An appeal to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, requesting intervention with the authorities of the Soviet Union for permission to Russian Jews to bake matzoth or to import matzoth from this country, was sent today by the New York Board of Rabbis. The Board, comprised of Orthodox, Reform and Conservative spiritual leaders in New York, is the largest rabbinical body in the world. Signed by Rabbi Israel Mowshowitz, president of the Board, and other ranking officers of the organization, the cable stated:
“The New York Board of Rabbis is deeply distressed by the Russian Government’s total ban on the public baking and sale of matzoth for the large number of Soviet Jews, thus depriving them of a religious article indispensable for the proper observance of Passover, which begins on the evening of April 8. We, the Beard’s officers, speaking for the entire membership, plead with the Commission that it direct an urgent appeal to the Soviet Government for the revocation of that ban. If facilities are unavailable in Russia, we are prepared to provide matzoth if permitted to do so.”
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.