The United States War and Navy Departments issued an official order today granting furloughs to Jewish soldiers and sailors enabling them to observe the Passover holidays at their homes.
At the same time, the Jewish Welfare Board announced that it will supply Jewish service men with matzoh and will arrange for religious observances for those residing at a distance from their homes. The board will also arrange Passover observances at outlying points, including China, Manilla, Hawaii, Panama and and Haiti.
The order issued by the War Department reads:
“The Secretary of War desires, in order to permit soldiers of the Jewish faith to participate in the observance of Passover, that furloughs be granted to members of that faith for such time as is necessary to permit them to be at their homes, when practicable, or at places where Seder celebrations are held, from noon of Wednesday, April 17, 1935, until midnight of Saturday, April 20, 1935, provided no interference with the public service is occasioned there by.
“Matzoh and Haggadahs (prayer books for the Seder service) will be distributed by the Jewish Welfare Board. Commanding officers and chaplains will lend assistance to and cooperate with the representatives of this board in such distribution.”
Similar orders have been issued by the chief of the Bureau of Navigation of the United States Navy Department, the director of
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