Dear Readers, The complexity and depth of the Passover story epitomizes what it means to be Jewish. In the following pages, I am pleased to present a selection of Passover-related JTA articles from the last 90 years. From items of historic proportion to smaller personal narratives, these stories of challenges and triumphs, fear and transcendence exemplify the spirit of the holiday. You can read about the first telephone call between the United States and Palestine, the horrors that didn’t pause for Passover during World War II, the first seders in Jerusalem in the new State of Israel, alternative Haggadahs, and celebrations in far-flung corners of the world. This collection is a preview of what will be available for free when the JTA Jewish News Archive is launched later this spring. With more than a quarter million articles dating back to 1923, the Archive will provide everyone -- from the historian to the student to the casual user -- with access to contemporaneous, first-hand reporting from around the world during a momentous century in Jewish history. The Passover-related articles included here have provided me with a fresh and inspirational perspective on this pivotal season. I hope you find inspiration in them, as well. Passover is a story everyone can learn from, so please share this collection with others. Happy Passover, illustration: Uri Fintzy Ami Eden Editor in Chief, JTA archive.jta.org | Free May 3 MARCH 27, 1924 “Falasha Sabbath” During Passover Week to Aid Colored Jews NEW YORK (JTA) - The annual appeal of the American Pro- Falasha Committee, in behalf of the Falasha Jews in Abyssinia, has been announced by Rabbi J. Max Weis, Secretary of the Com- mittee and Director of the appeal. Rabbis throughout the country have been asked to devote their message at one service, during the week of Passover, to the Falasha cause, the first Sabbath in the Passover week, April 19th being des- ignated “FALASHA SABBATH.” The appeal is for $30,000. The officers of the American Pro-Falasha Committee include: Dr. Elias Margolis of Mt. Vernon, New York, Chairman; Dr. Elias L. Solomon of New York City, President of the United Synagogue of America, Treasurer; Rabbi J. Max Weis, of New York City, Chair- man of the Falsha Committee of the Central Conference of Ameri- can Rabbis, Secretary. A synagogue in Gondar. (Photo by Sam Effron) APRIL 24, 1929 Soviet Co-Operatives Offer Kosher Passover Products For Sale Abroad Sealed and testified as Kosher by Russian Rabbis WARSAW (JTA) - An odd light on The representative of the Gostorg, the the anti-religious campaign now being Soviet commercial agency here, has of- conducted by the Jewish section of the fered for sale goose fat especially prepared Communist party in Soviet Russia in for the Passover in accordance with the connection with the Passover festival strict rules of the Orthodox code. The jars was thrown by the commercial offer of fat, prepared by the Soviet cooperatives made by the Soviet cooperative repre- of Charkoff, Kiev and Berditcheff, bear sentatives here to Jewish merchants and the labels “Kosher L’Pessach” (approved consumers’ cooperatives of Warsaw. for Passover). Kosher goose fat especially prepared The seal of Rabbi Levi Halevi Grossman, for Passover, is greatly in demand in City of Kiev, is attached to each jar. Certifi- this city on the eve of the festival, for cates of supervising rabbis attesting to the (illustration by Uri Fintzy) use by Jewish families to be eaten with kosher preparation of the fats are also fur- description of the names of the Talmu- the matzoth and for preparation of the nished. To make assurance doubly sure, dic treatises - composed by the super- special dishes during the holiday. the certificates of approval contain a full vising rabbis. archive.jta.org | Free May 3 APRIL 13, 1933 First Palestine-New York Conversation Brings Zionist Message to the Jews of America Landau, Weizmann say hello over 5,000 miles on the eve of Passover NEW YORK (JTA) - The first telephone con- Give to the Jews in the United States my greet- the future. The world-enlightened public opinion versation between the United States and Palestine ings and those of Palestine Jewry. will not permit medieval anti-Semitism to uproot took place Monday when Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Palestine today is the only bright spot in the and destroy men and women for no other crime former President of the Zionist World Organiza- Jewish world, permeated by an atmosphere of than that of belonging to the Jewish faith and race. tion and the Jewish Agency, who is visiting his healthy growth and steady progress. “To the Jews of the United States I say in this This feeling, however, is dimmed