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The Discoverer of Manna.
The arrival in this country of Dr. Freder-
ich Bodenheimer, professor of entomology
in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, for
a series of lectures at the University of Min-
nesota, recalls his activities as head of an
expedition which, in 1927, examined cer-
tain elements in the Sinai Peninsula and ex-
plained the Biblical "bread" known as
Manna.
The findings of the expedition which was
then chosen by the youngest university in
the world are especially interesting at this
time, on the occasion of Passover. Report-
ing from Jerusalem on the findings of Dr.
Bodenheimer, an American correspondent
then wrote:

Published Weekly by The Jewish Chreitiole Publishing Co, lac.

Entered as Second•olass matter March 3, 111111, at the Post-
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Sabbath Chol Hamoed Passover Readings of the
Law.
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 33:12-24:26; Num.
28:19-25.
Prophetical portion—Ezek. 36:37-37:14.
Chol Hammed Passover Reading. of the Law.
Sunday—Ex. 13:1-16; Num. 28:19-25.
Monday—Ex. 22:24-23:19; Num. 28:19-25.
Tuesday—Num. 9:1-14; 28:19-25.
Seventh Day of Passover Readings of the Law,
Wednesday, April S.
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 13:17-15:26; Num.
28:19-25,
Pro thetical portion—II Samuel 22.
Readings of the Torah for Last Day of Passover,
Thursday, April 9
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 13:17-15:26; Num.
28:19.25.
Prophetical portion—Is. 10:32-12:6.

April 3, 1931

It is obvious that, if a fair measure of suc-
cess was to be obtained in the matter of the
manna, constant investigations ought to be
made on the spot—and not restricted to one
particultr locality in which the manna could
be found only in odd quantities. This the expe-
dition aimed to achieve by a fairly long so-
journ in the desert and by observation of the
process of the formation of the manna in all
the several places in which it could be seen.
The commission spent some 25 days in the des-
ert, watching at times for long hours, in dry
as well as wet weather, in the dark as well as
in daylight, the process of that formation said
to have been hitherto imperfecttly observed.
The theory most commonly held until now
was that the manna of the tamarisk was the
true Biblical manna. The exact manner of its
formation, the form of its secretion from a
species of the tamarisk, was not known. Some
thought it came from the trunks or branches
of the tree; some saw it lying on the leaves;
many interpreted its secretion as a result of
insects' work.
The expedition found the manna to be a se-
cretion of small "coccidae" insects, mealy bugs
and scale insects. These insects excreted from
their bodies a very clear juice, which fell in
drops upon the ground. The quantity of these
excretions varies according to the weather.
When there was a plentiful quantity the drops
falling on the ground hardened and lay like
white sugar grains. Sometimes they were
small:sometimes they were as big as lentils.
Manna has therefore its good seasons and
its less favorable seasons. There was one such
good season about 12 years ago, when, accord-
ing to the accounts of Bedouins, a man could
gather as much as one and a half kilograms
in a (lay. The expedition found traces of
manna all along the route that it traversed.

Nisan 16, 5691

The Festival of Emancipation.
Passover is the Festival of Freedom. The
holiday and its beautiful traditional feasts
commemorate the emancipation of ancient
Israel from Egyptian bondage. The festi-
val symbolically throughout the ages in-
spired, and inspires now, the Jewish people
to ho m for eventual emancipation from the
social, economic and political oppressions
to which millions in Israel continue to be
subjected.
Passover 5691 is ushered in by an era of
comparative unhappiness. Instead of se-
curity we are compelled to face economic
instability. Being spread over the face of
the earth, the problem of the Jew, affected
as it is by an international crisis, is many
times more difficult than that of the non-
Jew. It is almost impossible to find an ex-
ception to the established rule that the Jew
has been chosen to face hardships in every
age and every clime. And the present
crisis is a far more trying one than any
other experienced in many centuries be-
cause until now every crisis in one country
was offset and paralleled by glorious days
in some other land. But the present is an
international crisis unequalled in our his-
tory.
During the most trying periods of the
war, and during the pogrom-years follow-
ing the world conflict, Eastern and Central
European Jewry was at least able to direct
hopeful eyes to the Jews of America. To-
day this hope is weakened because Ameri-
can Jewry's economic position is weakened.
And that economic enslavement and the po-
litical oppression, which continues to keep
millions of European Jews shackled, stares
us in the face this Passover with a bitter
irony. It teaches the Jew a thousand les-
sons, and reminds him again to learn from
experience and to seek self-emancipation
where the trust in princes has been abused
and promised emancipation did not mater-
ialize.
But even the darkest clouds disappear
on the Festival of Freedom. The lessons of
history inspire the Jewish people to trust
in the ultimate triumph of right over might
and to have faith that the eternal people
will survive its eternal foes. The Pharaohs
have been survived. Israel lives. There-
fore t le central and guiding spirit of Pass-
over is a feeling of hope, symbolized in the
107th Psalm specially chosen to be read on
Passover. This spirit of hope has been the
most powerful element in the survival of
the people in spite of most trying persecu-
tions.
Passover, the Festival of Emancipation
which derives its strength front the faith
and hope entertained by Jewry, is also the
festival of song. The "Shir Hashirim," the
"Song of Songs," read during the festival,
is an utterance of thanksgiving and an ex-
pression of love. The spirit of Israel rises
to great heights on Passover when the Jew
sings with the author of this great poem:
"For, In, the winter is past,
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of singing is come."

