America’s 5, 000, 000 Jews will join their co-religionists throughout the nations of the world tomorrow night in celebrating, at the first Seder, the age-old tale of Jewish redemption from slavery in Egypt, secure in the knowledge that the Jewish State of Israel, founded after centuries of travail and suffering, is about to mark its tenth anniversary.
As the heads of households in every city in the land recite the benediction, thoughts will go out to missing family members–the 150, 000 Jewish servicemen on duty at 650 American land, sea, air and space bases on every continent.
However, from bleak radar installation; in the Arctic to missile launching centers in Florida, the National Jewish Welfare Board has provided chaplains and made preparations for military Seders. In service installations near Jewish population centers, arrangements have also been made for soldiers, airmen and sailors to spend the Seders in private homes. A corps of 370 full and part-time chaplains will officiate at services on battleships at sea, at Caribbean ports and airfields, at Korean battle stations.
ISRAEL’S WELCOMING OF MILLION MODERN-DAY REFUGEES STRESSED
In a Passover message to the American Jewish community, Morris W. Berinstein, general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, bade the Jews of America be proud of the major help they had provided to the people of Israel in welcoming nearly a million refugees in Israel’s first decade who reached freedom from “lands of persecution, uncertainty or despair.” At the same time, Mr. Berinstein called upon American Jews to make this Passover season a time “for renewed dedication” to the task of aiding the scores of thousands who still wait their chance to “start new lives in Israel and other free lands.”
In his Passover message, Abraham Feinberg, president of the Israel Bond Organization noted that the observance of Passover “strikes a particularly responsive chord today, when mankind’s struggle for freedom is still a major international concern. The defense of freedom, which is basic in the American heritage, is reflected this year in the ten-year record of sacrifice and achievement of the Republic of Israel, which stands on the threshold of its second decade of independence.” Israel bonds, the “key” to Israel’s economic growth, he said, can most appropriately be called “bonds of freedom, as contrasted with the bonds of slavery which we recall in the Passover observance.”
Irving M. Engel, American Jewish Committee president, in a holiday statement, urged the free nations to open their doors to refugees throughout the world fleeing from political, racial and religious persecution. “Aggressive anti-Jewish policies of the Nasser regime and anti-Semitism in the Communist orbit are responsible for the present plight of tens of thousands of Jewish refugees in Europe and the Middle East,” he said.
Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the American Jewish Congress and a world Zionist leader, pointed out in his Passover message that “for Jews throughout the world, Passover this year will have an unusually moving dimension. The spring of 1958 marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel, and Jews everywhere will join in heartfelt and joyous celebration of this milestone of Jewish history. The State of Israel truly reflects the Jewish people’s 3, 000 year devotion to the cause of freedom.”
Dr. Emanuel Neumann, president of the Zionist Organization of America, underlined that “the never-ending struggle between the forces of tyranny and freedom is once again symbolized by the evil designs of Israel’s enemies seeking her destruction, and Israel’s heroic stand in defense of its independence and way of life. For those possessed of a sense of history, the final outcome is not in doubt–Israel will succeed in safeguarding her hard-won freedom. However, this will require great courage, determination and readiness for sacrifice on the part of the Jewish people everywhere.
Rabbi Theodore L. Adams, president of the Synagogue Council of America, declared; “The history of the Jewish people and the history of mankind’s endeavor to achieve peace and freedom are inextricably intertwined. The lessons of Passover for men everywhere
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
