The older folks started discussing the life in Palestine.  Directly Mr Jacobs had finished reading the letter, they agreed that it could only be in Palestine that a truly Jewish life could be lived, for everything depends so much on environment.  “In London the surroundings are against a consistently Jewish religious life,” said one; “if you try, it is just like swimming against a strong current.”  “But here comes our chance,” replied another, “for if we fight or swim against the current, we gradually become stronger, and at last we are able to swim well in spite of it, and so win the race and prize.  If we just swim with the current, or just suit our life to our environment, which of course at first is much easier and pleasanter, the current at last carries us along so rapidly that we are unable to avoid rocks or crags in the river, and then we ‘go under,’ or make shipwreck of our lives.”

“That’s true indeed,” said all the elders, shaking their heads solemnly.  “Then,” replied Mr Jacobs, “our greatest duty is to have one thought and one aim constantly in our minds, no matter what our environment may be, and that thought is that God’s Holy Spirit is in and around all who try to obey Him, no matter where they are; and it is only by the guidance and help of His Holy Spirit that we can lead true, consistent, Jewish lives, live up to the old familiar words of the Shema, and love our neighbours as ourselves.”

THE SABBATH IN PALESTINE

When Mr Jacobs’ family and friends assembled again on Friday evening, he said:  “You know what discussions there have been lately in England about the proper way to keep the Sabbath, so it may interest you to hear a letter from my cousin, giving an account how Sabbath was kept in Jerusalem.”

“My dear Millie,—­I will explain as well as I can what it means to prepare for Sabbath here, and how it is spent.  About four o’clock on Friday mornings Mother and I get up and prepare the Sabbath loaves.  I can tell you it is no easy matter, for, even when the weather is not frosty, the exertion of kneading the dough makes you perspire.  If you finish kneading early enough, you get back to bed while the dough is rising.

“Early on Friday mornings beggars start going from house to house (especially the Sephardim and Yemenites or Arabian Jews).  At each house they are given small, fresh-baked chola, bun, or beigel.  No one refuses to give this.  Later on, two respectable men or women go from house to house collecting in a large bag whatever anyone gives them, such as cholas, meat, cereals, oil, wine, or money.  The Community know that these things are not for themselves, but are to be distributed amongst the sick and the most needy, who cannot beg for themselves.  Sometimes we have as many as six or seven people who come collecting, and no one ever thinks of refusing them.  In fact, everyone prepares for this, and gives most willingly, knowing that the Sabbath must be celebrated by rich and poor alike with the best one has.