Fayetteville in Fayette County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Faith During War
A Jewish Seder in the Wilds
Many of the items needed to observe Passover were not readily available in West Virginia or in a military camp. The regimental sutler, possibly G.W. Forbes, was also Jewish and was able to retrieve the soldiers' order of Matzos from Ohio. The soldiers were surprised to find the sutler had slipped prayer books and Haggadahs into the boxes of unleavened bread. With these gifts in hand, the soldiers decided to build a log hut and forage for the symbolic foods and supplies to hold their Seder, a ceremonial dinner that marks the beginning of the Passover holiday.
The dinner occurred on April 14, and Joel recounted his experience in the March 3, 1866, issue of the Jewish Messenger, saying, “there is no occasion in my life that gives me more pleasure and satisfaction than when I remember the celebration of Passover of 1862.”
“There, in the wild woods of West Virginia, away from home and friends, we consecrated and offered up to the ever-loving G-d of Israel our prayers and sacrifice.” -Private Joseph A. Joel
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A Proper Plateful. Each Seder dinner items symbolizes a part of the story recounting the Hebrews liberation from Egypt. For example, Charoset, a sweet relish meant to symbolize the clay the endloved Hebrews were forced to make into bricks. Here is the soldiers menu.
Traditional Menu —— Adaptations
Matzos —— Matzos
4 cups of wine —— Cider
Shulchan Orech (Passover feast) —— Cooked Chicken
Beitza (roasted eggs) —— Roasted Eggs
Zeroa (lamb shank bone) —— Whole Lamb
Maror/Chazeret (horseradish) —— Ramps (assumed)
Karpas (parsley) —— Ramps
Charoset (sweet relish) —— A brick
Erected 2023 by West Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 14, 1962.
Location. 38° 2.993′ N, 81° 6.002′ W. Marker is in Fayetteville, West Virginia, in Fayette County. Marker is at the intersection of Rotan Street (Local Road 19/15) and Austin Street and King Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Rotan Street. It is at the Love Hope Center for the Arts. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Rotan St, Fayetteville WV 25840, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Morris Harvey House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lest We Forget (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fayette County Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Marquis de Lafayette (approx. 0.3 miles away); American Legion Post 149 Veterans Memorial Torch (approx. 0.3 miles away); Land Of The Free (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fayette County Soldiers & Sailers Memorial Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fayetteville (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fayetteville.
More about this marker. This interpretive panel has three illustrations (clockwise from the top) “Star of David, excavated from a 1962 Union camp at Stafford Heights in Virginia.” A portrait of Private Joseph A. Joel. And “a sutler token from G.W. Forbes of the 23rd Ohio Infantry.”
Also see . . . Historians, Local Jewish Congregation Recognize Civil War Passover Feast In Southern W.Va. West Virginia Public Broadcasting story on this historical marker. Includes both the audio story and a transcript.
Drew Gruber: For us at Civil War Trails, although the story may be a footnote in history, it’s exceptional. And as much as we see in this dark period in our nation’s history, this beautiful bright spot [is also there]. And it’s not just these individual soldiers, but it is the community in the area and the greater Jewish community at large that sort of enables this bright spot and offers up a moment of peace and beauty and what is otherwise a pretty terrible season in American history.(Submitted on May 20, 2023.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 87 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 20, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on May 21, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.