Lot 217
Non-Traditional Haggadah - Jewish Transportation Unit 405 - Egypt, 1946
Passover Haggadah. Y.A.L. 405 [Jewish Transportation Unit; probably Water Tank Coy. 405]. [Egypt], 1946.
Non-traditional haggadah, with illustrations. Printed for the use of the Jewish soldiers serving in Transportation Unit 405 of the British Army in Egypt during and after World War II.
Printed above the haggadah text beginning "Pour out your wrath on the nations" is the following text [Hebrew]: "On this day, the evil of which is unparalleled ever since we were dispersed, this day of unrelenting fears and insecurity for the survivors, a day that is like a long sacrifice, on which man was sold to the Moloch. The delicate souls decay in slavery and chains. Paucity and vulgarity and malice rule all. And the Divine hides its head in a cloud, ashamed of the pain and humiliation".
Water Tank Company 405 (Water Tank Coy. R.A.S.C.) was established in Egypt in 1942. Following the allies' attack in El-Alamein at the end of that year, the company was transferred to Libya and stayed there. In 1945 it became a General Transportation Company. During its stay in Egypt, after World War II, the soldiers assisted the Mosad LeAliya Bet of the Haganah in Egypt and took part in an operation to smuggle out of Egypt tens of youth movement members on the eve of Pesach 1946, under cover as soldiers on leave for Pesach ("Pesach 1946 Operation").
[1], 9 leaves (without back cover, in other copies as well), 21.5X16.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and some creases, mostly to margins.
