Note 17 — Chapter XV · SOCIAL FORCES, Continued

The early Hebrews possessed a few mystery plays, “The Sale of Joseph,” “Esther and Haman,” and “David and Goliath,” and at the Jewish carnival of Purim (Feast of Esther) merrymakers went from house to house giving performances of song and mimicry, but the Yiddish theater is new and was first introduced in Rumania not more than thirty-five years ago. Transplanted to Russia, the actors, said to have been selected from the original strolling companies, played a brilliant brief part until, under government order, the Yiddish theaters were closed there.