LOTS OF FUN

“We were not anxious to go home, even for meals, when our mothers called us.  When we did get home, we found all the walls looking lovely with fresh whitewash.  For a few days we were not allowed to go into the house unless we took our outer clothes off to prevent our bringing in some chometz.  The weather was beautifully warm, so that we really enjoyed eating our meals out of doors and calling out to other boys as they ate theirs.

“On the eve before Passover we had the fun of going to the Turkish bath and then to Mikva and help to have all new things ‘tavelt’, and then the greatest enjoyment was on the day for the preparation of the Seder!

THE BONFIRE

“Before I stop writing I must tell you of the bonfire we had on Erev Passover, when over a hundred of us each threw the wooden spoon and remnants of chometz on the lighted fire, and then there was such a blaze for nearly two hours!  We caught hold of each other’s hands and danced round the bonfire.  Oh! it was a grand sight.  Now I’m called to go to a Bar Mitzvah, but will write you again very soon.  How I wish you were here with me, Jacob!”

“I wish I was, too,” exclaimed Benjamin, who had sat listening quietly whilst the letter was being read.  On the faces of several of the elder people there was a far-away look and sometimes a smile, for the scenes described in the letter brought back memories of their own childhood when the holidays and the preparations for them were similar to those in Palestine.

HOW TO ENJOY THE PASSOVER IN LONDON

One of the boy-listeners said:  “I see now why some of us in London do not enjoy the holidays.  It is due to our surroundings.  Many of us here have to work or go to business whether it is a holiday or not, and so we do not enjoy them in the same spirit as the boys and girls in Palestine, where they are freer to carry out the teaching of our religion.”

“Well!” said Benjamin; “there’s one thing at least I can do, and that is to help my mother to prepare for the Passover in my spare time.”

“And I, too,” and “I, too,” exclaimed others.

“Bravo, boys!” said Mr Jacob.  “Even if you do not enjoy it so much physically, you will do so spiritually, for anyone who tries to help his mother to keep up our fine old customs will be blessed.”

LAG B’OMER

It was a week before Lag B’Omer, and the friends of the Jacobs family continued to attend every Friday evening to hear a letter from Jerusalem read.  There was only one drawback to these Friday re-unions, and that was that every week the little cellar-kitchen sitting-room got more and more crowded, for each friend became so interested that he brought another with him without asking permission.  However, as no one complained, Mr and Mrs Jacobs said nothing, and were indeed thankful that so many were interested in those old letters; and Mr Jacobs at once started reading as follows:—­