“The Jews are also very careful about their water for ordinary use, yet they really employ it more plentifully than we do in London when used in connection with laws of health as laid down in the Shulchan Aruch (a book of laws).  For example, as soon as you step out of your bed, you pour water over your hands, wash your face, gargle your throat, and rub your teeth with a clean finger and rinse your mouth.  No one would think of moving out of the room without doing this.  I know among the very orthodox Jews in London they do the same thing, but the average Jew does not do it, and here it is done by everyone—­even a baby is taught to do it the same way.

“Later in the day, or when the men go to Synagogue, and we have finished with our household duties, we have the regular soap-and-water wash.  Then again, everytime we have a meal we have to wash our hands and repeat a blessing; and, as this is done at various other times in a large family, it takes a good deal of water, but as it is used for cleaning purposes we need not stint ourselves.  This law is especially valuable here, for it is very hot, and, if we were not very clean and especially careful about cleansing our eyes and mouths and throat, we should run the risk of catching a great many diseases which are quite common in the Holy Land at present.

“I remarked to some women that it surprised me how much water was used for personal washing considering how scarce it was, but they told me that they were as careful with every drop of water as they were with food; none was wasted.  Where the religious laws commanded the use of water for personal washing and cleansing they did not grudge it; for was not the body of man the temple where the Holy Spirit of God dwelt?  God’s spirit is in each one of us, and, therefore, we must do our best to keep our bodies clean for the presence of our Heavenly King, just as carefully as we should keep a house or palace clean in which our earthly king dwelt—­more carefully indeed.  What would courtiers around an earthly king say if they saw us take our food in the presence of the king, and praise him, with dirty hands?

“They save water in many ways that are rather amusing to a stranger until he gets to know the reason for it.  For instance, they do not, at meals, use different plates on the Sabbath, when they have a few courses:  they eat the fish on one side of the plate, and then they wipe it and turn the plate over, and have soup and meat on the deeper side—­thus saving the washing of many plates.

“In my next letter I will write you all my tribulations and struggles in getting used to the new life when we moved into our own house.  My great comfort is that we have got to know an American family, and they have been so kind to us and so cheery that it has made us feel a bit brighter, and Mother says that in time we shall get used to our new life.  But I doubt it after living in London.”

When Mr Jacob had finished reading the letter the young folks began talking, the older ones listening and giving a smile now and then.