Group portrait of Jewish children and adults outside the synagogue in Marseilles where an American Jewish chaplain is organizing Passover religious services.

Photograph | Digitized | Photograph Number: 71381

Overview

Caption: Group portrait of Jewish children and adults outside the synagogue in Marseilles where an American Jewish chaplain is organizing Passover religious services.

The original caption reads, "For many -- their first Passover in freedom."
Date: 1945 March 29 - 1945 April 04
Locale: Marseilles, [Bouches-du-Rhone] France
Variant Locale: Marseille
Photo Credit: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Renee Loeb

Photo Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Copyright: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Provenance: Renee Loeb

Source Record ID: Collections: 2005.438

Keyword: CHILDREN (4-12 YEARS) CHILDREN/YOUTH DP CAMPS/CENTERS DPS (JEWISH) GROUP PORTRAITS JEWISH HOLIDAYS (PASSOVER) JEWS (FRENCH) SOLDIERS/MILITARY (AMERICAN) SYNAGOGUES/CHAPELS
Photo Designation: LIBERATION -- France -- Jewish Liberators/Religious Services

Biography: Saul M. Loeb was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1924 to Jewish immigrant parents. His mother was born in Lithuania, and his father was born in Poland. In Septemebr 1943 Saul was inducted into the United States Army. In October 1944, he was sent to Europe, landing in Scotland. Immediately, his Signal Corps Battalion went by rail to a port in the south of England for the channel crossing to Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. Saul eventually came to Marseilles where he served as the assistant to Chaplain Morris Kertzer. When Chaplain Kertzer returned to the States, Chaplain Isidore Breslau took his place. In August 1945, Saul and Chaplain Breslau were transferred to Berlin where they worked with Jewish displaced persons. In May 1946, Saul left Berlin and retuned home. He passed away on December 20, 2000.