Close to 2400 Soviet Jewish transmigrants in Rome waiting for arrangements to be completed to proceed to the United States and other Western countries, celebrated their first Passover holiday openly and in freedom it was reported by Jack D. Weller, chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee.
About 700 of the migrants attended seders organized by the JDC and the ORT. The first seder, for 300 people, was held at the Rome Jewish community kindergarten. The second, which was attended by about 400, took place in the gymnasium of the community’s children’s home. Dr. Vladimir Halperin of the Geneva staff of ORT. who speaks Russian fluently, conducted both seders in the transmigrants’ native language.
“For many of the Russian Jews it was the first time they had ever taken part in a seder,” Weller said. “For them the age-old question ‘Why is this night different from all other nights?’ had a very special meaning. However, with organizations like the JDC, ORT and United Hias Service helping them, these Jews liberated from bondage will not have to wander across the desert for forty years seeking a homeland.”
Weller, who also reported that a seder was conducted in Brussels in which several hundred Russian transmigrants took part, pointed out that the Soviet Jews now in Rome waiting to proceed to their final destination make up the overwhelming majority of the transmigrants going to countries other than Israel. To give those planning to immigrate to English-speaking countries a bit of a head start, ORT has organized English language classes.
Weiler also reported that the JDC office in Rome distributed about 4000 pounds of matzos to the Soviet Jewish families to use during the week with meals prepared in the small hotels and furnished rooms where they are staying. He estimated that because of the growing number of Soviet Jews who, for family reunion or professional reasons, want to resettle in the U.S.. the cost of caring for the transmigrants will reach $4 million in 1975, about twice what it was in 1974. The program will be financed partially by United Jewish Appeal funds and largely by the United States Refugee Program.
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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.