Aside from this contribution to science,
contained in his explanation of the "divine
gift" of manna, Dr. Bodenheimer has clone
valuable research work to aid the Jewish
settlements. His most recent conrtibution
is his conclusion for the locust plague. Ac-
cording to Dr. Bodenheimer, the ova of lo-
custs multiply in arid sections and are de-
stroyed in damp climates. Ile explains the
last locust plague in Palestine as being the
result of the drought which existed there
for many months.
The honor accorded Dr. Bodenheimer in
the invitation extended him to lecture in
this country is based on a record of high
achievements. The Jewish community wel-
comes this noted guest and recalls, on the
occasion of his visit, the fine conrtibutions
he has made to science and the aid he has
given the Jewish settlement in Palestine.

We have the double standard of judgment
with regard to names. There is the question
that certain Jewish surnames seem odd and
ridiculous to the American ear. I cite Wimpf-
hemmer, Yawolinsky, Ginsberg. I don't mean
that any of these names is, from a cosmic
standpoint, funny. But simply, they have the
nature of seeming strange and outlandish to
a world of Browns, Smiths and Blakey,. It
would seem, then, that everybody should be
pleased when names, difficult to pronounce, and
to certain ears ugly, are removed from circula-
tion. We cry constantly that all who come to
America should be assimilated and take on
American manners and American customs. One
of the first steps towards assimilation is to
assume some other name which chimes in with
the custom of the country. From that point
of view a Mr. Yawolinsky who becomes Mr.
Yale pays a tribute to the prejudices and man-
ners of the community in which he lives. Yet,
will he be applauded by any Je•-baiting Gen.
tile? Ile will not. I have heard it said a hun-
dred times that "Jews are tricky and are eager
to change their names in order to pass as Gen-
tiles." The problem is simply this: Any per-
son with an obviously Jewish name is gravely
handicapped in regard to obtaining many sorts
of employment, while if he changes it he is
viewed as one who has resorted to a subter-
fuge. In other words, this is one more case of
"damned if you do and damned if you don't."

Two gentlemen, one named Potash and the
other Perlmutter, have registered a partnership
in Palestine. They are engineers who propose
to fertilize some large tracts of now dry land
by bringing to it water from some distance. So
that we may look forward to irrigation and
not irritation being the feature of this "Potash
and Perlmutter" business!

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BY•THE•WAY

Tidbits and News of Jew-
ish Personalities.

Charles H. Joseph

By DAVID SCHWARTZ

THE TIMES AND THE WORLD
A most interesting interview
with Adolph Ochs appears in the
current Editor and Publisher. It
will be recalled that when the em-
ployees of the World prior to its
sale received the plan of buying
that paper and running it them-
selves, they gave credit for the idea
to Mr. Ochs, of the New York
Times.
Now Mr. Ochs is back from
llonululu where he has been va-
cationing, and he expresses great
regret that the employees plan was
nat consummated. Ile declares that
had he been in New York, he would
have provided the financial guar-
antee necessary for the employee
ownership of the World.
Mr. Ochs, it appears, has a very
good opinion of the New York
World despite the fact that it was
it rival of his own and he would
have liked to have seen it continue
despite the fact that with its dis-
appearance, his own paper has
gained in circulation.
You remember those lines of
Scott, who &mites the victorious
foe lamenting the death of his
rival:
"My fairest Kingdom would I
give
To hid Clan-Alpine's chieftain
live."
I haven't quoted it entirely cor-
rectly, but it is somewhere in Scott,
and it depicts the spirit of all val-
iant fighters—a spirit, it seems,
that the owner of the New York
Times shares.

