The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1942-04-03
A Passover Editorial
BY SOL KAUFMAN

It happened to Pharaoh. 1t can happen to Hitler But
are we doing anything to make it happen Hitler? Along
mes Passover and all of us get that grand feeling that
history will take of everything We talk gby of the
victory that will today because God handed to
On platter many centuries We talk of the modern
yants being swallowed up in the because miracle de-
rOyed the cohorts of Pharaoh in the Red Sea- Some of
Us taking the parallel of the Passover story bit too
literally
The trouble with most of us is that we're sitting a.
round twdding thumbs and daring God to stage
other miracle We to forget that miracles not
the accidents of the supernatural but actually represent the
physical and spiritual sacrifice Most of miss the real
Significance of the holiday of Passover Some of us are
FATHER childish and romantic in our approach to it. We
struck by the color and trmmingsby the matzOth and
the four and the four questions and the hidden matzOh
that is much fun on the Passover.
Those of who read the Haggadah with under
standing too often regard ancient fairy tale with
world at large Yet Passover contains within it the most
poignant record of the trials of peOplerials which have
heir counterpart today not only in the tragic state of the
Jews but of the entire world The Jewish holidays have
been paraOchia in their implications. 1t is
accident that Passover is wildly suggestive in
miniature form of the disaster that has enslaved
millions of people throughout the world Pharaoh or Hitler
the taskmaster of large numbers of human beings who
his slaves tOng under his brutal to produce
the weapons for the ensavement of still other peoples not
yet caught in his clutches It is the universal story of
good and evil but this time not merely the soul or heart OF
men or women but the whole world the battle
field for that titantic struggle
It is simple matter to point to the parallel between
our fate under Pharaoh and the fate of the conquered PEG
piles under Hitler. It gives lift to contemplate the
miracle of the Red Sea and to pray for similar miracle
that will free the whole world from the lash Of the yran
but what doing about it and as Jews to
make ourselves worthy Of the repetition of that miracle
our own day? When going to wake up and recog-
mze that complacency and faith not the same thing
One is built vanity The other the solid ground OF
will and strength.
1t may be sad to witness the smugness with which a
reat Americans going about their war respOn-
Olies But smugness the part of the Jew is an un-
Ogvabe crime not only against himself but against his
people throughout the world How many times must we
repeat the warning that where freedom of nOnJews at
stake the very life of the Jews hangs in the balance! Some
has said that this year the four cups should be drunk
Pm honor of President ROOseves four freedoms. That is
certainly appropriate. -
But may break rule of the ritual and urge fifth
p Yes fifth cup to be drunk to fifth freedom-free
aOm from complacency Let's make up our minds when
danger threatens that it's not only the other fellow who is
gong to suffer- Indifference apathy overconfdence and
mpacency be deadly than all OF the ten plaques
rolled into one.
What are going to do about it? Well if the spirit
% Passover is to be guide, must forget our day
about miracles and adopt bit of the realistic action
OI Moses. Remember that it was Moses who slew the
cruel Moses not only persOnified leadershp ne
gave splendid example of resistance and courage we
need the courage to fight off bewderment and uncertainty