Jewish communities in remote areas of the world are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up cultural and educational facilities and, in some cases, the Jewish families are unable to make a livelihood.
This was reported here today by the World Jewish Congress which noted that it had received a report on the plight of the Jews of Eritrea. The entire Jewish community of 300 persons in about 55 families is located in Asmara. Only seven families manage to make a livelihood, Shoa Menachem Joseph, president of the community, reported.
Only 30 of the community’s 70 children attend the Jewish school which cannot handle all of them. Mr. Joseph appealed for financial assistance to build a new school and to reopen the local Jewish cultural center which was shut down because of a lack of funds.
In Kobe, Japan, the 30-family community lacks a rabbi and a Hebrew teacher, but manages nevertheless to conduct regular religious services, run a Sunday school for 25 children and carry on some cultural activities. During World War II, the Kobe community rendered considerable assistance to Jewish refugees.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