WHERE CIRCULATION WENT
On the Sunday, following the
cessation of the World, Mr. Ochs
states, the circulation of the Times,
for that particular issue was in-
creased by a quarter of it million.
In general, Mr. Ochs expects that
the Times will get about one third
of the old World subscribers. He
believes it could get more, if it
adopted the comic strips, and some
of the other features of the World.
But the Times circulation al-
ready exceeds Mr. Och's rosiest
hopes and besides to adopt these
World features would probably ne-
cessitate the elimination of much
of the Times present features.
Something which is unthinkable.
Mr. Ochs, in this interview, also
predicts a circulation of more than
half a million for the World-Tele-
gram, which absorbed the World.
This will raise that paper to one
of the front places of journalism.

BRILLIANT YOUTH
Walter Lippman, the former ed-
itor of the New Republic, and more
lately, editor of the New York
World, was tendered a dinner this
week, which was attended by the
leaders of the civic life of the coun-
try.
Lippman was only 23 years old
when he wrote his "Preface to Pol-
itics," and it created no much of
a stir that Roosevelt, as one news-
paper put it, "adopted it as his
credo." Then he wrote "Drift and
Mastery," helped found the New
Republic and is supposed to have
been largely the author of the 14
points of Woodrow Wilson. His
last job, that of editing the World,
did not, to my own opinion, add
any further glory to his name. As
one newspaper critic put it, his ed-
itorials, while they would have
made splendid things to frame and
hang on the wall, somehow did not
hit
oonst thveiolsetnrr st.t leAfatneici

“CHRISTIANS ONLY," the pro-Jewish book by
Heywood Broun and George Britt, seems to be
moving rapidly in the direction of the Best Sellers.
Broun has a large personal following because of his
recognized fearlessness in attacking any group or
issue which doesn't please him. Jobs mean nothing
to him and he is willing to sacrifice his position
rather than sacrifice his freedom of speech or of
writing as the case may be. So it is natural to
expect that when he took a verbal club and went
hunting for anti-Semites and anti-Semitic situations
that he wouldn't spare any heads. And he hasn't;
though how much of the book is Broun's and how
meuh is Britt's is debatable.

HERE

is a paragraph or two selected by Ilarry
Hansen, the well-known literary critic from the
book. He says:

Those of us who have supposed because of
the Klan movement, that the strongest preju-
dice against Jews was to be found in the Vil-
lages of the middle West and South may read
these paragraphs with amazement:

Hundreds of Jewish college students from
the East go South and to the middle West

every year, fleeing discrimination. It would

be possible to trace to this motive, rather than
to money and professionalism, the presence on

obscure Southern church college teams of

many star Jewish athletes from the North.
Prejudice against Jews in colleges generally is

said to correspond to the area of density of
Jewish population. It is strong in the big

Eastern colleges . . . Columbia, Yale, Har-
vard, Pennsylvania and the New England

schools as a whole. Princeton nips the prob-

lem in the bud by holding down admission of
Jews far below the percentage in any of the
others mentioned, and although there is no
overt ban or discrimination, the number seems
to be exceedingly small
decreasing where
Jews may be accepted in any respects on per-
sonal merit."

and

ALL this is involved in the discussion which is
now sweeping the country regarding the ad-
visability of establishing a Jewish university. I
sat as one of three judges the other evening listen-
ing to a debate between representatives of the
Temple in Cleveland and of Roder Shalom, Pitts-
burgh. Those who favored the establishment of
such an university stressed the advantage it would
be to so many Jewish students who are excluded
from higher institutions of learning because of
prejudice. Their idea was to have it non-sectarian
and admit Gentiles as well as Jews. Personally, I
have little patience with Jewish clubs or with pro-
posed Jewish universities that are conducted on a
non-sectarian basis. It's usually a cheap gesture to
our neighbors. Whenever a Jewish club opens its
doors to Gentiles, it reminds me of those good-will
dinners given by Jews to Gentiles. I wonder how
many Protestants are enrolled in Catholic univer-
sities?

