Burckhardt, in his "Travels through Syria," &c. informs us, that at
Tiberias, one of the four holy cities of the Talmud, the Jews observe a
singular custom in praying. While the rabbin recites the Psalms of David,
or the prayers extracted from them, the congregation frequently imitate, by
their voice or gestures, the meaning of some remarkable passages; for
example, when the rabbin pronounces the words, "Praise the Lord with the
sound of the trumpet," they imitate the sound of the trumpet through their
closed fists. When "a horrible tempest" occurs, they puff and blow to
represent a storm; or should he mention "the cries of the righteous in
distress," they all set up a loud screaming; and it not unfrequently
happens, that while some are still blowing the storm, others have already
begun the cries of the righteous, thus forming a concert which it is
difficult for any but a zealous Hebrew to hear with gravity.