When supper was over, grace was chanted and then the Zemiroth was sung—­songs summing up in light and jingling metre the very essence of holy joyousness—­neither riotous nor ascetic—­the note of spiritualized common sense which has been the key-note of historical Judaism.  For to feel “the delight of Sabbath” is a duty and to take three meals thereon a religions obligation—­the sanctification of the sensuous by a creed to which everything is holy.  The Sabbath is the hub of the Jew’s universe; to protract it is a virtue, to love it a liberal education.  It cancels all mourning—­even for Jerusalem.  The candles may gutter out at their own greasy will—­unsnuffed, untended—­is not Sabbath its own self-sufficient light?

    This is the sanctified rest-day;
    Happy the man who observes it,
    Thinks of it over the wine-cup,
    Feeling no pang at his heart-strings
    For that his purse-strings are empty,
    Joyous, and if he must borrow
    God will repay the good lender,
    Meat, wine and fish in profusion—­
    See no delight is deficient. 
    Let but the table be spread well,
    Angels of God answer “Amen!”
    So when a soul is in dolor,
    Cometh the sweet restful Sabbath,
    Singing and joy in its footsteps,
    Rapidly floweth Sambatyon,
    Till that, of God’s love the symbol,
    Sabbath, the holy, the peaceful,
    Husheth its turbulent waters.

       * * * * *
    Bless Him, O constant companions,
    Rock from whose stores we have eaten,
    Eaten have we and have left, too,
    Just as the Lord hath commanded
    Father and Shepherd and Feeder. 
    His is the bread we have eaten,
    His is the wine we have drunken,
    Wherefore with lips let us praise Him,
    Lord of the land of our fathers,
    Gratefully, ceaselessly chaunting
    “None like Jehovah is holy.”

       * * * * *
    Light and rejoicing to Israel,
    Sabbath, the soother of sorrows,
    Comfort of down-trodden Israel,
    Healing the hearts that were broken! 
    Banish despair!  Here is Hope come,
    What!  A soul crushed!  Lo a stranger
    Bringeth the balsamous Sabbath. 
    Build, O rebuild thou, Thy Temple,
    Fill again Zion, Thy city,
    Clad with delight will we go there,
    Other and new songs to sing there,
    Merciful One and All-Holy,
    Praised for ever and ever.

During the meal the Pollack began to speak with his host about the persecution in the land whence he had come, the bright spot in his picture being the fidelity of his brethren under trial, only a minority deserting and those already tainted with Epicureanism—­students wishful of University distinction and such like.  Orthodox Jews are rather surprised when men of (secular) education remain in the fold.

Hannah took advantage of a pause in their conversation to say in German: