Pentagon to provide Passover meals, palm fronds to troops

(RNS) Although U.S. military personnel around the globe will spend Easter and Passover away from home, the Pentagon is taking to steps to ensure they will be able to celebrate the holidays with traditional meals and supplies. The Defense Logistics Agency’s distribution center in Philadelphia has been working since November to provide Passover meals and […]

(RNS) Although U.S. military personnel around the globe will spend Easter and Passover away from home, the Pentagon is taking to steps to ensure they will be able to celebrate the holidays with traditional meals and supplies.

The Defense Logistics Agency’s distribution center in Philadelphia has been working since November to provide Passover meals and Seder kits, containing special prayer books and ceremonial robes, to Jews in time for Passover, which beginsMonday (March 29) night.

DLA will also supply palm fronds to Christian and Orthodox Christian for Palm Sunday, celebrated on March 28.


“Whether service members are in the field or on training assignments away from the regular places they would celebrate, Jewish and Christian alike, we offer all the items needed to conduct their respective ceremonies,” said Maryann Bonk, an inventory management specialist at DLA.

Jews observe Passover by refraining from eating leavened baked goods, such as bread and crackers, as well as rice or legumes. DLA will distribute 12-meal cases for service members who are deployed without access to regular dining facilities.

The four main kosher meals for Passover include canned salmon, bone-in chicken, gefilte fish patties and beef stew. The meals are delivered in chemically activated, self-heating packages.

DLA, the combat logistics support agency of the Department of Defense, provides all military branches with almost every item needed for operations, from groceries to jet fuel.

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