Newspaper Page Text
Friday, March 25, 1966
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
A Chaplain Prepares for Pesah
Hy l)()V 1‘ERETZ ELKINS
(A Seven Arts Feature)
There is absolutely no Pesah
like Pesah in the Army!
Anyone who glances through
the wonderful account of the
Jewish Chaplaincy during the last
century will find a section des
cribing Passover as it is cele
brated by the Armed Forces in
every corner of the world. That
book, by the way, makes excel
lent reading in general. It is call
ed Iiabbis hi Uniform, edited by
Chaplain Louis Parish, and pub
lished by Jonathan David Co.
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For men who are far from
home, somewhat lonely and de
pressed, a Pesah Seder can be
just the thing to spark life into
tired bones, and bring back all
of the wonderful memories of
holidays at home.
In peacetime it is often possible
for men to go home for the hol
idays, especially if it falls on a
weekend, or if (he men are not
trainees and are in their per
manent assignment. If the soldier
happens to he in basic training,
or in advanced individual train
ing, it may be difficult to get
leave because the travelling
would deduct too much time from
his schooling.
There are several ways a sol
dier can celebrate Passover. If ho
is on a post near a large Jewish
community, the chaplain can ar
range to have everyone invited
into Jewish homes in the area.
This, of course, is second best to
being home with the folks. Hut
it is bettor than being in a large
community hall where the set
ting is less “hamish.”
Sometimes, however, it is nec
essary to have a community
Seder for the men, either because
there is no Jewish community
nearby, or none large enough to
house a large crew of soldiers.
When this happens, the onus of
preparing the Seder falls upon
the shoulders of the military rab
bi, the Jewish chaplain. And
what a job it is Yet, despite all
of the efforts, there is nothing
more rewarding than seeing a
hundred smilme faces munching
on matza and imbibing the four
cups of wine with the greatest
of nice sure.
The chaplain must make plans
for Passover months in advance.
The f'rst problem he has to tackle
is where to have the Seder. If
the Concord or Grosmgors were
nearhv. there would he no prob
lem. Hut short of that, there is
no kosher kitchen available to
handle a four of five-course din
ner for over one hundred hungry
men. He usually ends up kasher-
ing a company mess hall, which
in itself is a job for a division
of men.
Then dishes and silverware
have to be procured. If ho is
lucky, the chaplain can arrange
with the Quartermaster to take
totally unused kitchenware and
use it for the Seder, after which
it will be turned over to one of
the mess halls.
The next problem is the food.
Here the National Jewish Welfare
Board comes to the rescue.
Through the Commission on Jew
ish Chaplaincy, and its very able
and cooperative staff of rabbis
and social workers, arrangements
are made to have a full supply
uf matza and wine sent for the
Seder. Chickens can be purchased
locally, or flown in from the
closest Jewish community where
FOkMfRLY KING S INN
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RESTAURANT AND KING'S LOUNGE
Swiss-Europcan Charm-Favorite Continental
& American Specialties
Open Daily and Sunday, 7 am-2 am
CREDIT CARDS HONORED
they are available.
The cooking can he done by
the Chapel Sisterhood, a job no
wo/nafi will ever agree to do
more than once. Today it is fash
ionable for Jewish families to es
cape the rigors of strict Passover
observance in the home to the
Borscht Belt or other such area
(what someone once called the
seat of the Kosher Nostra), where
they can he served up their
Pesah-dig foods on trays of gold
and goblets of silver. To have to
cook for 100, or sometimes sev
eral hundred troops, with bot
tomless stomachs, is another story
altogether. But somehow, the
chaplain cajoles, persuades im
plores, and begs enough so that
a crew of cooks is conscripted.
Finally, when the programs are
printed, invitations sent tint, .dec
orations and floral arrangements
prepared, if the chaplain still has
•any strength left, he is ready to
conduct the Seder.
At the head table will usually
be the Commanding General, the
Assistant Chief of Staff for Per
sonnel, the Post Chaplain, and
other assorted dignitaries to lend
grace, charm, and dignity to the
Pesah table. The chaplain will
dust off his dress blues and look
regal for the occasion. There is
an air of joy and relaxation in
the room when the time finally
arrives to conduct the Seder. The
Spring flowers send their lovely
scent through the air, and all
feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
For the distinguished non-Jew-
ish visitors at the Seder, this is
truly a unique occasion. They see,
many of them for the first time,
the beauty and warrhth of a
Jewish religious holiday, and the
colorful drama and ritual of this
ancient ceremony.
It is an opportunity to sit down
with those who are superiors
during working hours, and see
them as ordinary human beings,
with beating hearts and friendly
smiles. This has a salubrious ef
fect on the men.
When the “telling” is com
pleted, and the meal enjoyed by
all, “thank you’s” extended, all
leave the military Seder with
their hearts lifted, their souls en
nobled, and their minds enrich
ed, happy and proud to be Jews
serving their beloved nation of
freedom.
We have a full line of Manischewitz, Streits,
Horowitz, Goodman, and Rokeach Passover
products. Come early for best selection.
H e Sell Choice Western Meats and Fresh and
Frozen Poultry.
LET US KNOW YOUR FAVORITE CUTS SO
THAT.WE MAY BETTER SERVE YOU.
KATZ
Kosher 11273
Meat & Poultry Market
1048 N. Highland Ave., N.E.
Free delivery Atlanta, Georgia
Out-of-Town Orders Welcomed TR. 2-8887
HAVE A
DELICIOUS
Maniscliewifz
PASSOVER
Everything from soup to nosh!
Ronald Spelalnick, Olio Meier; Owners
Peachtree at 7 th (Atlanta Cabana Motel) 874-35*©