Dubrovna Jews, Encouraged by Stalin’s Decree, Demand Return of Their Synagogue

Establishing a precedent that has not been heard of in Russia since the Revolution, the religious Jews of Dubrovna, in the Minsk region, called on the chairman of the local soviet to return to them the synagogue which the local soviet had converted into a Communist club against the will of the worshippers and without the knowledge of the Soviet Central Executive Committee. The Dubrovna Jews were encouraged in their unprecedented demand by the recent order of Joseph Stalin and the Communist Party that no place of worship should be converted unless a majority of those concerned and unless the Central Executive Committee sanction it.

When the chairman of the local Soviet refused the request the Jews went to the synagogue, removed the Communist lock and locked the building with their own keys. When the members of the Communist club arrived they found the entrance barred. The Dubrovna Jews feel that since the action of the local soviet in converting the synagogue was illegal they are well protected by the orders of Stalin and the Communist Party and they plan to reopen the synagogue for Passover services.