Jankiel, dressed his everyday gabardine with black kerchief twisted round his neck, rocked his body violently and prayed in a loud voice:
"Blessed be the Lord of the world that he hath not made me a heathen!
Blessed be the Lord that he hath not made me a slave! Blessed be the
Lord that he hath not made me a woman!"
At the same time Jenta, dressed in a blue sleeveless jacket and short skirt, bent her body in short, jerky motions, and in a voice much lower than her husband's, began:
"Blessed be the Lord of the world that he has made me according to his will!"
Rocking to and fro, she sighed heavily:
"Blessed be the Lord who gives strength to the tired and drives away from their eyes sleep and weariness!"
Then Jankiel took up the white tallith with the black border, and, wrapping himself in its soft folds, exclaimed:
"Blessed be the Lord who enlightened us with his law and bade us to cover ourselves with the tallith!"
He put the philacteries, or holy scroll, upon his forehead and wrists, saying:
"I betroth myself for ever, betroth myself unto truth, unto the everlasting grace."