The Jewish celebration of Passover began this year on April 19th, 2019. In honor of the holiday, the Still Pictures Branch pulled together some images of servicemen celebrating Passover around the world through the years. The images below depict celebrations from 1918 to 1985, in locations from Camp Upton, New York to Tehran, Iran.
Original Caption: Passover services held for Hebrew soldiers at Camp Upton. Celebrating “Sedar” services of the Passover at Camp Upton. Left to right Barnard Ovenhanden, Rabbi Blechman and Sergeant Elechman officiating at the services. Rabbi Blechman is the first Jewish Chaplain in the U.S. Army. 1918. Local Identifier: 165-WW-87A-2
Original Caption: Making matzahs for Passover in the Quartermaster Bakery at Camp Amirabad, Teheran, Iran. April 2, 1943. Local Identifier: 111-SC-347365
Original Caption: Hebrew religious services, celebrating the Passover, held at Alafoss Hospital in Iceland. 2nd Service Group. April 20, 1943. Local Identifier: 342-FH-3A-347-75291AC
Original Caption: A soldier in Assam, India, enjoys his Passover Matzos (unleavened bread) at the services held for the Jewish enlisted men, officer, nurses, and civilians at the 20th General Hospital. ARC club near Margherita, Assam, India. March 28, 1945. Local Identifier: 111-SC-269735
Original Caption: Passover services held for the Jewish men in Assam, India at the 20th General Hospital ARD club house. March 28, 1945. Local Identifier: 111-SC-269734
Original Caption: Grouped about a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber, Jewish soldiers of Col. Ray J. Stecker’s 365th group participate in a public Passover and Sedar service, one of the first to be held in Germany since 1938, at a 9th A.F. fighter-bomber base in the Reich. Conducting the service is Capt. Robert S. Marcus (shown with shawl) Jewish chaplain, of New York City. April, 1945. Local Identifier: 342-FH-3A-20303-57085AC
Original Caption: Cpl Lenney Saremesky of Brooklyn, New York, reads from the Haggadah while observing the Jewish Passover in Kunming, China. April 28, 1945. Local Identifier: 111-SC-218012
Original Caption: Rabbi Chaplain Herbert D. Teitlebaum (Seattle, Washington) I US Corps Chaplain, making a prayer over the unleavened bread (matzos) at the Passover seder held at the I US Corps Chapel in Korea. March 30, 1953. Local Identifier: 111-SC-429558
Crew members participate in the Jewish celebration of Passover aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). April 7, 1985. Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SC-87-06170.
