April 18, 2011, - 7:21 pm
Jewish American Soldiers on Passover in WWI, WWII (in Pics & Postcards)
Below is a photo from my U.S. Jewish military collection. It’s a photo of hundreds of Jewish American soldiers serving in American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)–the U.S. Armed Forces in World War I, as they hold their Passover Seder in France in Paris, France in April 1919. The photo was taken by U.S. Army Private L. Cohen. It’s the first Passover Seder ever put on by the Jewish Welfare Board (a body of Jewish organizations allied to help all American soldiers, Jew and Gentile, during WWI, WWII, and Vietnam, supplying them with stationery, meals, hospitality centers, shaving kits and portable games, recordings on records to send back home, etc.).
Also, below are two Passover postcards that Jewish-American soldiers sent home, while serving in World War I and World War II. The first one is from a member of the AEF in France during World War I. It’s from a soldier to his sister in Stockton, California. You’ll note it has a censor stamp on it. It is postmarked April 25, 1919. The postcard was printed by the Jewish Welfare Board. The date of printing is April 15, 1919.
The second post card is from World War II. It is from Private N. Bluestein. It is also a Jewish Welfare Board postcard. Check out the second postcard . . .
Unlike Muslims (we are American patriots, they are American hate-riots), Jewish soldiers–including my cousin, who is a U.S. Air Force Academy grad, a career Air Force officer, and served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan–have proudly served in every single U.S. war, including the Revolutionary War.
Tags: 1919, AEF, American Expeditionary Force, American Expeditionary Forces, France, Jewish, Jewish Holidays, Jewish Welfare Board, Jews, JWB, Paris, Passover, Private L. Cohen, Private N. Bluestein, seder, U.S. Army, U.S. military, World War I, World War II
Inspiring photo and postcards.
I think the back of the photo is wrong I think it had to be shot on the first night of Seder in 1919 -it would have been April 14, 1919 so that is when the photographer took the picture. Pvt. L Cohen’s descendants would probably know but I think it was taken around then.
Jews have always conducted themselves with honor, courage and heroism in all of America’s wars. Unlike Muslims who can’t wait to kill their fellow servicemen when the opportunity presents itself. The moral difference is a striking one.
We must never forget Jewish contribution to the welfare and freedom of America and the betterment of mankind.
Chag Sameach!
NormanF on April 18, 2011 at 8:12 pm