'TI

E Jews want to have Palestine represented at
the World Fair in Chicago. Dr. Melamed, the
editor and scholar, says that the Palestine of the
Jews will have a lot to show. In the last 12 years,
so he says, it has become the center of intensive
cultivation. He believes that it will be a splendid
opportunity for Zionist propaganda then to show the
world what the Jews have achieved in such a short
time. Dr. Melamed complains that the World Fair
committee, while already negotiating with the Zion-
ist committee, certain Reform rabbis have pointed
out to the committee that the Jews are not a
nation but representatives of a religion. Dr. Melo-
med says that it isn't true, because the Balfdur
Declaration says the Jews are a nation. I think
the time is rapidly drawing near when we are
going to have a real split in American Jewry, the
widest that has ever occurred. And this serious
break is being brought about because of the com-
plete difference of opinion and the entirely oppo-
site attitudes of the Jews in this country on the
question, whether we are Jews by religion or be-
cause we are a nation or a race. So I say, let's have
a show-down. It can't be postponed much longer.
The some element that wants Palestine at the
World's Fair wants a Jewish room in the Univer-
sity of Pittsburgh. They are racial and national-
istic Jews. The Reform leaders might just as well
make up their minds that they can no longer stop
this mass movement toward nationalism which was
started with the revival of the l'alestinian move-
ment. If Dr. Melamed soul his group in Chicago
want to have the wonders of Jewish accomplish-
ment displayed to the world at Chicago, who can
stop him? I don't agree with him. I can see only
more trouble, more discrimination, more prejudice
against the Jew in this country because of the
gradual transference of leadership to the shoul-
ders of racial and nationalist Jews. But I predict
that it will mean not merely the NUMERICAL
support of Jewish movements by this group but
they will be put to the task of SUPPLYING TILE
FINANCIAL SUPI'ORT AS well. I see clouds on
the horizon, and I have seen them gathering during
the past few years. If we stop an exhibit next
year or the year after, eventually the RELIGION-
IST JEW is going to be overcome. So I say the
quicker the Jews of both groups know exactly
where they stand in relation to each other the bet-
ter it will be.

More Ado About a Name.
We have been accustomed to hear consid-
erable objections to Jews adopting names
which have been known to belong to aris-
tocracy. But when there is objection to
Jews using a Biblical name, that is real
news.
Leyser Friedman is the defendant in the
courts of Paris, in behalf of his daughter, Frank jol%V il l gusto, they yseemed
Rivka, born July 2, 1927, who is officially rather pallid and academic sort of
stuff.
without a name because Simon Jaquin,
In a sense, Lippman did his best
mayor of the sixth Paris arrondissement, work in his twenties. We gener-
ally suppose that if a man starts
refused to register the child, basing his ac- out brilliantly, his progress will
tion on an old French law which obliges he accompanied by an increasing
parents to give their babies only such brilliance. In practice, however,
generally does not work out that
names as have been especially approved in it way.
—U--
France. The father claims the right to
ABE GOLDBERG'S PLAN
name his daughter Rivka because the law
Abe Goldberg, who has an un-
has a special clause permitting the use of usually keen mind, and 1 have of-
ancient Hebraic names. Now the dispute ten wondered why he does not
write more in English, instead of
is before the Parisian district court for de- clinging
so closely to the Yiddish
cision.
field, has just published a little
book
called
This French case is much different from A ra bism." "Pan Semitism vs. Pan-
the experiences encountered by name-
To my mind, this little hook
changers in this country. An interesting sounds a most appealing note. In-
of antagonizing the Atabs,
description of the experiences of American stead
Goldherg proposes to look at the
name-changing is to be found in "Chris- Zionist adventure as part of a gen- 'T IE New York Enquirer, a paper I never heard
much about, has been influenced to take up the
tians Only" by Heywood Broun and George eral Semitic adventure—part of a
magnificent Semitic renaissance.
cudgels in defense of the Tammany group in New
Britt, who write:
Il e proposes instead of trying to York and has launched an offensive against Rabbi

Culture and Agriculture.
Our London contemporary and name-
sake, 11 a recent issue, published the fol-
lowing brief comment:

We hail this noble expression of hope
from London. The Galuth Potash-Perl-
d•mutter business has been irritating for a
long time. Now come their Palestinian
ire counterparts to irrigate. Our contemporary
might have added that this Palestine engi-
neering feat will help to link culture with
agriculture and will aid Jewish coloniza-
tion by perfecting fertilization. Indeed a
healthier business than worrying about the
decline on the stock market, the danger of
a run on the banks, the real estate smash,
etc., in this Jewish return to productive ef-
forts.

