Jews Throughout World Observe Passover; Military Seders Arranged

Jewish military personnel with the United States Armed Forces on five continents and in 50 areas overseas will join Jews throughout the world tonight in Passover seders and holiday services marking the liberation of the Hebrew people from Egyptian bondage more than 3,000 years ago.

The Passover holiday will be observed by Jewish GI’s in desolate Arctic posts, in Korea and at military installations throughout the Pacific, on battleships on the high seas, in Caribbean jungles, as well as at secret anti-aircraft, radar and guided missile stations. Arrangements for such observances have been made by the National Jewish Welfare Board.

“Operation Global Seder” will involve 350 full and part-time Jewish chaplains and thousands of men and women volunteers of the 262 JWB Armed Services Committees. Hundreds of tons of kosher food, matzoth, Haggadahs and other Passover items were shipped by JWB months in advance of the holiday. Jewish chaplains–and in some instances Christian chaplains–and JWB field staff have stocked with holiday supplies ships of the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets.

The story of the ancient liberation will be recited at U.S. military installations in Asia, Europe, North Africa, Greenland, Alaska and the U.S. Two mass seders have been planned in Korea and services will be held at eight different places in Japan. Rabbis on special JWB-sponsored holiday missions will fly to Bermuda, the Azores, Iceland and Newfoundland.

Hundreds of on-post and community seders will be sponsored by local JWB Armed Services Committees in the U.S. For the first time the Army has set up central Passover kosher messes at all major camps throughout the Fourth Army Area, comprising Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas. Patients in some 130 veterans hospitals will attend services to be conducted by Jewish chaplains. JWB Armed Services and Voluntary Services hospital committees will provide Passover foods for the bedridden. Mass seders for mentally-ill patients will be set up at a number of veterans hospitals.

U.J.A., OTHER GROUPS ISSUE PASSOVER APPEALS FOR AID TO JEWS

Leaders of all major Jewish organizations in this country issued today Passover statements hailing the Jewish festival of freedom and calling upon American Jews to help needy Jews abroad, strengthen human rights, and increase Jewish aid to Israel.

A Passover plea to American Jews for special holiday support of the nationwide United Jewish Appeal “so that present-day refugee immigrants to the land of Israel may be speedily integrated into the constructive life of the country” was issued by William Rosenwald, general chairman of the UJA. Drawing a parallel between the ancient deliverance of the Jews from Egypt and the present movement of thousands of Jewish families from tension-gripped North African lands, Mr. Rosenwald declared:

“The hard-pressed people of democratic Israel have accepted a new burden. They have kept the door open for thousands of Jews who have asked to leave a poverty-stricken and anxiety-ridden existence in North Africa for an opportunity to create a life of dignity and freedom in Israel. “American Jews must take a major role in financing this new pass over to freedom. A swift and generous flow of funds is needed to expand Israel’s new network of farm communities which can receive the newcomers upon arrival and immediately tie them in with Israel’s intensive push for economic independence.

Dewey D. Stone, national chairman of the United Israel Appeal, similarly emphasized that “Passover this year assumes a renewed significance as Israel begins to welcome thousands of Jews to her shores from the turbulence-torn countries of North Africa.” He stressed the fact that at the beginning of this year, when United Israel Appeal agencies were developing their programs and projects for 1955, the plans called for a migration from North African lands of 30,000 Jews. By this Passover, the registration of potential immigrants has doubled, he emphasized.

Samuel Rothberg, national chairman of the Israel Bond Organization, described the democratic achievements of Israel, adding that the young state “has been steadfast in the cause of democracy in spite of threats and boycotts of neighboring states.”

POSITION OF JEWS IN LANDS OF TYRANNY NOTED

Irving M. Engel, president of the American Jewish Committee, said in his message that Passover “should serve as a mobilizing call to liberty-loving people everywhere to work for the strengthening of human rights and for the freedom of those trapped behind the Iron Curtain.”

Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the American Jewish Congress, expressed the hope that the Passover promise of freedom will fortify against despair those Jews who dwell in lands where tyranny or ignorance is ascendant, and where they live in fear of persecution. “We must resolve to expedite the migration of those Jews from Tunis and Morocco who have urgently voiced their desire to go to Israel, where they can take up the threads of their life in security and peace,” he declared.

A Passover message issued here by Philip M. Klutznick, president of B’nai B’rith, stressed the need for all freedom loving men to stand guard against the destruction of their liberty. He warned that many similar “nights of guarding” must be observed by Israelis and Americans if the external and internal enemies of democracy are to be defeated.

Ben Touster, president of United HIAS Service, said in his message: “We shall not relax our efforts to rescue the refugee Jews of the Old World who, a decade after the great war ended, are still homeless and must be brought to countries where they can live in freedom and security.” He stated that there were, at this time, more than 15,000 Jews registered in Europe for emigration. “Thousands have already been rescued. But the job is far from done,” he declared.

ZIONIST LEADERS DRAW ATTENTION TO ISRAEL’S SITUATION

Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of the American Zionist Council, pointed out that “today we celebrate Passover in an atmosphere heavy with threat of violence against Israel.” He said that “American Jews are challenged today as never before to remain constant and stout-hearted in defense of the great achievements of the past seven years of Israel’s renewed independence and in behalf of the greater promise of years to come.”

Mrs. Rebecca Shulman, president of Hadassah, said Passover and the establishment of Israel as a nation had the same underlying meaning. “These historic events, she added, “are not merely the record of ancient and modern Jewish emancipation, but the means of assuring the physical and spiritual survival of the Jewish people as a whole.

Dr. Harris J. Levine, president of the Jewish National Fund of America, said in his Passover message: “The full redemption of Israel will come only when the soil of Israel is redeemed from the ruin and neglect of ages and reclaimed and developed for settlement. This Passover season the thoughts of American Jews go out to their brethren in the State of Israel now in dire peril. Today the State of Israel, approaching the seventh anniversary of its founding, is in greater danger from its neighbors than it has been since the proclamation of its independence. Of course, American Jews, seeing the folly of a policy which arms the Arabs while leaving Israel unarmed and unaided, will oppose that policy.”

Mortimer May, president of the Zionist Organization of America, included in his message also special greetings to the people of Israel. “We renew our determination to stand by their side in their historic task of creating a free, democratic society, based on the spiritual and ethical values of our ancient faith. We are determined to oppose the evill designs of those who seek to isolate and destroy Israel,” he stated.

Passover messages were also issued by: Dr. Norman Salit, president of the Synagogue Council of America: Dr. Maurice N. Eisendrath, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Dr. Sidney L. Regner, executive vice-president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis; Rabbi Mendel Feldman, president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America; Dr. Sara Feder, national president of Pioneer Women, and others.