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THE

CHILDREN'S JEWISH ADVOCATE.

FEBRUARY, 1863.

A DARK CLOUD AND A GREAT BLESSING. MANY of our missionary brethren went to one of the great fairs at Frankfurt, at which great numbers of the Jews are wont to come for the

purpose of trade. They did then as they always do, viz., hire a booth, and in this booth expose for sale our Bibles, Prayer-books, Tracts, &c. While the colporteur sells the books, the missionaries employ their time in speaking to the Jews for the good of their souls.

It was on a Saturday afternoon, after the Jewish synagogue was closed, that a great number of Jews began to collect around the booth of the colporteur. The missionaries were away at the time, but soon came to the rescue. The number of Jews so increased, that the way was blocked up. The police officers then came, and begged the missionaries to move from the street. The

then asked the Jews to go with them to the house at which they were lodging, at which there was a large yard, where they could all meet without any trouble.

Mr. West first began with a short address, and he was followed by Dr. Schultze. Dr. Schultze's address had an evident effect, for there was a great cry of "Hear, hear, the man is right." But there was one Jew who continued to shout, "Now I will speak but once." The missionaries made way for him, when he began thus:

"The Eternal has said, 'I will not give my honour to another;' but the Christians have taken it away from Him, and have given it to their Jesus. The Scriptures tell us that the Lord dwells in heaven, and man upon earth. It would be therefore monstrous to think that one could dwell both in heaven and on earth. Such a God I do not want."

The Jew did not see in what a silly and ungodly way he was speaking; but taking off his hat, he added, "With these words, gentlemen, I beg leave to depart. I have proved to you that you have spoken an untruth."

Then the Jews, who were too glad of an opportunity of putting away the truth, began to praise him and to mock the missionaries; and amidst much whistling and shouting, almost all

of them went away. Those that remained behind seemed even more bitter. They said, "these gentlemen do not believe themselves what they say. They are well paid for it, and for money any thing can be done."

All this made the hearts of the missionaries very sad, but yet a blessing was to arise from it. On the following day, Dr. Schultze was to preach in the town. The number of Jews who came were far more than usual. The church was crowded, and when he came down from the pulpit, a Jew, forcing his way through the crowd, came and embraced him, and said, “I am an Israelite, and thank you for your delightful sermon, and for your great love for my poor people." To make the day the more encouraging, the collection after the sermon for the Mission House at Berlin, amounted to 101 dollars, which was a thing hardly heard of before in Frankfort. On the same day, and in the same church, had been collected but six silber groschen, or about one shilling and sixpence, for the Orphan Asylum. Thus the Lord showed His servants, that their work and labour should not be in vain in Him.

THE TRACT.

Ix" the Advocate" for last August, (page 178,) we gave an account of the manner in which a

Jew had found by the way-side a tract, the reading of which had been blessed to the good of his soul. The picture on the frontispiece will represent to our readers this interesting circumstance.

CHANUKAH.

(THE FEAST OF DEDICATION.)

THIS, (says Dr. Poper,) is celebrated by the Jews annually, and is based on Maccabees iv. 44-60. It is also called "the Feast of Lights," and the Jews are enjoined, during the eight days of its duration, to kindle the first night of the feast one special light, the second night two lights, the third, three, and so on till the eighth night, every night one more light. Whilst kindling the lights, certain blessings are to be pronounced, and there are certain chants to be chanted whilst they are burning. It is forbidden to do any work whilst the Chanukah lights are burning, and they must burn one half hour at least. No use must be made of these lights; that is to say, they may not read by them, or find any thing dropped on the ground, yea, they must not even be used to kindle another light on them.

The chandelier made use of consists of eight branches in one row, and there springs forth from it a ninth branch at a respectful distance from the

eight, which is intended to bear the light by which the others are kindled, and this light is called the " Shamess," that is, Servant. It is not my intention here to give a full description of" the Feast of Chanukah;" the few remarks I have made on it are sufficient for my present purpose, which is to enable the reader the better to understand the verses I subjoin. They have been lately composed in the Hebrew tongue by a Jew, and read by me with so much interest, that I could not resist the feeling of making an attempt to turn them into English, trusting that you will not-though it may be done deservedly-ridicule the idea of a foreigner trying his hand at English poetry.

I proceed to give the lines:

:

THE SHAMESS (SERVANT) OF THE

CHANUKAH LIGHTS.

Behold the little tiny light,

Lit all the rest so clear, so bright;
Yet notwithstanding all it did,
"Servant" for them it still is called.

Apart from all the rest it stands,
They caring not to be its friends-
Give light it may and softly shine
But closely to itself confine.

This twinkling light well represents,
My loved people's circumstance.
In it you see distinct and clear,
God's ancient people's past career.

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