Religion in a Pack of Cards?
Post date: Oct 21, 2015 7:43:54 PM
One of the most popular songs towards the end of the Haggadah is "One Who Knows?". This is a counting song in which the numbers 1-13 are linked to Judaism (e.g. One is God, Two are the Two Tablets, Three the Patriarchs, etc.) The song does not have an obvious connection with the Passover celebration but it has been suggested that its aim is to keep the children awake. The song is first found in Ashkenazi Haggadot of the 16th century and possibly based on the 15th century German Folk Song "Guter Friend Ich Frage Dich"
On July 2nd 1897, a Richmond Virginia Jewish newspaper by the name of "Jewish South" printed on page 5 an article titled "Religion in a Pack of Cards" copied from the Memphis "Jewish Spectator". In it, the anonymous author compares this song from the Haggadah with "an old tract we have heard many years ago...which gave rise to the following tale...which we deem too good to be lost."
As I wholly agree that this is indeed a tale too good to be lost I present it here in its original form (Click HERE for readable image)
Religion in a Pack of Cards.
The Hagadah that is still recited by many on Passover eve contains the mystic problem of One who knows, and in its recitative gives rise to many speculations of what one does not know, about which we have nothing to say at present, but we heard recently of a new idea to draw an analogy from the thirteen articles of knowledge numerical with the thirteen values of the cards that comprise what is termed by some the fifty-three paged bible, so often used by a large portion of society in this progressive age.
This reminds us of an old tract we have read many years ago, and we think the comparisons as fair in that as they are in the new story. At all events the tract in question gave rise to the following tale of religion in a pack of cards, which we deem too good to be lost, and as it may prove interesting to our friends who delight in a little game, and much prefer the same to any lecture or discourse in Church or Temple. We reproduce it here:
A private soldier by the name of Richard Lee was arrested by a constable and taken before a magistrate for desecrating the church by playing cards during divine service in Glasgow, Scotland. On his trial and during his defence, he admitted having done so, and gave this explanation :
Having neither bible nor prayer book, I use the cards in place thereof.
When I see the Ace ! it reminds me there is but One God.
The Deuce ! the two tables of stone on which the commandments were inscribed. Moses broke them all at one blow. I try to keep them.
The Tray! the three patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The Four! Our four ancient mothers, Sarah,Rachel, Leah and Rebecca.
The Five! Five books of Moses, containing all the law your honor expounds.
The Six! In six days God made Heaven and Earth, and this court as well.
The Seven ! On the seventh day he rested, and the seven-branched candle-stick was made.
The Eighth ! Eight righteous persons saved from the flood, Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives.
The Nine ! Nine were the months of conception. Joab came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months.
The Ten ! Ten commandments that are the corner-stone of the jurisprudence of the civilized world.
The Jack or Knave is the constable that arrested and brought me here, for he must be a knave or a fool, or he would not have disturbed me at my devotions.
The Queen ! Queen Sheba, who, when she visited King Solomon, brought with her fifty boys and fifty girls, all dressed alike in boys' apparel, in order to test his great wisdom, the report of which had spread all through the land, demanded of him to select, at sight, one from the other.
The King ! ordered some water to be brought that they might wash their hands; the girls washed to their elbows, the boys to their wrists. By this means the king discovered each set immediately, and Queen Sheba was all the more surprised at his great wisdom. The King, the wise King Solomon, whose proverbs are embodied in the bible which undoubtedly your honor is perfectly familiar with.
Furthermore, there are three hundred and sixty five spots in a complete deck of cards, corresponding with the days in a year.
There are Fifty-two cards, corresponding with the number of weeks in a year.
There are Twelve picture cards, corresponding with the number of months in a year.
There are Thirteen tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter of a year.
There are Four suits, representing the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter.
The Diamonds represent wealth; Hearts, love; Spades, health and labor; Clubs, power.
We need scarcely add, he was immediately discharged and the constable taxed with the costs.
The lesson drawn from a pack of cards will bear repeating in the most orthodox churches of all denominations ; whether they use a bible or prayer book it makes but little difference, and our fashionable clubs likewise might profit largely from the same instruction.— Jewish Spectator.
