At least 3,000,000 Jews in war-stricken Europe will start Passover tomorrow night provided with matzoth and other Passover food supplied by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
The huge job of delivering this relief has been completed in practically every part of Europe, especially in Nazi-held Poland and in Germany proper, according to reports received here today from J.D.C. field representatives.
Passover provisions have also been supplied to Jewish soldiers with the fighting forces, including the French Foreign Legion in Algiers and the Czech and Polish legions in France. Jewish refugees detained in camps have been similarly provided.
Distribution of the Passover food in Nazi-held Poland, achieved after surmounting of many difficulties, was described here today as having great moral significance for Polish Jewry, since it demonstrated to them that American Jewry was aware of their plight and was doing everything possible to reach them with relief. The Passover supplies marked the first time since outbreak of the war that American Jewry had been able to send direct relief to Polish Jewry.
The value of the Passover supplies shipped into Germany proper, Austria, the Protectorate and Nazi-held Poland is estimated here at $200,000, with the bulk of it going to Nazi Poland. This is in addition to some $25,000 worth of supplies shipped into Lithuania for refugees from Poland.
Had the J.D.C. shipments not reached Nazi Poland, Polish Jewry for the first time in its history would have been without Passover food since the Nazi authorities had forbidden baking of matzoth in view of the shortage of flour, which is rationed. The J.D.C. was unable to ship Passover food into Soviet-occupied Poland where live more than 1,500,000 Jews, the majority of them extremely religious, because no American relief has so far been admitted to Russia. It is believed, however, that the orthodox Jews in the Soviet-held areas will be able to provide themselves with Passover food since the baking of matzoth is not prohibited there.
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