2006年VOA标准英语-Israelis Celebrate Passover Under Tight Se

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
12 April 2006

Israelis are celebrating the weeklong biblical holiday of Passover under tight security. 

Ultra-Orthodox Jews, some in prayer, gather around a fire as they burn leavened¹ items in final preparation before Passover holiday in Jerusalem, April 12, 2006   
  
Israelis gathered for the festive² Passover seder meal, recounting the Exodus³ from Egypt more than 3,400 years ago.

Israel is on a maximum state of alert. Police say they have intelligence information that Palestinian militants⁴ are planning attacks to mar⁵ the holiday. Thousands of police and soldiers are deployed⁶ at synagogues, parks, and hotels.

A resident of the town of Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem, David Katz, is taking it in stride.

"We have to go on living and functioning and we all conduct our lives normally, but of course, there is extra concern," he told VOA. "We see the extra security on the streets, but we all continue to go about with our daily affairs."

But everyone here remembers Passover four years ago, when a suicide bomber⁷ blew up a seder and killed 29 people.

"It is all etched into our memories and minds and it is sort of been reflective: We celebrate the holiday which is the freedom of [from] our slavery and bondage⁸, but the battles continue unfortunately. We look forward to the day when there will be peace and freedom for all of us," added Katz.

In an effort to prevent terrorist attacks, the Israeli army has sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinians in those areas are barred from entering the country.

1 leavened   

adj.加酵母的v.使（面团）发酵( leaven的过去式和过去分词 )；在…中掺入改变的因素

参考例句：

• He leavened his speech with humor. 他在演说中掺了一点幽默。 来自辞典例句
• A small cake of shortened bread leavened with baking powder or soda. 由烤巧克力或可可粉、牛奶和糖制成。 来自互联网

2 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

3 exodus   

v.大批离去，成群外出

参考例句：

• The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去，医疗系统面临崩溃。
• Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战，就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。

4 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

5 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

6 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

8 bondage   

n.奴役，束缚

参考例句：

• Masters sometimes allowed their slaves to buy their way out of bondage.奴隶主们有时允许奴隶为自己赎身。
• They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。