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Can Communities Tax Their Members for Upbuilding of Palestine?

April 21, 1927
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(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Has any Jewish community the right to impose a tax upon its members for the upbuilding of Palestine ? A legal decision on this question will be rendered by the courts of Bulgaria in an interesting dispute which has arisen between the Jewish community of Philipolis and an individual of the community.

By a decision of the Bulgarian Zionist Federation, the Zionists in Bulgaria have determined to impose a Keren Hayesod tax on all Jewish rate payers to the Kehillah. Similar action was taken by the Jewish community of Philipolis, the second largest community in the country.

When, a short time ago, the mother of one of the community members who had refused to pay the tax died, the community refused to provide religious burial for her. The member submitted a complaint to the public prosecutor, contending that the tax was illegal and that the action of the community was contrary to the provisions of the law.

The matter will be brought to court and the decision is awaited with great interest.

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