“I was so attracted by them, and so was everyone who saw them, that we followed them at a respectful distance.  Sometimes someone had had a little too much wine when visiting and it had gone to his head.  Then some of the party would say:  ‘Ah well, it is Purim—­there is no shame.’

“I told Father this when I returned home, and he explained to me that their rejoicing during Purim did not mean simply a material satisfaction—­it was a spiritual rejoicing, as on Simhath Torah, when the Reading of the Law was started again, so that during Purim and Simhath Torah allowance is made if a little more wine is taken than is usually the case.

“Then we had Purim Schpielers, who visited every house, dressed up very funnily and full of jokes; some acted, and some were disguised.  In fact, it was the happiest Purim I have ever spent, and I doubt if there is any other place where it could be spent so happily.  For here in Jerusalem we are all like one large family:  respect is paid to the righteous and to worthy scholars, whether they are poor or rich.  Money has not the same power here.  There is a good deal of quarrelling and mischief going on among our female neighbours, but the quarrels are not very serious but more like quarrels in a large family.  In another letter I will write about our ‘Female Club.’”

THE BAKING OF THE MATZOS

Friday evening came round again, and the friends of the Jacob family were comfortably seated in the bright cellar-kitchen, eagerly waiting to hear another letter read, for old and young were equally interested in hearing details of life in Palestine so many years ago.

On coming in with a letter Mr Jacob said:  “As preparation for the Passover is not far off, I think it will interest you to hear how it was done in Palestine.”

They all agreed, so he began: 

“My dear Jacob,—­Please forgive my not having written sooner, but I have really been too busy.  We have just had Passover.  I think you will be glad to hear how we prepared for it here.  Each family is forced to bake its own matzos, as none can be bought from abroad.  It was no easy matter, I can tell you, especially the baking, and it is a good thing we had strong teeth, as the matzos are not rolled out as thin as in London and are pretty hard to eat.  There’s a lot of fun attached to making matzos, but I am thankful the baking comes only once a year.

“As each family in turn gets the use of the public baking-oven, it is necessary to start soon after Purim to prepare the special flour used for matzos.  In every house a room is set apart and thoroughly cleansed for the wheat, which is laid out on large trays.  Then during the winter it is examined by the mother and girls to see that no dust be mixed with it, and sometimes neighbours come in and help.  All who enter this room must have very clean hands; even the finger-nails must be carefully cleaned, and clean clothes put on, so that there is no chance of any chometz.  When enough of the best grains have been selected, they are washed, dried, and then ground into flour.