The Providence Passover Journal and the Third Seder

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The Providence Passover Journal is truly a Rhode Island creation, one that inspired groups in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia to create similar publications.  

 

Published in Providence between 1929 and 1964, the Passover Journal came out of the work of Poale Zion, a Zionist labor organization from Russia.  This group, after many twists and turns, arrived in North America along with a wave of Russian Jews. 

In Providence, Poale Zion merged with a similar German group and eventually hosted the Third Seder annually.

Alter Boyman, along with Henry Burt and Morris Beeber, was the driving force behind this extra seder.   Held in private homes, and with some support from the Rhode Island Jewish Federation, this seder was not for religious purposes, but for entertainment – songs, speakers and fellowship.  Speeches were made about farms and life in Israel, and those assembled gave support to Histadruth, an Israeli trade union established in the 1920s. 

The annual Passover Journal was distributed at this Third Seder. The cover of one of the journals shows a stalwart Israeli farmer striding into the future.  Articles focused on agriculture – farms and cooperatives for produce distribution – and trade schools, loan associations and the cultural life of Israeli workers.

Among the local rabbis and authors who wrote articles were Rabbi Eli A. Bohnen, Rabbi William G. Braude, Rabbi Morris Schussheim, Rabbi Meir Lasker (son-in-law of the Boymans), Dr. Harry Broadman, Selig Greenberg, Morris Shoam, Nathan Resnick, Harry Beck, Dr. Harry Elkin, Jerry Segal-Foster, and Beryl Segal.  Even poets contributed: Solomon Lightman, Samuel Sherman, Bas Tuvya (Janet Shoham-Resnick), and Dr. Phillip M. Philips

There was also always a satirical letter from a “friend” (Alter Boyman), which made gentle fun of Jewish life in Providence but also praised the good works of Jewish organizations in the city, including the free loan associations, women’s groups, The Miriam Hospital and the Jewish orphanage. 

The journal was written in English and Yiddish, with English in the front half and Yiddish in the back half. 

The final Third Seder in Providence was held in 1964.

These journals are a treasure trove of information about the times. In addition to the articles, there are advertisements from businesses long gone, many in both English and Yiddish.  While it isn’t the full run, the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association has the most complete collection available, which you can access at www.bit.ly/2oPKtpC.

 

For more information about the Passover Journals, see an article by Beryl Segal in Notes 8.1, November 1979, pp. 55-61, at www.rijha.org/publications/notes-available-on-this-site.

RUTH BREINDEL is president of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association.