>I

Their conclusion really sums up the case
in Paris as compared with the one in Bos-
ton or New York. When Jews aim to be
loyal to themselves, they are blamed as try-
ing to hide in their own shells. When they
seek to assume names to correspond with
their environment, they are called tricky.
If it weren't so tragic, what a huge joke
this would be!

reconcile the Arabs in the Trans-
Jordan region, in Syria, the Mos-
lems in India and in Egypt to go
out and let them aid in the furt
thcrance of the Zionist plans. For
Zionism, he sees not only as a
means for helping Jews, but as
Jews are composite of the orient
and the occident, they furnish the
logical agency for the introduction
of western ideas—among the Sem-
ites generally—for the occidental-
ization of the near east.

GETTING ARAB SUPPORT
I rather like the idea, and I un-
derstand that something of this na-
ture is in fact already being done.
Thus, Dr. Weinman recently spent
some days with Egyptian leaders,
and Col. Kisch has been doing work
along this line with Emir Abdul-
lah.
It is something of a fantastic
idea—this idea of Goldberg, and
yet I think there is meat to it.

HOW FRANKLIN WON FOE
It reminds me of a little anec-
dote of Benjamin Franklin. There
was one of Philadelphia's most
noted men, who had somehow taken
a dislike to Franklin and who
fought him at every step.
Nell what do you think Benja-
min did? Did he go out and fight
this foe! No. He sat himself
down and wrote a little note at the
time—Franklin was at that time
of course, not the celebrity, he was
destined to become. lie sat him-
self down, as I said, and wrote a
little mite to this foe of his, and
told him, that he understood that
he had a certain b((ok, which he

(Turn to Next Page)

Stephen S. Wise, who is one of the leaders in the
fight against Mayor Walker. The case of the En-
quirer would be much stronger if it did not attempt
to justify it on the basis of personal attacks on Dr.
Wise. It seems to think that by calling Dr. Wise
names that it absolves Tammany Hall from respon-
sibility for overt acts. But to me the most signifi•
cant phase of this campaign is that the newspaper
in question suggests that Dr. Wise does not have
the support of the Jews of New York in his effort
to clean up the city. The right-minded Jews of
that city should make it known that they are in
sympathy with Rabbi Wise or anyone else who is
interested in creating a higher standard of civic
conduct on the part of the officials of the city gov-
ernment. The truth is that there are many Jews
sitting in high places who are out of sympathy, and
have been for years, with Dr. w'ise's attitude , on
public questions. They seem to think that a rabbi's
business is to confine himself to sermons, funerals
and weddings, and delivering addresses to women's
clubs. They further are of the opinion, exactly as
are some Gentiles, that religion should be left
strictly between the covers of the prayer books and
not for a moment should it be carried into the daily
life of a people. So when we have • crusading
religionist such as Dr. Wise who believes that it is
his duty to apply religion to conduct in our every-
day affairs, he runs counter to the ideas of both
Christ ians
tans and Jews who are religionists academi-
cally. I know Jews who have spoken disparagingly
of Rabbi w' ise's efforts all through the years for
SOCIAL JUSTICE. When he does that they say
he is a sensationalist. Ile isn't a sensationalist, if
he handles the subject mildly and deals in generali-
ties. No, it is only when he drags out into the
open concrete examples of INJUSTICE in our busi-
ness, industrial and social life,
that his critic, resent
his boldness. Knowing Dr. Wise as I du, I am sure
that he will not be deterred from carrying on in a
fashion that reflects credit upon himself
as a moral
leader, a Jew and a citizen of the city of New York.
Every man who steps out of the crowd
and has the
courage of his convictions must expect such
attacks.
America needs more citizens of the type of Ste-
phen Wise.

