovah was pronounced the people prostrated themselves In oriental fashion. Part of the service was carried on In perfect silence, while All stood and prayed, covering their faces with their hands before each recurring mention of the sacred name, and at Intervals stretching out their upturned hands, " to catch the blessing as It descended from heaven." The hervlce continued , thus tlil sunset. Meantime every detail of preparation for the sacrifice hd been attended to. The lambs had been care fully examined by an appointed assistant .if the high priest, for they must be perfect and "without MemlBh.M Bitter herbs were prepared and laldi on a straw matting beside the cakes of unleavened bread. iff 12". ill. 111 ft Mi -1 ... 'C ' . 1 .m i -omum i .m.immiw worship. Mount Gheeezim -Satsiak-ia. As the sun s rays shed a" rosyhue"on"theeniple'ssIte," crowning the white stone tower with a glorious wealth of color, we knew that the hour of the sacrifice was fast ap proaching. Ben Amram rote solemnly on to the stone bench. He stood looking westward, watching the sun slowly dis appearing below the blue waters of the Mediterranean beyond the plain of Sharon. It wa3 a moment of suspense and of In tense Interest. The story of the Passover was still echoing around us, for the people continued murmuring the Hebrew poem. The attendants brought forward the Iambs near to the caldron fire and held them there. Not a sound of bleating was heardi The attendants flashed their knives. The intona tion grew louder and louder. As the sun slowly sann the Interest of I he worshipers In creased, and at last, as it had disappeared, the high priest exclaimed loudly: "And the whole assembly of the congrega tion of the children of Israel shall kill It at even." This was the signal for the sacrifice to take place, for all the lambs must be slain at once. Then followed a strange scene, breaking Into the solemn stillness of a moment before. A struggle took place for the privilege of killing the lambs. The high priest hastened to the site of slaughter and, hurriedly disrobing himself of his silken gown, quickly and skillfully killed four of the seven lambs almost instantaneously. The victims were cut In the throat by a single stroke. The blood was saved In basins, and every member of the congregation dipped his finger In the blood and made a sign on his forehead with It. The doors of m 1 1 ilitl I 111 . - -v '-Tin III I I 'I ICMIKfl m m i r mm ' vmuj 11 miw 11 11 11 YH,t'4aiJTi vmm jfte IS r7 III U I III ! I I i.it-M m I t bb 1 sT tl'.'-. Ill M I I I I l;.'t(, W-l ill w 1 ml m. 1 V PRESENT HIGH PRIIST JJ 'rty' h fri & f I iff MlLjj v U If ' i i t U l mm t'l 1 'rest During the eight days following the Samaritans . en , . i '. ! 1 ' j J 'lZif rTTl f A .camped on this hill as a temporary home, ill 'i;f -; iw- Thrj&i r' zzrzzzz-'jz- ;, . - , , . . , n J r I-V ll A vjai 4 1 : i;- rjt:'?z?rrrt - : : 1 1 . - ' f fl ! J ' : ; ,w , - I 1. . , . . M i ii i ' -h " " v .t x: h. ,IA ...... , iiiini..ii-liiiMHWIlsiWWS 111 i illlJIIIIWsMWIMWsW"sWM the tents were sprinkled with blood In memory of the angel passing over the homes marked by blood in Egypt. A sound arose from within the tents. The children, who bad listened, began to wall at the weird sight. With this act of sprinkling the ceremony ended, the sac rifice had been offered, and the new year entered upon. The people congratulated each other Joyfully, and respectfully klssd the hand of the high priest. Scene Changes to Reioicing. The scene changed suddenly from one of worship and stillness to one of loud rejoicing and bustle, for the men within the tents arose and hastily gathered at the chosen spot for the feast. The high priest and his attendants now appeared in pure white linen, girdled and carrying staffs, ap pearing like Israelites on that memorable night in Egypt. They stood) solemnly before the fire where the Iambs were hidden, and there, by the still flickering red light of the sacrificial fire, they prayed. Then, taking off the covering of this primitive oven, they lifted out the stakes with the roasted lambs. Within the dark pit the fire had died out. Baskets were ready at hand to receive the flesh as It was torn off the lambs. This was done hastily but carefully, for every piece of meat or bone falling Into the fire had to be lifted out again by men who were lowered down Into the hot oven for that purpose. A trench nad been prepared for these baskets of food, where they were laid In a line between the rows of hungry people. It was a strange scene. These girded pilgrims, as If ready for a Journey, squatting In Arab fashion on the ground on the summit of the great mount, surrounded by other dark moun tain tops frowning around on all sides, and casting heavy shadows on the otherwise bright landscape, Illuminated by the brilliant light of an eastern moon. It was a truly oriental night In all Its beauty, end a truly oriental scene. Th?se people, seemed to our Imagination, to be the Israelites of whom they had been singing, and this the first Passover supper. But there was no fear; all was peace and Joy. Women Barred from Feast. Unlike the celebration among the Jews, where families are all united at this supper, here the women remained in their tents, true to oriental custom. There they received their portion of the feast, to which Gentile visitors, of course, were not Invited. According to the biblical Injunction, noth ing was left. All remnants were gathered and burned cere tnoniously. Having partaken of the feast, the worshipers did not retire to their tents, but remained out or the mount all night praying. Only at dawn of day did they withdraw to lMMfcuMAJ - i ii i IT ' irf -" i ' " " ' " " A "WOMAN OP SAMARIA