by the grave moment, at no time in Jewish history was mother in Haifa for the Passover holidays, spoke tragic occurrences in Germany, where the Jews, there such need for a united front and for a great to Jacob Landau, Managing Director of the Jew- after having lived for 1,600 years on German soil and concentrated effort for the upbuilding of the ish Telegraphic Agency. and made a great contribution to every walk of Jewish homeland in Palestine as in this trying hour The voice of Dr. Weizmann was clearly heard life, enriching German literature and science to no which threatens the very existence of the Jew in the over the line. “I feel privileged,” Dr. Weizmann mean degree, are deprived of their rights as citi- very heart of Europe. declared, “to be permitted to be the first to thus zens and turned into Pariahs. “My message to the “Dr. Weizmann informed Mr. Landau that he bridge this distance of about 5,000 miles between Jews of America is ‘Hope and Courage,’ Speak- intends to come to the United States on July 1st Palestine and New York. By a happy coincidence ing from Palestine,from where the Jew made and asked him to give his best wishes to Felix M. this happens to be the eve of Pesach, when the his great contribution to the moral development Warburg, prominently identified with the Jewish Jews in Palestine and throughout the world are of the world by giving it the Bible, whence the Agency for Palestine, Morris Rothenberg, Presi- celebrating the festival of the liberation of the conception of justice as the greatest human ide- dent of the Zionist Organization of America and al preached by our Prophets has gone out to the Louis Lipsky, President of the American Palestine Jews from the yoke of Egypt. world, I urge them not to despair for Campaign. APRIL 14, 1932 JANUARY 21, 1938 King George at Seder in Jerusalem: Shanghai Jews Get Relief A Memory of Fifty Years Ago From London Mayors’ LONDON (JTA) - The Jewish Chronicle I treated them ac- in its forthcoming issue this week recalls in its cording to their high Fund; Seek Mazoth “Fifty Years Ago” column, a new feature in- rank. They evinced SHANGHAI (JTA) - Leaders stituted recently, the visit to Jerusalem during great pleasure in the Passover fifty years ago of the present King, of the Jewish community today ceremony, and in the when he was Prince George, and his atten- renewed an appeal to American chanting of a hymn, dance with his brother, the late Prince Albert Jewish groups to provide matzoth Victor, at Seder in the home of the Rev. Ra- which had been spe- for the Passover festival, declar- phael Meyer Panigel of Jerusalem. cially composed in ing that with the destruction of The Rev. Panigel sent a telegram to Sir Mo- honour of their pres- the matzoth factory here the Jews ses Montefiore, which is reprinted in the Jew- ence by the Habam. King George III (Courtesy of Marion Doss) faced their first Passover with- out the ritual unleavened bread. ish Chronicle, in which he wrote: “Their Royal I then pronounced the benediction on Her Majesty (illustration by Uri Fintzy) Highnesses Albert the Queen (Queen Victoria), the Prince and Princess The London Lord Mayor’s Victor and George and their suitee done me of Wales (the late King Edward and Queen Alexan- Shanghai relief committee has the honour to be present in my house during der), and on our royal guests the Princes. The latter given 2,000 Shanghai dollars for the Passover service on the Seder night. expressed themselves highly gratified.” Jewish relief. archive.jta.org | Free May 3 archive.jta.org | Free May 3 APRIL 23, 1943 NAZIS START MASS-EXECUTION OF WARSAW JEWS ON PASSOVER Victims broadcast S.O.S. STOCKHOLM (JTA) - A massacre of the cut off. last 35,000 Jews in the Warsaw ghetto was (The American Representation of started by the Nazis on Passover with the the Zionist Laborite Party in occupied streets of Warsaw echoing to the shots of Poland today reported that it has received the Nazi murderers and the shrieks of the underground information stating that po- victims, while able-bodied Jews were try- groms have been going on not only in ing to defend themselves within the walls of the ghetto. the Warsaw ghetto, but also in a number The secret Polish radio station SWIAT was of cities in Galicia. A message from the heard here shortly after six o’clock last night Jews in the Warsaw ghetto indicated that transmitting the following frantic appeal not more than 40,000 Jews were left there from occupied Poland: “Death sentence has and that they expect mass-executions. been proclaimed on the last 35,000 Jews in It appealed to the world for immediate the Warsaw ghetto. Gun salvoes are echo- aid “before it is too late.” ing in the streets of Warsaw.