Ohio Jewish Chronicle, 1969-04-03

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Serving Columbus, "CentraF and"Southwestern Ohio_^fl^
Vol. 47, No. 14
THURSDAY. APRIL 3,1969 - 15 NISAN
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The Hidcleii Meaning Of l^ssover
BY RABBI
BERNARD MANDELBAUM
President
Jewisii .Theological
Seminarjr'of America
The unique, revolutionary significance of Passover is not its celebration of free¬ dom. In the Jewish calendar, Chanukah focuses onthe cen- irality of treedo.minthegobd society. In the calendar of the western world, July 4-14, and other dates, pay tribute to the purpose of the power- fill thread of freedom in,any meaningful pattern of man's life. In which way, then, is this holiday of Passover dif¬ ferent firom others in the annals of history? Its hidden meaning is a response to one of mai^ s greatest needs of all
times, and especial of our time.
"Why," ask the Rabbis of old, "Does theJewishpeople celebrate its yearly calen¬ dar, beginning with Passover Exodus 12:1) in accordance with the cycle of the moon, in contrast to the notions of the world whose calendar is determined by the status of the sun?"
THEIR answer penetrates the mystery of creative Je¬ wish survival through the greatest ordeals of human ' history ftom fhe cruelty of the ancientEgyptianenslave- - ment to the bestiality of the' holocaust. It points to a qua¬ lity in the, character of the Jew which is indispensable to all mankind if we aretosur- •vive.
For what does . the sun signify? It suggests the brightness of day and the radiance of success, the pureness of a blue sky and clarity of vision, the sun's, rays and the'^waf'mth of itp security. The nations of the world, the Rabbis suggest, thrive only when success and victory is theirs; they can see their way only when fortune smiles uponfhem and their lives are saturated with sparkling evidence of great prosperity and achievement.
A CLOUD, a, diminution of brightness, a test of cour¬ age, a setback, a demandfor genuine sacriflce—any such experience becomes athreat to the veryexistence of those who thrive only in the sun.
People react to their per-'
plexities like Adam when the sun was setting on the first day of this world. It brought the horror of night, and the fear that the world was coming to an end.
Not so fl>r the Jewishpeo¬ ple—those who.cah see inthe darkness ofthe night, who can risenbove defeat, who do not yield to despair. The light of Torah and truth is reflected in the rays of the moon and dispels the darkness, gives hopes when it is needed most, shows a way' through the thickest walls of obstacles.
THE UNIQUE meaning of Passover, therefore, is not' alone its celebratlonof free¬ dom, but what .it teaches about the character of a tree man. Free men hope; the en¬ slaved despair. Free men
light a candle; the enslaved curse the darkness. Free men' view adversity as a threat and are shattered by it; "The difference between a slave and a It-ee man is not only a difference in sta¬ tus, that by a matter of cliance (or Iilstory) one per¬ son is suitject to another person, and another person is not.
TH6 LESSON OF P^SSO\Ie^^
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We can find a wise bondman whose spirit is filled with freedom, and a free man who has the spirit pt the slave. Authentic lire^om, is the exalted spirit to which a man and a people as a whole are (elevated so that one isfaith- flii to his inner self to the image of God^that is within him." (Rabbi IsaacKoOk.the (Continued on Page 4 )
^eai«Glosuig
Now that the fbnd-raising meethigs of the 1969 cam¬ paign of the United Jewish Fund aiid Council are over ' and the Jewish community is being seen by an army of over 200 workers in every section and in every Division, it is already apparent that those who bave already made their gif^s ^ve responded with m^jor^increases in
'But^'ihe,campaign is fbr from over. Many prospects remain to be solicted, and all workers are urged to push for 100% completion of their prospects without let¬ up and turn in all completed cards quickly. A report meeting will be held on Sun¬ day morning, from 10 to 12 a.m, at the Jewish Center, and all outstanding pledges wUl be called at that time. GENERAL Campaign chairman Norman Meizlish has pointed out that the "to¬ tal to date reflects the con¬ tinued awareness oftheJew- Ish Community to the criti¬ cai problem^ of Israel and other overseas areas, as well as the growing need of our local and national benefici¬ aries."
A remarkable featur eof the 1969 Campaign has been the addition of hundreds of new contributors, bi the Wo¬ men's and Young Matrons Divisions, as well as in the Trades and Professions, Young Men's and in the Ad¬ vance Gifts Division. An even greater effort tlian ever be¬ fore has been made to reach every man, woinan and child who "feels Jewish," and who wishes to recognize his re¬ sponsibility tothe community and to his people.
IN   ADDITION,  the   high
level of campaigning, on the
part of an army of devoted
and dedicated  workers   is
contributing greatly to the
outstanding results being
achieved. Campaign closing
is set for Thursday, April
17, 1969 at 8 p.m. at the
I Jewish Center, and all cam-
^iPaign personnel,  Board
J; members ot the UJFC and
local agencies, as well as
.hiferested citizens, are.ur¬ ged to attend. The program will include final reports, a w a r d to leading campaign¬ ers, and entertainments
'B'Doy Set For MnyM
"One pint of your blood on Wedhe'sday, May 14 might save a life and will help us attain our quota with the Red cross this year" said San¬ ford fishman, president of The Jewish Community Blood Donor Council.
This gift of your blood will make it possible for every member of the Jewish Community to receive blood free of cost when needed.
OFFICERS for the blood donor council this year are Sanford Fishman, president; Gordon Zeldman, Mrs. Grant Brandon and Jack Rubin, vice presidents; Mrs.A.B.ThaH,i-- corresponding secretary;" Jack Rubin, treasurer; Ro¬ bert Greenberg, recording secretary. Majors partici¬ pating ate Bernie Friedman, Mrs. Daniel Goldsmith, Jack Rubin, Dr. Julius Krier, Jack Masser, Mrs. Stanley Katz and Ron Robbins.
3n jWtmoriam
DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER
34th President of the United States
"I comp from III)' , heart of A nwricn "
See Related Story; iin This Issue
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Our Best Wishes For A Happy Passover
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