Jews of World Celebrate Passover, Feast of Liberation

At sundown, today, Jewry throughout the world reconsecrate itself to the theme of freedom from oppression. At millions of seders, Jews ate and pointed to the unleavened bread, the matzoth, “the bread of affliction.” The ancient “four questions” were asked, and the answers came from the traditional Haggadah, the old narrative that tells of the liberation of the ancient Hebrews from bondage in Egypt. Passover was here. Joy and solemnity, commemoration and rededication comprised the theme of Passover 5719.

From Adak in the Arctic Aleutians to Karachi in Pakistan, from Prague and Wroclaw behind the Iron Curtain to the newest immigrant settlement in Israel, the spirit of Passover reigned, and the paraphernalia of Passover observance was on hand–from bitter herbs to sacramental wine, from memories of persecutions to hopes for brighter future. Young and old, civilian and servicemen celebrated.

Jewish men and women in the armed services of the United States participated in special Passover services, in many cases conducted by circuit-riding Jewish chaplains, all the way from Anchorage, Alaska, to Tripoli, Libya, in camps in continental America and bases in the Caribbean, Hawaii and Greece. The National Jewish Welfare Board’s “Operation Pass-over” embraced military installations in the United States and in 72 countries overseas, enlisting for the task 370 full-time and part-time Jewish chaplains, a staff of 25 USO-JWB field workers, aided by 10,000 volunteers around the globe.

Israeli naval personnel undergoing submarine training at Britain’s, base in Portsmouth. England, were guests at a seder conducted for them by their country’s Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Eliahu Elath.

HOLIDAY OBSERVED IN SOVIET BLOC, FAR-FLUNG COMMUNITIES

Even in the Soviet bloc, Passover was celebrated. In Communist countries where a more liberal attitude prevails toward Jews–as in Czechoslovakia and Poland–matzoth had been baked, often in state bakeries, wines had been issued from state cellars, synagogues usually deserted were crowded with holiday worshippers, seders were conducted in communal halls and in many homes.

Where religion is sharply suppressed, as in the Soviet Union, Jews were believed to have tuned in short-wave radios–some of them listening surreptitiously and at considerable risk–to catch the strains of Passover celebration broadcast from giant transmitters in Europe over facilities of Radio Liberation.

In eleven other far-flung countries, in small communities where seldom a Jewish traveler visits the forlorn remnants, Passover celebrations were made possible through the Joint Distribution Committee’s advance planning. A quarter of a million tons of matzoth, and many other Passover supplies had beed distributed to those communities by the JDC.

Radio played a part in Passover celebrations elsewhere, besides the Soviet Union. There were special programs on the air in the United States and in Latin American countries, in Israel and in Britain, in France and in Algeria. In the latter area, the Grand Rabbinate had arranged a special program, parts of which had been pre-transcribed in Israel.

MANY TOURISTS MAKE PILGRIMAGES TO ISRAEL

Jews from all over the world, many of them from the United States and Canada, made the traditional pilgrimage to Israel on Passover. Israeli tourist officials reported in Tel Aviv that the tourist influx in the 48 hours preceding the first seder was “unprecedented.” Regular and chartered planes landed one after another at Lydda airport while ships were advancing their schedules to arrive in Haifa in time to permit passengers to participate fully in the holiday.

Internal tourist traffic also reached a peak several hours before the Seder. Public Transport facilities mobilized every moveable vehicle to bring thousands of celebrants to their destinations.

Markets were jammed with all holiday merchandise and foodstuffs, with only fresh fish lacking, raising the certainty that many celebrants would have to do without gefilte fish.