The arrival date of a two-man delegation of Russian Jews, scheduled for tomorrow, is now in doubt, according to the American Council for Judaism, sponsor of the visit. The Council hopes to receive word today about the arrival of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Levin of Moscow’s Choral Synagogue, and Cantor David Stiskin, of Leningrad. According to the most recent information received by the Council, they were to come tomorrow, but arrangements have still not been clarified, a Council spokesman said.
Bill Gottlieb, public relations director of the Council, an anti-Zionist organization, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that he and George Bagrash, acting executive director of the Council, had been told by Rabbi Levin during a telephone call Friday that he was ready to make the trip. “Don’t worry, I’m coming,” Rabbi Levin said, according to Gottlieb.
(The passport division of the State Department said in Washington yesterday afternoon that the U.S.Embassy in Washington had not received applications for visas for the two Russian Jews at that time. The Department reportedly has given the Embassy permission to issue the visa immediately upon receipt of the proper applications, a source said.
(Mr. Gottlieb said that the Council meanwhile was proceeding with plans for a public meeting with Rabbi Levin in Town Hall here June 13. He also said that the Council, which has been widely attacked for sponsorship of the visit, has received several threatening telephone calls in connection with it. Physical violence was threatened by one anonymous caller. Other callers said there would be anti-Council pickets and demonstrations.
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.