Matzoh in the Hinterland
of the Orient

By DAVID H. WHITE

Editor's Note
On the northern edge
of the Gobi desert, in far-oil Singapore.
in the boxtling port of Yokohama and in
aleePy-eyeil K•lagan. the Jew, of the
Orient join with their brethren in the
age - old chant of "child gaily.," A vivid
portrayal of setters a rnong the Jews in
tarn,. parts of the exotic Orient is pre•
'rot"' herr by the Jewish Telegraphic
i Adg:tncy and The Detroit Jewish Oren-

Israel, the world over, adheres
closely to three holidays—Rosh
Ilashonah, Yom Kippur, and Pass-
over. The two first mentioned are
essentially holidays for the syna-
gogue. These holidays have been
set apart for close communion
with God through prayer and fast-
ing. They are the symbols of or-
ganized Judaism and the religious
significance of prayer. Passover,
on the other hand, is the holiday
of the home. The same spirit
which calls Israel to the synagogue
on the High Holidays awakens, on
Passover, the dormant significance
of the home in the religious pro-
gram.

"We Russian Jews residing in
the Orient," said the Harbin rabbi,
"are prone to accept the supersti-
tions of our religion without ques-
lion. The prevailing superstitious
doctrine among our people is that
one's years of life are shortened
should he eat chometz during the
Passover." Consequently, homes
neglected throughout the year be-
come models of kashruth. Candles
left unlighted on Sabbath eve are
now made happy additions to the
festival appearance. It is l'assover
in the Orient. "Ma nishtano ha-
lailo haze"—the young can readily
see that this night is different from
all the nights of the year.

The preparation for Passover
is extremely difficult for those
who have settled in the larger cen-
ters of China—Harbin, Tientsin,
and Shanghai. Matzos are import-
ed from the United States and
Palestine. They come in special
wrapping to prevent mildew and
sogginess. The initial order is the
only consignment. The distance is
too great, the cost prohibitive.
Horseradish is a precious commo-
dity. Raw vegetables, taboo in the
Orient because of germ potentiali-
ties, are not used. Household ac-
tivities begin early. "When Pass-
over preparations are over," a
housewife of Mukden told me,
"most womenfolk are ready for a
long holiday."

In Kobe and Kalagan.

In Japan, Kobe is the only city
where the Jews have an organized
observance of the Passover. Here
a minyan is formed, and accommo-
dations are secured fur those few
scattered Jews of Japan desirous
of observing l'assover. Active in
the Kobe Jewish circle is a young
German Jew, a professor at a tech-
nical college in Yokohama. Dur-
ing the entire year he lights can-
dles on Friday nights the is a
bachelor), partakes only of vege-
tarian food, and maintains ortho-
doxy to the letter. His spring holi-
day, taken during Passover, is a
double festival of liberation.

The story of a New York busi-
ness man is worth relating. A mat-
ter of great urgency had called
him to Kalagan and it so hap-
pened that his visit was to be Trade
(luring Passover. Being a man of
great foresight and devoutedly re-
ligious, he hod included a package
of matzos as part of his luggage.
He was unaware of the presence
of Jews in the Orient, let alone in
far off Kalagan in Manchuria.
From the day he sailed unto the
day he arrived in Pekin, the bundle
of matzos received his watchful
attention.

Outraged nature, the closeness
of the car and a desire to shut out
visions of the Seder in his home,
caused him to slumber. On awak-
ening, he experienced one of life's
grim tragedies. Someone had
stolen his precious bundle. Wild
gesticulations, heated explana-
tions, as well as search, were fu-
tile. Try and explain to a Chinese
conductor about matzos!

The hotel proprietor looked
quizzically at him as he registered.
"Ati iyvrai?" (the Russian for
"You're Jewish?") brought no re-
sponse. The next question, in
Yiddish, brought an affirmative
answer and a show of interest.
"Will you join us at our Seder?"
"Seder! Jews! Here?" They
made their way to mairiv, then to
the home where the community
seder was being served. They sat
down at the table-26 persons—

matzos heaped high, wine aplenty,
food prepared as it is prepare
everywhere on I'assover eve. II
felt the mutual companionship o
kindred souls, and sang a paean o
praise with the Haggadah.
Seder Evening in Urge.

