Additional tourist planes were arriving here today with visitors from all ever Europe today even as the Israeli people prepared for their first Seder night tomorrow.
All sorts of Passover supplies are available throughout Israel and food is plentiful. Basic necessities are priced within reason, chiefly because of a heavy program of subsidization by the government, begun several months ago, to guarantee that every family would be able to afford and to obtain holiday foods. The distribution of matzohs and such delicacies as white sugar has been completed and every Israeli housewife is ready for the biggest and most joyful meal of the year.
Tourists are arriving by huge trans Atlantic planes normally not used for traffic to this part of the world. The Belgian Sabina lines, Dutch KLM and Air France topped the list of airlines flying in last-minute pilgrims from Belgium, Holland, France and Italy. El Al, the Israel national airline, has accelerated its schedule of charter flights to move in immigrants from all over Europe and India.
The Chief Rabbis of Israel have decided to hold a special Passover celebration beginning May 15 to enable American Jews to make the pilgrimage to Israel. Many American Jews who would have made the trip did not because of a State Department ban, lifted two weeks ago, on travel to Israel, There is precedent in the Talmud for such a celebration, which, it is expected, will also bring many rabbis who could not leave their congregations during the festival to Israel as pilgrims. The second Passover decision was announced by Dr. S. Cahane, director general of the Ministry of Religion.
For the first time in the history of the Israel Army, seder services will be conducted by American citizens as students at the American-sponsored Bar Han University scatter into various army camps to read the Haggadah. One of the students accepted for this volunteer service is 18-year-old Daniel Kirshblum, son of Rabbi Max Kirshblum, member of the Jewish Agency executive and one-time president of the Mizrachi Organization of America.
Most members of the Israel Cabinet will spend their seder nights at kibbutzim. Premier David Ben Gurion will be present at one of the collective settlement services. President Ben Zvi will officiate at a service in his own home. Col. M. Goren, Chief Chaplain of the Israel Army, will conduct a seder service aboard an Israeli warship off the port of Elath.
Meanwhile, 115 men, women and children, members of the ancient Samaritan sect, crossed from Israel into Jordan via the Mandelbaum Gate in Jerusalem Friday to proceed to Mount Gerizion to hold their eight-day Passover celebration as members of the sect have done since the days of the Second Temple. At the conclusion of the eight days, the Israeli members of the sect will bid farewell to Jordanian Samaritans for another year and will return home. Despite the current tension between Israel and Jordan there were no incidents Friday and none are anticipated during the return trip.
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