Massive preparations were underway today to assure a traditional seder feast for Israeli Army units stationed on far-flung fronts from the Golan Heights of Syria to the shores of the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.
The task is a major one because Israeli troops have never been so widely dispersed outside of Israel’s territory since Israel was established 20 years ago. But the quartermaster’s corps, under the direction of the Chief Chaplain, apparently has “Operation Passover” well in hand. Troops were assured of adequate supplies of matzohs, sacramental wine, charosset and all of the ritual appurtenances of a seder in addition to an ample meal wherever they are stationed. Seder services will be conducted by chaplains and cantors assigned to each unit.
For civilians, the holiday was marked by a steep rise in the prices of food and flowers. All chometz (leavened foods) of the State of Israel will be sold tomorrow morning to Arab villagers for a symbolic price, in accordance with Jewish tradition. For thousands of Israelis. Passover will be a holiday on wheels and the army set up information centers for those traveling south and into occupied territories. Tourists were arriving in record numbers.
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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.