Located on the northern edge of
the Gobi desert in Mongolia, the
seven Jewish families of Urga cele-
brute their Passover hemmed in
by the silence and bitter cold of
the long, dreary winter. It is a
joyous celebration, for it not only
commemorates the liberation of
our people from bondage but also
the conquest of that Jewish com-
munity over the elements. During
the winter months, Urga is cut off
from the rest of the world, except
for occasional visits of daring fur
trailers and the empty truck from
Kalagan, which must travel over
the desert trails without a stop
lest the engine freeze. Three
weeks before Passover, two Jews
are commissioned to journey to
Kalagan to bring the matzos and
other holiday supplies.

V iT

Seder evening in Urge! The
roaring fire sending a warming
glow to each corner of the room.
The many lighted candles.
The
abundant feast of rare delicacies
spread on the tables. The holy
Days mean community dinners but
Passover brings a series of feasts.
The children are in a corner, prac-
tieing the questions. The house-
wives busily engaged in adding the
final touches. The men folks come
in singing zmiris. The women and
children join. Hands are washed,
and questions asked, and the nice'
served. The atmosphere is sur-
charged with good feeling and ela-
tion. One by one they sing, then
in unison again. They dance.
They sing again. A happy festi-
val this, transplanting them from
the Mongolian outpost to the con-
fines of their childhood villages in
Russia. "The coming year, 0
bring us to Jerusalem." "Chad
Gadyo," the early hours of the
morning, another day.

In the other small communities
of the Orient it is different. There
are many scattered towns in China
where one or two Jewish families
reside. There is little religious
life, and that at great sacrifice. No
schochet is available, kashruth ob-
servance impossible. On Passover,
matzos are secured from the larger
centers, and many of the religious
forms revived.
Hong Kong's Jewish community
has dwindled the last few years
but the traditions of the former
larger group are still carried out.
A community Seder is given at the
club. The leading citizens of the
city are invited. It is a night of
fellowship and understanding. The
orthodoz Sephardic ritual, the re-
vival of old traditions, the beauty
of simplicity grips all who are
present. It is a holy week.
Seed of Abraham Everywhere.
The Chinese servants in the
Jewish households are commonly
agreed that the holiday is one of
ancestor worship. The absence of
bread, the change in cooking, the
new utensils and dishes, the gen-
eral attitude of festivities in addi-
tion to the frequent lighting of
candles, is reminiscent of their
custom of ancestor worship. They
light pons sticks, offer prayer at
the graves of their ancestors, and
replenish the food offered to the
spirits of the departed to speed
them along the journey. Behind
the yellow mask of indifference is
that curious and longing desire to
know the need for matzos. They
have speculated with their cronies
concerning this strange bread, but
they, too, are mindful of their ra-
cial superiority and mental make-
up to ask questions of the master.
Passover in Singapore finds the
Jewish community astir with re-
newed activity. It is a solemn
holiday. Homes are thoroughly
cleaned, and new clothes, if they
can be afforded, are in order.
Work and business is practically
at a standstill for the Jews.
Through the benevolence of the
late Sir Menesseh Meyer, the poor
are provided with the necessities
for the Seder and with matzos for
the entire week. They sit down to
their Seder or as, they call it, the
"Haggadah" with less jubilation
than their Ashkenazi brethren.
Their ceremonial and procedure is
based upon the Spanish version.
There is much rejoicing at the

1 1. ■ •

Vac

(Turn to Next Page.)

PASSOVER

By RABBI C. DAVID MATT

But yesterday, a host enslaved
And trembling at the master's call;
Today, exultant, free and saved
They walk, a sovereign people all.

No mortal power clove in twain
The galling band of slavery—
The hand of God did break the chain,
And sent them forth to liberty.

Sort now, with lithe and joyous tread
They're striding toward a noble goal—
With bounding heart, uplifted head,
They go to Sinai for a soul.

Hark, the gladsome songs of praise
To their father's God ascending!
Joy o'er slavery's ended days
With their thanks for freedom blending.

Hear them echo through the ages!
Ringing loud, defiant, glad,
Ringing, though oppression rages
And the days and nights are sad.

Yea, remembrance dulls the sorrow;
And deliv'rance seems still new;
And a fairer, brighter morrow
Beckons ever to the Jew.

tei

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47

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