1. Early Training Steeped in Ancient Traditions (Fragment)

Sabbath

The weekly return of the Old Covenant Sabbath was strictly observed. It was not only a day of rest and a holy season of worship, but a pleasant family fellowship time as well. All the preparations for this holy day had to be finished before sunset. The food for the Sabbath meals was put in the hermetically sealed and specially heated oven to be cooked and kept warm until the next afternoon — no fire being allowed during the entire Sabbath — this is in accordance with Ex. 16:23 and Num. 15:32. The best foods had to be used for the three obligatory Sabbath meals, from which not even the poorest family was exempt.

As an exception, the Jewish married woman had her share in honoring the Sabbath. She had to light the candles for the festivity. This is one of the three commands she had to observe while the men married or unmarried alike — were strictly under the obligation of the entire Law, which contained not less than 613 precepts, regarding things that he should or should not do.

Leon’s mother usually dedicated her candles early before sunset, using large ones to be sure they would last for the whole evening. Leon liked to see her encircling the candles with her hands as if she wanted to have the full blessing of them as she prayed to God for enlightenment. Then she prayed for her family, relatives and the nation.

The rabbis attached quite a few mystical applications to the observance of the Sabbath. It was then, and still is today, celebrated as a “queen,” or a “bride,” with a special order of worship and prayers. One hymn which is still sung in the synagogue on the eve of the Sabbath, became very popular. It is the “Lechah‑Dodi,” composed by Rabbi Shelomoh Halevi Alkabez in the year 1540, and sung to some two thousand different musical settings in the synagogues and Jewish homes of the world. In it the Heavenly Father is invited to meet and greet Sabbath as the “bride,” the “queen.” (Shabbat ha‑Malkah in Hebrew)

Returning from the synagogue with his father, upon entering the door, Leon was aware of the presence of the invisible holy angels, the messengers of God, sent to attend the festival. That is why they were welcomed by Leon and his father with a hymn, “Shalom aleichem” — “Peace be with you, you angels of peace, you serving messengers from the Most High King of Kings. O, Holy One, bless us with peace,” etc.

At the head of the royally‑decorated table were placed two emblems of great significance, namely, bread and wine. The special bread was home‑baked of the finest flour. On the table were two loaves covered with a white napkin. They represented the two rows of the “Lechem ha‑panim” — the shewbread in the sanctuary of old — which were set every Sabbath before God (Ex. 25:30 and Lev. 24:5‑3.) With the bread there was wine prepared of grapes or raisins unfermented. There is a mystical significance attached to these emblems… one of these loaves being made of three strips, plaited together and baked into one loaf.

It was customary to invite strangers from other places who could not return to their cities to enjoy the observance of the Sabbath with their own families, to share in the celebration.